Washington Township begins process to take over MAWT

Municipal Authority of Washington Township General Manager Jan Amoroso said they were left in the dark about the decision.

The Washington Township Board of Supervisors is taking the first steps to transfer control of the Municipal Authority of Washington Township back to the township.

In a legal ad published in the Sept. 17 edition of the Mon Valley Independent, the supervisors announced they will consider an ordinance “directing the Municipal Authority of Washington Township, Fayette County, to transfer any and all project items identified within this township ordinance, to the township on or before Oct. 1, 2026.”

The Municipal Authority of the Township of Washington (MAWT) was formed in August 1952 under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act of 1945.

The authority’s water service area covers approximately 3,300 customers in Fayette and Washington counties. Some of the communities included are Allenport, Elco, Roscoe and Stockdale boroughs in Washington County, and Arnold City, Fayette City, Fairhope, Lynnwood, Naomi, Washington Heights,and Washington and Jefferson townships in Fayette County.

The sewage collection system is in operation for approximately 1,500 residents in the Washington Heights, Arnold City, Fairhope, Lynnwood, Naomi, and Brownstown areas in Fayette County.

The supervisors plan to take action on the ordinance at a special public meeting set for noon Sept. 28 in the Washington Township Social Hall, 1392 Fayette Ave., Belle Vernon. The advertised legal notice lists several requirements, including the township taking over control of the authority’s contractual obligations, and the authority is to provide the township a complete accounting and transfer of all project assets and debts prior to transfer. The ordinance also states that the township solicitor is authorized “to take any and all legal action it deems appropriate in the event that the authority fails or refuses to transfer all project assets to the township.”

When questioned by the MVI about their plans, the board of supervisors, Chairman Derrick Powell, Dave Bitonti and Chuck Yusko, sent a prepared statement last night, stating they have received” significant complaints from customers of the Municipal Authority of Washington Township.”

The supervisors reiterated that it is a transfer of control, not a sale of the authority, the board is seeking.

“On or about July 4, 2026, the Washington Township Supervisors began receiving complaints of sewage backups and overflows into the homes of various township residents. Upon consultation with the township engineer, it was determined that the backflow was partially a result of issues related to sewage infrastructure operated and managed by the Municipal Authority of Washington Township,” according to the supervisors’ statement, The board stated they met with MAWT board members and representatives July 21 to address the July 4 issues, but claims the authority members denied any issues with its sewage infrastructure.

“At the conclusion of the meeting, the township supervisors expressed significant concerns about the authority’s management, operations, and oversight,” the supervisors’ stated.

The supervisors’ stated they have “received significant complaints from MAWT customers since July.”

“These concerns include, but are not limited to, poor water quality, insufficient and/or malfunctioning sewage operations, poor customer service by municipal authority employees, and a failure to adequately address customer issues when they arise,” the supervisors’ stated.

“Based upon these concerns, the Washington Township Supervisors authorized the drafting and advertisement of Washington Township Ordinance O-03-26. The purpose of this ordinance is to direct the transfer of any and all township assets currently under the care and control of the Washington Township Municipal Authority Board to the care and control of the Washington Township Supervisors… moreover, the Washington Township Supervisors believe the care and control of all municipal authority assets should rest solely with an elected board of supervisors chosen directly by the community’s voters, rather than an unelected board.”

The supervisors noted this transition is not unprecedented in this area, as Rostraver Township recently passed similar legislation placing the control of all sewage authority assets under the direct supervision of the commissioners.

The Washington Township supervisors denied rumors they are seeking to sell the authority’s infrastructure or water or sewage authority assets.

“As stated previously, the true purpose of proposed township ordinance O-03-26 is to increase accountability and oversight of critical township infrastructure,” the supervisors’ stated.

A copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance may be examined without charge at the Washington Township Municipal Building, 1390-A Fayette Ave., Belle Vernon, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

MAWT surprised by decision

News of the supervisors’ decision to take control of the authority took members of the authority board and employees by surprise.

Authority General Manager Jan Amoroso said she is upset over what she claims is a lack of communication and transparency from the supervisors. Amoroso claimed a supervisor, whom she did not identify, led representatives of Pennsylvania American Water through a tour of the municipal authority’s water plant. Amoroso also claimed the reasoning for the township’s efforts to sell the municipal authority are due to not meeting MS4 regulations outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) after many requests to address the growing concerns about stormwater runoff and residential flooding. Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) regulations require local governments and public entities to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and implement a stormwater management program to reduce pollution in untreated stormwater runoff.

“The township, unbeknownst to the authority, has advertised and planned to adopt on Monday an ordinance to take over all of the water-sewer authority,” Amoroso said. “The reason they’re selling it is because they’re having stormwater issues in Washington Township, which they have had for a while. Everybody is having some flooding issues.”

Amoroso said the authority has been performing very well. The authority maintain 3,300 water connections, 1,500 of those being sewer customers, and serves over 9,000 residents. Amoroso stated that the township serves less than 4,000 residents, which would make selling the municipal authority a risky financial decision. Amoroso also raised concerns about potential rate increases for residents.

“We’re a very good asset. We were in the process of a $5.6 million grant that we got to upgrade the water plant, put in new water lines. We’ve been improving the system, and it’s a shame because we not only serve Washington Township, but we also provide water across the river to Allenport, Elco, Stockdale, Roscoe, to Jefferson Estates, to Fayette City Borough and out in the country around Perryopolis. Those places wouldn’t benefit from the stormwater project. So, they’re selling the water authority to get money that’s only going to help Washington Township, a small number of Washington Township residents, who are having storm water issues.”

Authority board Chairman Dan Reppert said the authority has over $50 million in assets and grant money, which he claims the township is trying to get access to. Reppert expressed concerns that water and sewage rates will increase for customers.

“It’s definitely a hostile takeover,” Reppert said. “Nobody knows about this. I mean, the public does not know anything about this. And we’re a very solid company. We, the water company, we’ve grown.”

The supervisors, however, said they have no plans to raise rates.

“The supervisors intend to freeze all water and sewage rates at their current levels and immediately investigate and resolve all water quality complaints and sewage infrastructure concerns. The supervisors will continue to pursue the authority’s original mission: to provide high-quality water and sewage infrastructure to its residents and ratepayers. Additionally, all water and sewage infrastructure will continue to function as designed, and the water and sewage office will continue to provide customer services weekdays during regular business hours. Customers and ratepayers will not experience any service disruptions during this transitional period,” the supervisors’ stated.

Amoroso also addressed concerns about the lack of legal representation for the municipal authority as their solicitor, David Tamasy of Watson-Mundorff, LLP, also represents the township. Amoroso claimed that Tamasy being involved with both parties creates a conflict of interest that could harm residents and the township financially.

“We have no legal representation, so it’s really a clear conflict of interest because he’s supposed to be our attorney, and yet we don’t know anything about it. So, it’s not in the best interest of all of the residents.”

Amoroso encouraged residents to attend Monday’s meeting.

“This is something that the residents of this community, and all of the customers of the Municipal Authority in Washington Township, should know what’s happening so that they can have a say in this,” Amoroso said. “I encourage everyone to show up at this meeting so that they can make their voices heard, because it will impact them in one way or the other.”