Township officials fielded several comments about sewer bills in late February, prompting another round of the years-long debate over selling the system
"I’m not a gambling man, but I would bet any amount of money that our sale won’t go through,” said supervisor Kofi Osei.
"We just had a very big rate increase. Twenty-five dollars of that rate increase was specifically to push this sale through. Let’s terminate the sale, that’s not gonna happen, and we can avoid some of the bigger rate hikes for the next few years,” he said.
In 2022 four of the five then-supervisors voted to sell the township’s sewer system, after a year and a half of study, debate, and strong resident opposition warning of potential steep rate hikes and a lack of accountability under a private owner.
Residents opposed to the sale formed a "Towamencin NOPE” group to coordinate their efforts, then won votes in 2022 to establish a government study commission and in 2023 to adopt a home rule charter they argue makes the sale illegal.
Last November voters narrowly elected Osei, founder of the NOPE group, to the board of supervisors, and since taking office in January, he and fellow sale opponent Joyce Snyder have continued to make motions directing staff to stop the sale.
On Feb. 28 came the latest attempt: after a lengthy meeting full of presentations and other board business, Snyder made a motion "to advise staff to please write a letter, to remove us from the APA,” the asset purchase agreement selling the sewer system.
That motion was the sixth time she has done so since last summer, and was immediately seconded by Osei, who cited recent court rulings involving similar sales still pending approval from the Pennsylvania Utility Commission.
"As a few of the public pointed out, the PUC has denied one of American Water’s sales, and it is currently in courts, because they approved sales they probably shouldn’t have, and the legislature has a magnifying glass on them,” Osei said.
The newest supervisor then took aim at the three remaining board members who approved the initial sale in 2022, and the subsequent transfer to a new buyer in 2023.
"I keep having this debate with some of our neighbors, of whether the three of you are dumb or corrupt. And I am not arguing for the corrupt side. So here’s your opportunity to change my mind, at least,” he said.
Snyder then added that she sees the topic continuing to come back up. "I believe that none of you are corrupt, and none of you are stupid, and that you have the right to your beliefs. But I strongly believe that this will be an albatross around your necks.
"We will continue to spend time on this, every single meeting. And I would very much like to get on with the rest of our governing. If we could just stop this and move forward, that would save us all time, effort, and angst. So please consider voting yes, and allowing us out of this APA, so we can move on to the real subjects at hand,” Snyder said.
Board chairman Chuck Wilson disputed that the sewer rate increase for 2024 was tied to the sale, and Osei said he calculated that amount based on $30,000 included in the township’s 2024 budget for legal costs, calculating an average impact of $25 per sewer customer.
"You’re making it sound like it’s all of our rate increase, going forward,” Wilson said.
"I said $25,” Osei replied, and Wilson retorted: "We made it very clear that, with or without the sale, the rates are going to increase.”
Osei then asked if Wilson knew the average rate being charged by PA American Water across the state, and Wilson said that amount is currently $1,272, more than double the current Towamencin rate.
"So it is your opinion that another $600 rate increase is how we save our township’s finances?” Osei said.
"I have nothing else to add. And I’ll tell you, this isn’t just as easy as saying ‘We remove ourselves from the APA.’ I don’t think we can get into a legal discussion about that right now, but it’s not wave a wand and we’re out of this. I understand where this may be going, I don’t think your motion is the way to address it. That’s all I’ll say,” Wilson answered.
Supervisor Laura Smith then said she took exception "to Supervisor Osei calling names up here. I think that is wildly inappropriate,” and said she saw a difference between doing so at the podium as a resident, or on the dais as a fellow supervisor.
"Sitting here as one of us, you don’t have the right to call us stupid or corrupt. I just think that’s wildly inappropriate,” Smith said.
"I was just letting you know what I’m talking about with our neighbors,” Osei answered, and Smith shot back: "Great — you don’t want to know what I’m talking about you with my neighbors, because it’s not appropriate.” The board then voted on the motion directing staff to stop the sale, with Osei and Snyder casting the only votes in favor.
Hours before the sale-related sparring, Smith started the meeting by reading several public comments submitted via email, largely from residents who had recently gotten those sewer bills. Suzie McCartin said she had recently received her bill, and noticed this year’s increase.
"I am not at all happy that our annual sewer bill got jacked up to a whopping $590. I moved here in 2010, and for many years our sewer bill was just $375. Last year it increased to $450, and now it’s this disgraceful amount of $590,” she said.
