Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners introduced a resolution which rejects Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski's plan to either sell or lease the city's water and sewer systems to private parties. The township's resolution, when adopted, will be forwarded to the Coplay-Whitehall Sewer Authority (CWSA), not the city or its mayor.

At the workshop meeting Monday, the commissioners were unanimously opposed to any such action by Allentown because it could have an adverse impact on sewer rate payers in the township and, similarily, in Coplay.

Board members tweaked the proposed resolution at the meeting and included the words "lease" and "sale" to explain its stance on Pawlowski's efforts to infuse the city with millions of dollars to help pay its staggering pension benefits for retired police and firefighters.

No vote was taken on the matter. The proposed township resolution will come to a vote at the next commissioners meeting Monday, Oct. 8.

The reason the commissioners will forward the resolution to the CWSA, rather the City of Allentown, is because the CWSA handles sewage agreements in Whitehall and Coplay; the township is not part of such a pact.

Taking into account the CWSA is pursuing the matter, the commissioners said the resolution notes the township backs the CWSA. The board said if city council later goes forward to vote in favor of Pawlowski's plan, the city must adhere to the contract that is in place between the city and CWSA over sewage rate fees.

The township has agreements in place with the Northampton Borough Municipal Authority (NBMA) and does not rely on the city's water to any extent.

Commissioner President Linda Snyder said the resolution serves notice that township residents should not be saddled "to take on Allentown's pension obligations."

A fear has existed if the sewer plant in the city and its operations are privatized, the township rate payers will be charged higher fees.

"I am not sure it [resolution] has any teeth at all, it's our opinion," said Commissioner Paul Geissinger.

Vice President Philip Ginder said the resolution shows the CWSA, "We're behind their efforts. The CWSA is very concerned."