The City of Pottsville has asked the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority for financial assistance to either help the city buy a new pick-up truck for the streets department, contribute to street repairs or further enhance security at city hall.
"In an effort to continue to accomplish the tasks required to improve our community, the city is asking for your support," Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney said in a May 22 letter to GPASA, which also has its offices at city hall.
At its May meeting Wednesday, GPASA Chairman Ian H. Lipton said if the authority offers financial assistant to the city, it must also offer similar assistance to the two other municipalities it provides sewer services to, the boroughs of Palo Alto and Port Carbon.
Instead of granting the city's request, the authority decided to invite representatives to all three municipalities to a workshop session. The authority could vote on the city's request at its next public meeting, 7 p.m. June 25.
"Talk to them about what their needs are. Maybe you want to discuss the possibility of an annual stipend and give them flexibility for what they need," Ed Brennan, the authority's solicitor, said.
"But is that in our purview that we can do that as a sewer board?" J. Donald Kerns, board treasurer, asked.
"We're dealing with sister municipalities, the ones that created this authority. And some of our functions are overlapping. For example, they provide services when we're out working. They'll remove the snow so we can get to the manhole covers," Brennan said.
"I can't deny that, but they don't patch when we dig up," Kerns said.
"We fix everything we dig up. Correct," Timothy R. Yingling, the sewer authority's executive director, said.
"But see, what I'm saying to you is there are still services provided by the municipal entities. Sometimes they'll provide traffic control," Brennan said.
"I just want to make sure it's in our purview," Kerns said.
"It is if it's related to what we do," Brennan said.
"In my position as the Mayor of Pottsville, I have made a commitment to work with local boards, authorities and businesses to develop practical ways that we can work together to improve the services provided to our residents. In the past several years, the city has diligently worked with the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority to complete a major stormwater separation project. We have assisted with street repairs, facilitated the installation of stormwater systems and have worked with the GPASA to clean up after natural disasters. We have also invested a great deal of staff time working with city residents on stormwater separation initiatives. Currently, 96 percent of households in target areas are in compliance with stormwater separation regulations," Muldowney said in his May 22 letter.
"Any assistance that the authority could provide in the following areas would be greatly appreciated," Muldowney said.
Other requests in Muldowney's letter included:
- "Purchase of a vehicle - Our fleet is utilized heavily, aging and is need of replacement. A new truck in the fleet will enhance the ability of the city to respond to joint citizen complaints in an effective manner."
- "Participate in security enhancements at city hall - We would like to install security measures in the rotunda to provide a safe environment for our employees and visitors to city hall and the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority."
- "Street repairs - The storm water separation project was needed and successful, but also had a negative impact on many streets in the city. We would like to facilitate repairs to areas that have been most negatively affected."
Muldowney did not say how much of a contribution the city would like GPASA to donate.
In other matters at Wednesday's meeting, Yingling reported sewer authority workers are checking to see if 23 properties in the city are in compliance with the state-mandated stormwater/sewer separation project.
Last year, the authority hired Trenchless Resources and Consultants, Mechanicsburg, to determine if more than 200 properties were in compliance. The study cost the authority $25,150. TRAC was unable to contact the owners of 31 properties, Yingling said.
The authority is hoping to finish that project and encourage the state to lift a moratorium on new sewer connections, Lipton said.