Lansford debates pay for water authority

Lansford Borough Council members are concerned that the board of directors of the water authority serving the town are paid too much.

Lansford-Coaldale Joint Water Authority board members receive an annual salary and pension contributions, and are offered health benefits.

“If you live in this town you know it’s like ‘Get appointed to the water authority, you have extra income for life.’ That’s the big joke. If you haven’t heard it, I’ve heard it,” Councilman Martin Ditsky said.

While the boroughs each appoint their own representatives — three for Lansford and two for Coaldale — the salaries are set by the authority board.

A decade ago, then-Councilman Tommy Vadyak took the issue to the Carbon County district attorney, the state Ethics Commission, and the state Local Government Commission — they all declined to take any legal action against the authority board.

The issue arose again Wednesday night, as council appointed a new member to the authority board — Steven Foster. Eight residents applied for the five-year term.

One of the applicants, Christopher Ondrus, said before the vote that he would only accept $1,200 per year if appointed.

Ondrus said that amount is much less than the current authority board members receive, and is more in line with what other water authorities in the area pay their board members.

“I’m not looking for the position for money, I’m looking to save money for the authority and the customers. Depending on how the vote goes, at least I tried,” he said.

The person who held the seat for the last five years, Joseph Horvat, received an average of $9,463 per year in compensation, as well as pension contributions, according to figures Ondrus provided.

He also researched the compensation for the board members at five other area water authorities. Board members at Summit Hill Water Authority, Tamaqua Area Water Authority and Nesquehoning Water Authority and Palmerton Municipal Water Authority received between $600-$1,200 per year.

Lehighton Water Authority pays its members up to $3,000 per year.

None of the boards offer their board members pension or benefits.

Ondrus said he previously served on the authority board, and accepted the full salary. He said he accepted the compensation at that time.

“It was up in the air whether I was gonna take the salary — but after I found out a previous member was collecting health benefits and wasn’t even on the board, I changed my mind,” he said.

While council members did not nominate Ondrus for the position, they said they were also concerned about the board’s compensation being too excessive.

Council voted to organize a meeting with Coaldale Borough Council to discuss the future of the water authority.