Canonsburg Council Discusses $3 Million Memorandum of Understanding With CHJA

Canonsburg Council met Monday, and borough officials said the majority of the almost three-hour agenda meeting focused on memorandum of understanding proposed by the Canonsburg-Houston Joint Authority.

The memorandum has been under consideration for nearly six months and would give CHJA control of all operations at the sewage plant in exchange for $3 million to be paid to the borough, according to the document.

The memorandum would also extend the borough's lease-back arrangement with CHJA so that the authority could obtain 30-year bonds to expand and update the plant. 

At the meeting, CHJA Chairman Mike Alterio said design for the expanded plant is 60 percent complete and was scheduled to be bid out in August.

Alterio said council had three choices—to do nothing, permit the sewer authority to handle all plant operations or to extend the lease.

North Strabane Municipal Authority informed both CHJA and the borough that it may would seek litigation if the borough were to receive payment for agreeing to the memorandum, according to the borough website.

No action was taken on the matter at the meeting.