One week after having been told the Slatington Sewer Authority would like to dissolve, what to do next was the main topic of discussion at the borough's Water/Sewer/Highway Workshop Committee meeting Monday night.

It was just last Monday, May 12, that authority Chairwoman Laurie Dart-Schnaufer, present with the rest of the authority members, had told borough council at its monthly council meeting that, along with an important letter sent to the authority from the Department of Environmental Protection on May 2, it was the authority's recommendation that the authority be dissolved.Dart-Schnaufer had explained that the decades-old authority does not have financial control over operation of the sewer facility, the borough does, and that the DEP is now requiring the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permittee that does not have financial control over the operation of the facility, in this case the authority, to submit a transfer to the operator that does have control, which in this case is Slatington Borough Council.She added, however, that the current authority would continue until its current obligations are fulfilled.Several possibilities were discussed by the sewer committee, including whether or not to reappoint new authority members or reestablish a sewer authority later and, if so, whether or not to make that authority a working authority.They also mentioned the possibility of adding members from both Walnutport and Washington Township next time if that is the case.Other options included the possibility of leasing out, or even selling, the sewer plant.However, the option most discussed was the possibility of borough council taking over responsibility for the plant.Whether that happens or not, committee members said they saw some benefits to it, including the fact that one entity, not two, handling sewer matters might be less confusing and frustrating for everyone."We would be dealing (directly with the DEP). And it probably would be good that one group of people would be dealing with them. Then we get it first hand, not always second hand because (the authority currently) holds the permit," committee member Bryon Reed said.Borough council President Daniel Stevens agreed, noting that, "Now it (could) just be, we get (the bills) we know what we have to do … there's no animosity back and forth."Sewer Chairman Bob Steets also said it could cut down in some delays because there would no longer be a month lapse between the authority getting the bills and council approving them.Reed noted that, for now, council could take over responsibility and then figure out precisely what to do later."(But) if we do take it back," Reed said, "… we need to really look into the future."