Sparks Fly Over Storm Water Authority Formation At Dormont Council Meeting

DORMONT (KDKA) - Last night, another heated debate was held in Dormont over last year's decision to form a storm water authority for the borough.

The battle between the newly-elected Dormont City Council officials and Mayor Phil Ross continued.

"I believe that passionately about the idea of giving a non-elected body the power to tax. It's un-American, it's unconstitutional. To me that's the bottom line," resident Matt Hamilton said.

Council President John Maggio is one of four members who voted to do away with the authority that was just established in August.

"The money that could be saved by eliminating the storm water authority administration cost after one year of approximately $104,000 could purchase two police cars. After five years, $520,000, the borough could repair Athens Alley. After seven years, $728,000, the borough could purchase a new fire truck," Maggio said.

Just last week, the mayor vetoed council's action saying a volunteer authority -- and not an ever-changing council -- were better qualified to make hard decisions about upgrading the borough's aging infrastructure.

"I would rather have it a storm water authority, a well-organized corporated authority making these decisions than I would with people with council that can't get along with each other, have their own agendas, and that's an ever-changing face and you know it as well as me, and that's why I vetoed it," Mayor Ross said.

It will now take five of the seven council members to overturn the veto.

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