SHARPSVILLE, PA. Council changes view on water-plant study

One member of council said the study is a waste of taxpayers' money.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- Two months ago, most of borough council believed it didn't need any more studies before deciding if Sharpsville should keep its own water plant.
On Thursday, council changed its position.
Councilman Guy Moderelli stood alone in June in asking that the borough hire RDM Resource Development Management Inc. of Pittsburgh for $9,700 to study options and come up with recommendations on what Sharpsville should do.
He couldn't get a second to his motion.
On Thursday, the vote to hire RDM was 6-1 with only Councilwoman Luann Anglin opposed.
Reason for vote
She said she thinks everyone on council already knows what they want to do with the plant and spending $9,700 for another study is "a waste of taxpayers' money."
Councilman Robert Piccirilli said he was against the study but changed his mind.
Although he still favors keeping the plant, council and borough taxpayers need all the information they can get to make an informed decision, he said.
Council President Jack Cardwell had said last month that there would be a decision made this week on the fate of the plant but changed his mind and agreed to support the study after learning that RDM would be looking at remodeling costs as well as the cost of a new plant and what impact those projects would have on the general fund budget.
"I personally think we should get out of the water business," Moderelli said, adding that he thinks the study will show that.
Proceeds from the sale of the plant would fortify the borough's general fund budget for many years, he added.
Sale option
The sale of the plant to Consumers Pennsylvania Water Co. for $5.124 million is one of the options that RDM will examine.
Borough Manager Michael Wilson said two remodeling schemes, one at $600,000 and the other a more extensive proposal at $1.8 million, as well as the possibility of a new plant at between $3.2 million and $3.5 million, are also a part of the study, which should be completed within 45 days.
All of those scenarios will be examined with respect to what impact they will have on the general fund.
Rates to increase
Borough officials have said repeatedly that residents can expect their water rates to increase no matter what decision is made, short of not doing anything to the 50-year-old plant.
Residents pay an average of $23 a month and that would increase to about $37 if a new plant is built or about $33 for a substantial renovation.
The average residential rate for Consumers is $35 a month and borough residents would have to pay that figure, although Consumers has said it would implement the increase over a five-year period to lessen its impact.
Sue Curtis of Fairbrook Way urged council not to sell the plant. However, she said she also favors the study to see what it will cost the borough to keep it.
Bill Gargano of Hazen Road, who told council at a workshop Monday that he thinks the plant should be sold, praised council for agreeing to have the study done.
"It's a wise decision," he said at Thursday's meeting.