SUNBURY -- Four lawyers are now involved in the battle over the legitimacy of the Northumberland Sewer Authority's decision to transfer its assets and merge with Point Township's sewer authority.
Former Northumberland Sewer Authority Chairman Adam Klock filed a civil lawsuit against former board colleagues, Jack Fasold, James Orner and Donald Troxell, alleging they violated the Sunshine Law and held an illegal meeting where they voted to transfer the borough authority's assets to the North Point Sewer Authority, a new entity created by the merger of Northumberland and Point Township's sewer authorities.
Klock, who is represented by attorney Joel Wiest, said he's not opposed to the merger, but the alleged secretive way the transfer was handled. Northumberland Sewer Authority members, represented by attorney E. Eugene Brosius, say the meeting was properly advertised and no illegal action was taken.
Earlier this month, Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage granted a temporary injunction to keep North Point from conducting business on behalf of residents pending a permanent injunction hearing.
That hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, but in the last few weeks, Northumberland borough, represented by attorney Ryan Tira, and Point Township's special counsel, Preston L. Davis, each filed a petition to intervene in the suit.
Following a 70-minute in-chambers meeting between the four attorneys and Sacavage, the judge ordered all four sides to submit briefs by noon Jan. 30 in preparation for the injunction hearing on Jan. 31.
"The fundamental question is what power and authority does a municipality maintain over a municipal authority it has formed," Sacavage said.
