You might think so if you lived there. In East Bangor Borough, the sewer bill runs $125/quarter. Bangor Borough does a little better, charging only $355/year. But if you're unfortunate enough to be one of the 579 people who lives in little Portland, located along the western side of the Delaware River, you get to pay $100 per month. Whether you're hooked up or not, that's the monthly bill. It's the highest sewer bill in the entire state.How the hell did this happen? According to Express Times reporter Doug Brill, a $5.8 million project suddenly became a $9 million venture because someone screwed up estimating the cost to lay pipes. Believe it or not, civil engineer Derek Hughes actually lists the Portland sewer project as an accomplishment. It's actually a disaster that has hurt people on limited incomes, which is most of this tiny borough.
$6.46 million of this money is borrowed and, according to Brill, "even if everyone paid his or her sewer bill on time -- including the 30 property owners who wound up on the delinquent list -- the borough would not collect enough money per month to cover the upper end of its projected [loan] payments." So basically, borough residents are being squeezed.
Consider the case of one woman. A college secretary on a limited income, her water was going to be shut off because she was six days delinquent. Her savings were wiped out, literally flushed down the toilet.
Hook-up fees are $1,500. Construction of laterals can cost much more, as much as $7,000.
When this sewer project first started, Northampton County made some CDBG money available for people seeking grants for a hook-up. While borough officials told discouraged some residents from applying, they made sure to take care of themselves. Mayor Kay Bucci took a grant. Borough Council Prez. Sherma Godshalk, who just happens to be the meter reader, got 5 free hook-ups for herself and her family. Councilman Tom Fish, unemployed at the time, legitimately qualified for a grant. Then, before he received it, he got a job as a Bangor teacher. He took the money anyway. Councilman Steve Knott thought he turned down the money, but the grant was included in the closing costs of a home he bought or re-financed.
On Thursday night, Northampton County Council voted unanimously to apply $36,000 in CDBG money "to offset the cost of the construction of sewage laterals for all remaining income-qualified homeowner-occupants when connecting to the sewer system."
"Portland's out of control," commented Prez Ron Angle.
14 comments:
Mayor Kay Bucci took a grant. Borough Council Prez. Sherma Godshalk, who just happens to be the meter reader, got 5 free hook-ups for herself and her family. Councilman Tom Fish, unemployed at the time, legitimately qualified for a grant. Then, before he received it, he got a job as a Bangor teacher. He took the money anyway. Councilman Steve Knott thought he turned down the money, but the grant was included in the closing costs of a home he bought or re-financed.
This is disgusting. Please keep us informed. Attorney General Corbett should investigate.
When are we going to wake up and seriously consider merging our smaller communities of the Lehigh Valley?
The sooner the better as this is a classic example of bad local government at it's best. Not that bigger government is the answer either (2 separate issues). Sure the civil engineer has competency issues but the bigger picture is $100 per month, ouch!
In addition, typical politicians are in it for themselves as noted in them being first in line for the handout.
I understand the identity factor with small towns but if the long term residents who had such a big part in building a strong community can't afford to pay their bills, it's time to regionalize.
We / I already use the term "Slate Belt" for anything at and north of the Stockertown exit off 33.
Don't stop with government as our school districts are in financial shambles as well.
The time has come and anyone who is willing to take on this challenge has my full support and vote...
The same thing was going through my mind as I wrote this. I have rarely seen a better example of the disasters that can be caused by our government fragmentation.
maybe some of the blame needs to be pointed at the state which required the plant to be built knowing all along that the borough did not have the resources to cope with the requirement. Too often municipal financial problems are caused by federal and state mandates without any financial assistance to deal with the mandate. Easton sewer payers use to be the highest in the state at $50 - 75/ month or $600 - 900/ year. Best bet for Portland will be don't pay the bill and someone will bail you out. Municipal consolidation is not the answer. Bigness creates unbelievable waste. Local municipalities tend to operate more economically. I bet the average councilman in Portland probably makes $100 per year. Easton pays theirs close to 10,000 plus health plus pension. There is no savings in bigness only more costs. Regionalization needs to be fought. These people in RENEWLV would have overtaxed people in lower Northampton County paying for a new sewer system in Portland. It does not work. RENEW is attempting to regionalize sewer and water. people who have already paid dearly for systems will be forced to pay for systems for others. It is not a workable solution.
I read somewhere that a Portland Boro councilman makes $600 per year. Looks like you can add all the free hook-ups they can get.
The problem w/ smaller governments like these is a lack of transparency and accountablity. Unless you live there, you don't care.
No web page. The LV League of Women Voters does not even list Portland in its list of elected officials, as though it does not exist. If it were not for Doug Brill, there would be no public spotlight on what is going on there.
RENEW is attempting to regionalize sewer and water. people who have already paid dearly for systems will be forced to pay for systems for others. It is not a workable solution.
9:27 AM
Isn't RENEW Lehigh Valley also "pushing" regional health care?
THere is a failure of government here and it is not local government.
The state had no business approving such large loans either through its agencies or as part of a debt requirement.
There's only 500 people in this community. I have to bet that the total assessed valuation of this community is less than the amount of the debt. This debt is more than $10,000 per resident or capita. Most communities don't exceed 1,000 if that.
Web pages are useless. They are political advertisements for incumbents. Information is not consistent. You cannot always find budgets or ordinances. YOu can always find a directory which is already in the phone book.
Probably a greater percentage of residents participate in government in a small town such as this. The town cannot run without substantial volunteers. if 20 people show for a meeting that's 4% of the population. For Allentown that would mean several thousand people showing.
I'll take small town America anyday over big city. You can keep looking at web pages with little or no information. Try state reports-they are published on line
Portland's assessed valuation is 12,957,100 according to statistics from DCED. All of Portland's current officials are listed at DCED on line. I would never rely on League of Women Voters. The state information has to be accurate. The borough would not be entitled to state fuel tax money if the information was not filed annually and was correct
Do you have a link to that DCED profile? Information like that is very useful to pikers like me.
http://www.newpa.com/get-local-gov-support/municipal-statistics/index.aspx
middle grouping contains on line municipal statistics. Municipalities have to file info at beginning of year. Authorities sometimes at middle of year. Certain information is current. Financial is at least one year old.
its time people wake up and stop fearing change. i believe RENEW offers very needed guidance on issues like these and if regionalizing water and waste water systems will save people money its gotta be done. we're all in this together. and all take water for granted so lets embrace some different ideas for once.
It's the same people pushing this regionalization-consulting engineers with alot to make on the projects. I remind you of the great boondoggle the Lehigh Valley Waste Authority created to unload some unwanted Bethlehem Steel Land. That is all this is about. Somebody has their hand in every taxpayer's pocket. After that rail study fiasco, what is next?
I guess the brilliant locals who decided to sue the borough to delayt the construction of the plant bear no responsibility for cost overruns.
I guess the locals who mysteriously found bog turtles on land adjacent to the treatment plant AFTER permits had been approved don't bear any responsibility for delays in construction and
I guess the water authority which made the borough and the EDA redesign the fracilities twice bear no responsibility.
I gues the poor Portlanders can't find enough conscientious people to giovern their tiny principality.
Angle loves commenting on this subject. Crap is his natural milieu, he is an artist!
The Tock
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