Why would Summit Hill Borough Council abolish the borough's water authority?

"Why not," responded council member Bill Chapman.A joint meeting of borough council and water authority members was held in the Summit Hill Borough Hall on Tuesday during which discussion was held regarding the borough council's intention to abolish the water authority and take over the water department.Four of the five water authority members attended. Five of the seven borough council members were there. Absent for the council was president Jesse Walck, who council members said had spearheaded the action against the authority, and Michael Kokinda.Attorney Joseph Velitsky complained that council took its action without any consultation with the authority, including reviewing the authority's finances.It was Velitsky who asked why the council wanted to abolish the authority.Velitsky told the council that although it had been stated the authority would end its operations by Jan. 1, this seems unlikely.He explained to the council that the authority owns property, has indebtedness, is named in an existing lawsuit, has bank accounts and has employees. All these issues must be addressed before the authority can be dissolved, including property transfer.He also said that approval might have to come from the state before the dissolution becomes official."Summit Hill council took it upon itself without one meeting with the Summit Hill Water Authority," Velitsky said of the takeover bid."They never came to a meeting," he said. "They never asked us anything."Velitsky said, "It would have been much better if the borough council would have worked together with the authority."The lawyer for the authority said he isn't taking a position on the actual disbanding of the authority, but is opposed to how the council is doing it."The water authority is willing to do whatever is in the best interest of the borough," he said. "Make sure it is done right.""We understand there are going to be some bumps in the road," Chapman said.The councilman said the takeover will occur, if not by Jan. 1, then maybe by Feb. 1 or March 1."We've come up with a plan," he said, although nothing was ever made public on the takeover bid until a vote of the council occurred last month during which a 4-0 consensus of the council voted to disband the authority. Three members of the council had been absent for that vote.A resolution advertised by the borough calls for authority members to resign, although the council agreed that such resignations won't be necessary.Because of the complexities of the situation, Velitsky told council he recommends the authority members do not resign.The authority comprises Chairman Louis Alexander, Jim Yusella, Robert Collevechio, Joseph O'Gurek and Ed Kruczek."Why do we need an authority?" asked Chapman.Velitsky responded, "Because we have debt."He said the authority was formed in 1955, and then a few years ago received a 50-year extension by the council.In response to Chapman's answer on why the authority was being disbanded, Velitsky asked him, "Tell me why, not why not."Councilman Michael Alabovitz responded to this question, saying there would no longer be separate solicitors, separate engineers, and that possibly overdue replacement of the water line some of it over 100 years old can occur.Borough resident Joseph Kosalko said, "As a taxpayer, I'm very concerned."He said the proposal had no public input and the borough can't afford to replace sewer lines but yet is taking over the aging water lines."When it comes to replacing water lines, it doesn't matter who replaces them," Chapman said."They have to be replaced."One woman asked if the council reviewed the water authority's budget from last year. Alabovitz said, "I haven't but Jesse (Walck) has."Other council members said that it was Walck, a financial consultant, who was overseeing the financial aspect of the takeover.Chapman agreed to schedule another joint public meeting between the water authority and the borough council.The ordinance for the merger is scheduled to be adopted during a meeting of the borough council at 7 p.m. Monday.After the meeting, Alabovitz said he is pushing for the takeover of the authority "because of the authority's lack of cooperation."Chapman also said that every time a water line breaks, the authority hires an outside contractor to make repairs.He said the plan is to have borough workers make such repairs using borough equipment when possible, and hire an outside contractor only when necessary.