In this age of emails, social media and instant messaging, it seems no one can pick up a phone anymore.

That’s the only conclusion that can be reached after the latest developments in the proposed sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority to the Pennsylvania American Water Company.

BASA serves nearly 15,000 customers in 32.5 square miles, which includes Butler, Butler Township, Center Township, East Butler, parts of Connoquenessing, Summit and Oakland townships, and a small portion of Penn Township.

Butler, Butler Township and the Pennsylvania American Water Company all approved confidentiality agreements with each other to keep the details of the proposed sale and the state of the ongoing discussions secret.

That’s all well and good, and there can be wholly innocuous reasons to keep details on an ongoing negotiation under wraps.

However, the sticking point for the Center Township supervisors is the fact they have no representation on the BASA board. Of the five representatives, three represent Butler and two represent Butler Township.

Pennsylvania American, the largest water and wastewater company in the state, offered to buy the authority in April 2021. In December, the BASA board voted to give Pennsylvania American Water Company 60 days to estimate the value of BASA’s sewer system and assets for a potential sale.

At the meeting in December, the Center Township supervisors voted to draft a letter to the sewer authority asking for some voice in the potential sale of the system. Apparently the letter has gone unanswered.

Center Township residents, their supervisors fear, are having their future water service decided for them without them having any say in the matter. The supervisors claim they’ve received no information about the sale, or even if it is going to happen.

The Center Township supervisors have voted to write to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to oppose the sale.

All this could have been avoided if someone at the BASA or the City of Butler or Butler Township had seen fit to keep Center Township informed of the details of negotiations.

As it is, it appears BASA and the Pennsylvania American Water Company are mapping out their future course and Center Township residents fear they are being taken for a ride.

—EKF