Supervisors disagree over forcing hook ups to close $500,000 deficit
By Jamie Richard, Staff Writer, The Times
WEST BRANDYWINE – A township supervisor who also chairs the township’s Municipal Authority is coming under some fire from his colleagues for suggesting that residents living near the township’s sewer line be forced to connect to the system — at a cost of about $6,000 per household.
William Webb, a township supervisor and chair of the township’s Municipal Authority, argued during Thursday night’s Board of Supervisors meeting that the township should adopt a proposed ordinance that would force property owners to connect to the municipal sewer lines if they live within 150 feet of the existing sewer line.
According to Webb, the township’s Act 537 Plan — a document filed by the township with the state Department of Environmental Protection regarding the management and operation of the sewer system — does not require residents within 150 foot of a public sewer line to connect to it, but he said it is required under the state’s Second Class Township Code.
However, according to Section 2502 of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code, municipalities are specifically permitted to require connections, but are not required to do so. The 150-foot distance specified in the statute would appear to refer to enforcement once a township has decided to force connections. Those with residences within that distance who fail to connect to the system within 60 days of being notified can be forcibly connected, with the township issuing a bill to the property owner for the cost of connecting to the system.
Webb said he felt that requiring residents to connect to public sewers would provide income for the authority, which is currently facing a financial shortfall, said to be in excess of $500,000.
“I think the time is now is to require these folks who are within 150 feet to connect; it’s going to solve a few problems,” said Webb.
Webb also added that connecting to a system now would save residents money, as tapping fees are expected to rise; the current tapping fee is around $6,000, having doubled from last year’s fee of approximately $2,900.
The issue raised disagreement amongst his colleagues on the board; Chairman Josef Obernier said he did not feel that the township should rely on charging residents to recover the authority’s shortfall.
“What the hell happened to the operation of the municipal authority that it now has to twist the arms of those people for them to pay the municipal authority money?” said Obernier.
Obernier also added that forcing residents to connect would not provide the necessary funds to cover the shortfall, which is estimated at approximately half a million dollars due to disputes with developers.
Webb argued with his colleagues that residents within 150 ft. of a public line were required to connect by state law — at least by his reading of Section 2502.
“We’re simply asking the board of supervisors to follow the law that’s already written. Take what we had already put in the 537 Plan out, and follow the law that the commonwealth put in,” said Webb.
Residents are still required to connect to public systems if they wish to sell their property or if their private system falls into disrepair. Supervisor Thomas McCaffrey argued that since residents will effectively have to connect at some point, the board should not force residents to connect before they choose to.
“I am not here as a commissar to make it work for them against their will,” said McCaffrey.
A motion was made by Webb to alter the township’s 537 Plan to require residents to connect with public sewer lines in accordance with the Second Class Township Code; the motion failed to be seconded and did not reach a vote.
The board of supervisors will hold its next meeting on Oct. 18.
Additional reporting by Mike McGann