"All to put toward — hopefully, since you obviously misallocated taxpayers’ money — the dilapidated sewer system that you failed to maintain. Utter incompetence all around, and you all should be ashamed. I live in a tiny townhouse, and am paying this much. I am fighting, tooth and nail, that you won’t get to sell the sewer system. Clean up your own mess,” McCartin said.
Victoria Rafferty said she was similarly "shocked” at her bill, calling it "outrageous” for someone who works five days a week and is often out of the house.
"How is this outrageous sewer amount fair? This assessment, for this one person, with one toilet, versus a family of five and a family with four toilets, can check their consumption. Shouldn’t their cost be commensurate with the water use (and) flushes?” Rafferty said.
Lorena Fields said she’s been watching PUC address similar sales across the state are "not in the best interest” of ratepayers, and said the board should note one recent denial of a similar sale.
"It is time to realize that this contract you have gotten us into, is not as binding as you would like us to believe,” she said, before suggesting the board focus on roadwork and attracting businesses instead.
"A sewer tax — and I use that term, because that is what it actually is — that is only going to go up and up every year, is not going to endear businesses or people to want to live in Towamencin,” she said.Ken Stout questioned why the board discussed in February the possible installation of a new welcome sign near the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and if sale proceeds would be used to do so: "We are not selling the sewer system, as long as the residents have their say. So until we get the township’s bills paid off, we should not spend on items that are not needed.”
Mary Jean Moroz also cited the recent PUC ruling that denied a sale: "Will the board of supervisors please stop wasting the township residents’ money to defend the sale? Changing your mind now, after new facts are presented, is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a sign of intelligence.”
Between the emailed and in-person public comment, Wilson announced that both township and county tax bills had been mailed recently, and anyone who did not receive theirs by mid-March should contact the township’s tax collector.
"The sewer rental rate was increased from $450 to $590 to cover increasing plant operating expenses, and to start raising funds for the township’s eight-year, $39 million capital plan,” he said. Sewer bills are due by June 30, with partial payments accepted beforehand, and a ten percent penalty on any unpaid balance after June 30, he said.
NOPE member Jenn Foster, one of the residents who has sued the board to try to stop the sale, then took the podium to cite the recent PUC ruling, and language in that ruling that said PA American filed to present evidence of a public benefit from that sale, and that Towamencin’s sewer system appeared to be in good condition with no major issues over the prior 50-plus years.
"At this point, I am nearly 100 percent convinced the PUC is going to deny PA American’s application for Towamencin, yet you continue to waste taxpayer dollars on this, as well as the personal funds of dozens of residents. No one is trying to get you to breach a contract, because the APA is not a binding contract,” she said.
"I’ll read this ruling again: ‘The request to approve the asset purchase agreement became moot, because the APA is relevant only if the acquisition is approved.’ I am calling on you, once again, given all of this, to terminate the agreement. You have an opportunity to save your constituents money, and yourselves embarrassment,” Foster said.
Bruce Bailey cited language in the township’s home rule charter adopted in 2023 that the NOPE supporters argue makes the sale illegal to complete.
"Maybe it takes a professional lawyer to understand that. I think there’s one up there that works with the board — we pay your salary, by the way. It’s real obvious: it’s illegal now to sell the sewer system, yet you’re still pursuing to sell it,” he said. "I’m bleeding from both sides. Just cut out the nonsense. Take another vote tonight. It only takes one of three of you to change your mind, and do the right thing.”
NOPE member Tina Gallagher said she’s lived in the township for 30 years, and seen businesses depart, proposed developments stall, and talks about new uses in township parks meet with sudden and sharp resident opposition. as trust between the board and residents has deteriorated: "The people shouldn’t have to be at all these meetings, causing trouble and saying things to the board.” Gisela Koch added that she similarly saw a spending problem, particularly without the sewer sale proceeds in hand: "This is the point that we’re all trying to make. Stop spending money on things that are not important. That’s the point.”
NOPE member Martin Cohen also made an appearance at Lansdale Borough’s public works committee on March 6, telling that group to be wary of any similar push to sell the borough’s sewer system. Committee chairman BJ Breish summarized those talks for council, saying he’d share "a lot of links and information” from Cohen with the rest of council to consider.
"Just to be clear: We’re not actually entertaining selling the sewer system at all?” Mayor Garry Herbert asked, and Breish replied: "Nope.”
Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7 p.m. on March 20 at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road. For more information visit www.Towamencin.org.
This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit www.thereporteronline.com.See also:
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