The Lehigh County Commissioners tabled a bill that would extend the charter of the Lehigh County Authority at its Feb. 27 meeting.

The LCA's charter, which currently expires in 36 years, needs to be extended an additional 14 years in order for the authority to bid on the proposed 50-year lease for Allentown's water.

LCA's General Manager Aurel Arndt addressed concerns brought forward by the commissioners and Lehigh County citizens over what leasing Allentown's water would mean for rate increases. Ardnt said the LCA is a non-profit organization and every cent it makes goes back into the services it delivers its customers.

"Even though there are rate caps, which in theory would allow the authority to set up those rate caps in the city lease documents, the LCA has no incentive to do that," Ardnt said. "So in fact, LCA can be the lowest cost provider unlike the private sector, where the idea is to maximize profits and returns."

Commissioner Percy Dougherty said he supported the extension of the charter because the commissioners have some control over the LCA they would not have with a private company leasing the water.

Commissioner Michael Schware, however, does not think the board has sufficient oversight of the authority.

"I think you're seeing the illusion of what public oversight is," Schware said. "If we're going to [extend the charter], we need to make sure we have the right amount of oversight."

Schware added the board has been put on an "artificial" timeframe by Allentown, but the board needs to take its time to make sure it's making the right decision.

"This is exactly how the pension problem was created, it was rushed through and created a problem," he said. "We're going to rush this through and create another problem because we didn't take our time. We owe it to the citizens of Lehigh County to make sure we're doing everything we can [to make sure] this is right."

Board Vice President Scott Ott agreed with Schware the board needs more time and information before it can make a decision.

"It's getting comical how little information we're getting in such an important situation," Ott said.

Commissioner Daniel McCarthy, however, said the board has been given enough time and information from the LCA to make a decision.

"We've had a number of meetings over a number of weeks," McCarthy said. "I don't want to micromanage LCA. You set up an authority because you don't want to politicize the efforts, you want to keep out of it as much as you can."

McCarthy questioned whether another two weeks to review the LCA's charter would make a difference.

"What if [the LCA] do give us their plans, what do we do?" McCarthy said. "I'm not competent to analyze a bid, so I have reservations about putting this off. I think I've gotten enough data to make a decision and I wish we would make that decision tonight."

Dougherty motioned to table the bill, which was supported by all of the commissioners except McCarthy.

President Lisa Scheller said there are significant ramifications that come along with the board's decision and the board members have taken significant amounts of their time.

"This could be the most important decision this board of commissioners makes for the next 50 years," Scheller said. "It can't be one that is made quickly or taken lightly."

The commissioners will vote on the extension at its next meeting March 13 in the public hearing room of the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown.