Pittsburgh officials issue warnings about PWSA problems, call for urgent action

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh city officials issued warnings Friday about the scope of the problems facing the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

Mayor Bill Peduto said if changes aren't made soon, the agency will collapse.

Pittsburgh mayoral candidate and City Councilwoman Darlene Harris also held a news conference ahead of Peduto’s planned meeting with PWSA officials. Harris  called the PWSA a “utility company in crisis” and called for an independent investigation.

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Harris said she is upset about elevated lead levels and the resignation of several board members.

“The mayor and the remaining members of the PWSA board should not wait to address important and critical issues," Harris said.

The mayor's Blue Ribbon Panel met downtown on Friday for the first time. The panel has one task: find the best way to restructure the embattled PWSA, which is $1 billion in debt and facing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of required infrastructure projects.

"Today is the first day of an administration to take ownership of this broken organization that's been broken for 20 years," Peduto said.

Four firms presented their proposals to the panel on how to restructure the PWSA. The panel is expected to choose the winning bid, which the mayor's office said will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, as early as next week.

The idea of a public-private partnership was brought up several times during presentations, but several residents told the board they think it's a mistake to have a public-private partnership.

"To keep our water safe, we have to keep the profit motive out of the water supply," one resident said.

Panel member Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis said though the makeup of the PWSA will change, it won't be done behind closed doors.

"An engaging community is certainly one of the priorities and I think that will continue to evolve. I'm hopeful the community will be part of this whole process moving forward," Naccarati-Chapkis said.

The decision to keep the PWSA's executive director has also been controversial. Board members on Friday were expected to extend its contract with Executive Director Bernard Lindstrom, but in a surprise move, the board delayed the vote.

Board member Paul Leger suggested that the vote should not be taken until three vacant board seats are filled. Leger said new board members should have the opportunity to interview Lindstrom and make their own decision on whether he's the right man to lead the authority.

Three board members resigned suddenly a couple of weeks ago when Peduto announced plans to retain Lindstrom as director.

Earlier this month, Peduto announced that Lindstrom had agreed to stay on, adding that he brings stability and continuity to the authority. Friday afternoon, the mayor's chief of staff, Kevin Acklin, said there is already a tentative agreement with Lindstrom and he supports holding the vote.

"There was also a strong feeling that the full board should be empaneled before that agreement is ultimately finalized," Acklin said.

Acklin said the new board members should be in place by next week and then they will deal with Lindstrom's contract.

Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.

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