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LEWISTOWN – In what will likely be its last meeting before ownership of the water system serving much of Mifflin County is transferred to a new supervisory authority, the municipal authority’s board of trustees he Lewistown borough took action on Wednesday to implement this transition.
During the meeting, the Board of Directors adopted a motion by a 4-1 margin allowing administrative staff to close all payments effective September 29 and take any other action necessary to close MABL operations. Board member Frank Berrier cast the only opposition vote.
Lawyer David Consiglio said he advised the board to “zero” all overdue payments by September 29 so that the Mifflin County Municipal Authority can start with a “clean slate” when it resumes operations at the end of the month.
The closing of the transition from MABL to MCMA is scheduled for September 30, when MABL’s board of directors will be formally dissolved.
After taking this step and before adjourning the meeting, Board member Jeff Rocco, who was virtually attending the meeting, brought forward a motion to pay the unpaid legal bills owed to the Cozen O’Connor law firms at amount of $ 1,313.66 and Tucker Arnsberg in the amount of $ 9,189.71 as of January.
Consiglio informed the board that in order to comply with the Sunshine Act, the board would first have to make a motion to add the item to the agenda, as it was not originally there, should provide a reason that council made an addition to the agenda, and then solicit any public comment on the proposal. Recent changes to the Sunshine Act require that all public meeting agendas be made public at least 24 hours before the meeting.
The motion to add the item to the agenda was ultimately seconded by board member Barry Bargo, but failed in a 3-2 vote with board chairman Ben Rager and the members of the board of directors Jennifer Miller and Berrier voting in the opposition.
Rocco then asked for an explanation of why what he said were legitimate bills weren’t paid, but instead the board offered to adjourn the meeting without addressing Rocco’s concerns. Rocco then addressed comments to Berrier in which he said Berrier was considering adjourning the meeting in an effort to “run and hide.”
Earlier in the meeting, Executive Director Craig Bubb reminded customers that the annual fall line flushing will begin Monday in the Milroy and Reedsville areas and will continue over the next several weeks. Bubb said he expects the project to be completed by mid-October and that customers will be made aware of the information available in several formats, including on MABL’s website, www.lewistownwater.com.
On Wednesday, the board of directors voted unanimously:
Approve the minutes of the August 18 meeting;
¯ Approve the budget report and the report of supporting documents from the treasurer;
¯Allow the hiring of a temporary part-time office clerk for a maximum of 25 hours per week at $ 15 per hour in a non-unionized position. Office manager Deanna Hassinger explained that this was necessary to cover an employee who is currently on sick leave.
¯Approved a request for BRIF in the amount of $ 91,193.99.
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