Emotions boiled over Tuesday night as Plumstead supervisors exchanged caustic comments during the debate over the proposed agreement being considered with the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority.

Four [actually, three] members expressed their belief that the proposed agreement would be a win for the township. They believe it would limit the number of hookups the authority could have and thus curtail any further expansion in the future. At the same time, the agreement would enable the township to avoid being in the sewage treatment business and avoid package treatment plants, which supervisors Vince Formica and Stacey Mulholland termed disasters.

Supervisor Chairman Frank Froio expressed his support for the agreement, saying he felt it would provide for a long-term plan for the township. In addition, he said it would be expensive to continue to fight the lawsuit with the authority and that it would be wise to limit the number of hookups in the township.

Supervisor Betsy Helsel, who opposes the agreement, said it would have a negative environmental impact that would allow builders, who would now have access to public water and sewage, to build their developments.

Housley Carr added that the 80 percent growth rate experienced in Plumstead throughout the 1990s slowed only due to the township actively cracking down on developers. He emphasized the direct link between public water and sewers with development and warned that in 10 years the area would be changed forever if this agreement was approved

The vote on the measure occurred too late for this edition.

[At
                                    about 2:10 AM the Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve the settlement offer.]

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