State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Senator John Kane (D-Chester/Delaware), Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware), and Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) on January 22, 2024 in Chester County to co-host a public hearing focused on water privatization and the unintended consequences of Act 12 of 2016.

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The meeting included testimony from two panels:

Panel 1: Affected Residents

 

● Bill Ferguson – Co-Founder, Keep Water Affordable

● Peter Mrozinski – Co-Founder, Keep Water Affordable

● David McMahon – Neighbors Opposing Privatization Efforts (NOPE)

● Kofe Osei – Towamencin Township Supervisor, Neighbors Opposing Privatization Efforts (NOPE)

 

Panel 2: Policy Solutions

 

● Anthony Bellitto – Executive Director, North Penn Water Authority | Pennsylvania Municipal

Authorities Association

● Noel Brandon - Board Chair, Chester Water Authority

● Amy Sturges – Pennsylvania Municipal League

● Chairman Stephen DeFrank – Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

● Patrick Cicero – Office of Consumer Advocate

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The committee stated its unanimous support for repeal of Act 12.

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A meeting summary, a full video of the meeting, as well as copies of written testimony can be found at:

 https://www.senatormuth.com/policy-hearing-focuses-on-addressing-rising-water-wastewater-rates/  

 

Our KWA testimony starts at about 15:00 of the meeting video.