Council approves pact with Aqua Ohio

A new council member wanted the Aqua contract to be sent back to committee.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- City council approved a 34-month contract with Aqua Ohio, over the objections of two members, that gives the water company a 4.6-percent increase per year.
The legislation, passed 5-2, is effective March 1.
Councilman-at-large Terry P. Stocker, one of three new council members, moved to send the contract back to a council committee, but his motion was rejected by a 2-5 vote.
Stocker said the newly elected council members -- himself; Sherri L. Hartzell, 1st Ward; and Mark A. Sandine, 2nd Ward -- had no input into the negotiations, which took place before they took office Jan. 1. He said they are not familiar enough with the contract to vote on a matter of such importance.
Hartzell was silent during the discussion. Sandine, however, said he did research and talked to Aqua, and said it is the best deal for the city.
Sandine thinks that if the city rejected the contract, Aqua would take the rate issue to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for arbitration. It would cost the city money to fight the case and eventually cost the residents more money because PUCO would grant a higher rate increase, he said.
Councilman-at-large Jerry L. Shields said he is not happy about voting for a water rate increase. But he said it is better than taking the risk of Aqua going to the PUCO.
Too high of an increase
Councilman Daniel R. Yemma, 3rd Ward, who also voted against the Aqua contract, thinks the increase is too high. Beyond that, Yemma said Aqua (and its corporate predecessors) has received a rate increase 19 out of the last 20 years with negotiations being done locally and not involving the PUCO.
Struthers has not gone to arbitration for 20 years. "We have no clue as to what PUCO would do today," Yemma said.
The 4.6-percent annual increase is down from the 6 percent initially sought by Aqua. The private water company supplies water to about 18,000 customers in Poland Village and township, New Middletown, Lowellville and Struthers, parts of Coitsville, and Beaver, Springfield, Canfield and Boardman townships.
In other action, council reappointed Antoinette L. Constantino as clerk of council for a two-year period ending Dec. 31, 2007. Yemma and Stocker voted against the legislation, although Yemma explained his vote had nothing to do with Constantino's qualifications or job performance.
Yemma called the legislation a "slap in the face" to Constantino, whom he described as a "loyal, dedicated 13-year employee." The legislation reduced her compensatory time for attending council meetings from four hours each to the actual time of the council meeting; and increased her workday by 30 minutes, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Constantino's salary, $25,609, remained the same.
alcorn@vindy.com