Starting May 12, meetings were conducted online to discuss the potential sale of the Municipality’s wastewater collection and conveyance system to Aqua Pennsylvania. Aqua has made a bid for $82 million to purchase the authority which provides services to Norristown and West Norriton. You can find information about the sale below with documents and video recaps of the meetings.
Council Action
Council voted at their June 16 work session meeting to adopt Ordinance 20-11 which makes official the sale of the NMWA to Aqua. Adoption was approved by Council President Derrick Perry and Council members Valerie Scott Cooper,Thomas Lepera, Heather Lewis and Sonya Sanders. Council Vice President Rebecca Smith and Councilman Hakim Jones voted against the ordinance.
On Aug. 28, a motion was approved by a 5-2 vote to advertise Ordinance 20-13 which, if adopted by council, would bring the sewer system under the control of the municipality and dissolve the NMWA board. The proposed ordinance can be viewed here: Ordinance-20-13----Ordinance-to-Dissolve-Sewer-Authority. (Proposed ordinance to be invalidated by Ordinance 20-14, see below)
On Sept. 1, council had another discussion about the sewer system which was prefaced with a presentation: Sewer system discussion.
Two ordinances were approved by council on Sept. 15 to be advertised regarding the municipal ownership of the sewer system that were approved by a 5-2 vote on Oct. 6:
Ordinance 20-14: Requiring the Norristown Municipal Waste Authority to convey the sewer system and all property and assets of the Authority to the Municipality under provisions of Section 5619 and Section 5622 of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act and vacating the previously advertised Ordinance 20-13 and;
Ordinance 20-15: Amending Norristown Ordinance No. 11 of 2020, authorizing the execution by the Municipality of an Asset Purchase Agreement between the Municipality and the purchaser Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater, Inc.
On Dec. 1, 2020, council unanimously voted to approve the advertisement of Ordinance 20-21 and Ordinance 20-22 which will, respectively, repeal Ordinance 20-14 and Ordinance 20-15. These two ordinances, if adopted, will completely the actions to sell the sewer authority to Aqua Pennsylvania.
NMWA Action
The board of the Norristown Municipal Waste Authority at its Aug. 12 meeting tabled a resolution to approve the sale. The board unanimously voted against the sale at their Sept. 9 meeting.
Documents
Frequently Asked Questions: You can read a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) in this PDF document.
Meeting Powerpoint presentation: To view the Powerpoint presentation from the May 12, May 28 and June 9 meetings please click this link to open and download the document.
Sept. 1 Sewer Sale Presentation: To view the Powerpoint presentation from the September 1 meeting please click this link to open and download the document.
Public comment: A PDF was created showing the public comment received at PIO@Norristown.org. You can read the public comments submitted through email right here.
Ordinance: Here is the ordinance Council adopted at their June 16 work session meeting.
Asset Purchase Agreement: Asset Purchase Agreement
Schedule to the Asset Purchase Agreement: Schedule to the Asset Purchase Agreement
National Resource Network 2019 Report: NRN Report
IBTS CRAFT 2018 Report (Strengths, vulnerabilities, weaknesses): IBTS CRAFT Report
Meeting Video
Oct. 6 Council Meeting (Ordinance 20-14 and 20-15 votes)
Sept. 1 Council Meeting (Sewer discussion)
June 9 Community Meeting
May 28 Community Meeting
May 12 (informational meeting)
View the presentation from this meeting here.