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Huge reimbursement not coming to city

Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority has deleted any reference to making a $675,000 reimbursement payment to the city in a stormwater management transfer in the works.

The city spent the money to separate stormwater and sanitary lines beneath Church and William streets, according to William E. Nichols Jr., city finance director.

Without the reimbursement, he said, the city will need to find other means to pay for the work and debt incurred in a line of credit.

“The city will have to pick up the cost,” he said.

The amount is a little more than three-quarters of a mill of city real estate tax. One mill is equal to $880,000.

Engineering drawings were presented to the authority by Kimball Architects before the decision was made, Nichols said.

Joseph Orso, authority solicitor, said Wednesday the $675,000 was removed from the stormwater transfer document.

Rebecca Haladay, city engineer, said the city wants to be reimbursed for its investment.

However, Councilwoman Bonnie Katz, chairwoman of the City Council public works committee, said she did not believe the city has the legal standing to demand the payment.

“Disappointed with the presentation committee,” Mayor Gabriel J. Campana said. “Disappointed they gave the city a ‘no’ vote for money spent to benefit the city with stormwater and taxpayers of the city lost out.”

Council’s position on reimbursement handicapped the residents and taxpayers because council said they didn’t have to do that. “Executive and legislative branches must be on the same page when it comes to reimbursements or negotiations.”

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