Published Wednesday, November 13, 2002
water
authority
Herald Staff Writer
Greenville council Tuesday night officially joined the ranks of the Greenville Municipal Authority customers who are dissatisfied with a two-week-old water crisis.
Council members issued a statement at their monthly meeting. Councilman David P. Henderson, who is a nonvoting member of the authority board, read the statement, which said in part:
"Since its new water plant was opened a decade ago, local customers have been treated to a defective product. ... The trauma caused by the failure of the raw water pump was avoidable.
"The failure of the pump plunged the comunity (into danger) and placed every man, woman and child's life in danger. At one point, there was less than two feet of water in one of the primary tanks. ...
"Had a fire emergency occurred, the firemen would have had little option except to watch it burn till help arrived."
The statement also called for a major change, saying council did not wish "to perpetuate old problems."
After Henderson read the statement, council President Bryan D. Langietti said he and Borough Manager Kenneth Weaver were "heavily involved" in making the problem manageable.
Langietti then said the authority did "an excellent job of getting the water back to where it needs to be."
Council invited the public to suggest solutions to the problem before Nov. 21 by mail to: Greenville Council, Greenville Municipal Building, 125 Main St., Greenville 16125.
In its statement, council also urged "customers with complaints and financial losses" to take any documents supporting their claims to the next authority board meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 26 in the authority office on Clinton Street.
Residents at the meeting had several questions about the water situation. Several wanted to know what control council has over the authority.
Borough Solicitor Warren Keck explined the authority is a seperate entity, with its own budget, revenue and governing body. Council appoints the members of the authority board, but after that, has no real control over the board or its employees.
Langietti said council would be reviewing the authority's contingency plans with the state Department of Environmental Protection in case of another emergency.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at:
ateutsch@sharonherald.com