First Posted: 12/22/2010

The matters that took the longest to discuss and remained unresolved at the South Abington Township meeting were not on the agenda for Dec. 13. Members of the Abington Regional Wastewater Authority, which was previously referred to as Clarks Summit-South Abington Joint Regional Authority, laid out plans and brought issues to light.
The members of the sewer authority said that untreated sewage has not been bypassed into a public waterway for 33 months in the three municipalities of Clarks Summit, Clarks Green and South Abington. Despite the success, Act 537 Plan, which is an expansion of the sewage plant, is scheduled to be submitted January 2011.
Members of the joint sewer authority posed the question as to who should own and operate the system. They agreed that all parties should review the rates at a later date. Township Supervisor Mark Dougherty suggested breaking down the issues for the public. South Abington Township board members agreed to Ordinance 212, which is a raise in sewage rates from $80 to $100 per quarter per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU). They agreed to the joint police contract of Newton and Ransom Township, which gives police a $52.69 hourly rate.
Board members were allowed to use money from the Victorian Village grant for the township. Members placed $23,000 into capitol funds for equipment.