Nov 20, 2002 By Jenny Susa 2 min read

EAST BETHLEHEM TWP. – Several citizens have addressed the East Bethlehem Township Municipal Authority on debt service rate reduction for their properties, which are not currently in use. Office manager Marcy Persin said the authority has received 15-20 written requests for a reduction, and some citizens appeared before the board Tuesday night because they felt they were being unfairly charged.

“The criteria right now in order to qualify is that the property must be uninhabitable, with no plumbing,” said Persin. She added that with evidence that there has been no water at the location for at least a year, a reduction could be granted.

Jake McCusker, a local resident who is also on the water board, told the authority that his mother’s old house has been uninhabited for quite some time, and questioned the board about their position on the sewage bill.

Norman Masciarelli said that there is no way for them to “police the activities” in the homes, so there is no way to tell whether they could still be used at a later time after the fees have been removed.

Masciarelli said the problem with allowing too many reductions is that it could result in a loss of funding, and although they want to accommodate everyone, they can’t risk losing too much.

“Whatever is not paid by one person, someone else has to pay,” said Masciarelli. “If water is shut off and we give a debt service rate reduction, bills could be higher for those that are paying them.”

Solicitor Josh Carroll suggested that the board table the requests until the next meeting, so they can discuss what amendments might be made to the current criteria.

Chairman Edward DeMuth agreed that waiting until next month would be the best option.

“Let’s make sure we do this right so that there will be absolutely no problems,” said DeMuth.