File Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK St. Clairsville City Council will have decisions Monday regarding water privatization, with the third reading of a contract to sell the water and wastewater system and a vacant council seat to fill. Safety and Service Director Jim Zucal, left, Mayor Terry Pugh and Finance Director Cindi Henry, discuss the issue with council. Rusty water equipment is on display on the council meeting room.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The future of water and wastewater service in the city will hinge on Monday’s decisions by City Council, but the body’s membership has changed, and there is a vacant council seat to be filled.

Council is slated to hold the third and final reading of a contract with Aqua Ohio to potentially sell the treatment and distribution systems on Monday.

Council members Beth Oprisch, Perry Basile and Mike Smith have voiced the opinion that the city should delay the decision and look into other options that would allow St. Clairsville to retain local control. But council in October voted down a motion to delay the process and order the administration to arrange an independent review of the system. Under that failed motion, the city also would have looked into funding options to “Band Aid” the system in the hopes of transitioning to Belmont County’s water service once the county’s planned upgrades are completed in several years.

The vote against the motion was 4-3, with Oprisch, who proposed the motion, Basile and Smith voting in favor, while Jim Velas, Frank Sabatino, Linda Jordan and Mark Bukmir voted in opposition. Oprisch and Basile have been vocal in wanting more time to look into other options before deciding whether privatization is the best course.

However, the makeup of council also shifted during the Oct. 21 meeting. Velas was appointed president of council after former president Tim Porter stepped down, citing health reasons. Porter’s move came after an audio recording of him was using profanity and a racial slur was released.

Council then began taking letters of interest for Velas’ now-empty council seat. A new council member could be named to replace Velas at Monday’s meeting. Should a tie vote arise among council members, the president of council casts the deciding vote.

Several residents have objected to a privatization vote occurring prior to the general election on Tuesday, when the mayoral seat and three council seats will be decided. The debate over water privatization has become the chief issue among the three contenders in the mayor’s race — incumbent Mayor Terry Pugh, who favors privatization, and residents Bill Brooks and Kathryn Thalman, both of whom oppose the sale to Aqua Ohio.

Recent council meetings have been the scene of many heated arguments and personal attacks, with residents voicing their suspicions of the process and their impression of a lack of transparency. These arguments were a central feature of a series of meetings where a residents’ committee were tasked with evaluating the sole bid. The committee was eventually dissolved, but all three mayor candidates were members.

During the Oct. 21 meeting, the attorney who negotiated the proposed contract on behalf of the city was present to answer questions from council members and questions submitted by the public.

Pugh has been a proponent of privatization, pointing out the state of the aging system and more than three decades of delayed maintenance. He said Aqua Ohio is the most practical solution, with the resources and expertise necessary to meet Ohio Environmental Protection Agency mandates. He said there already have been years of delays and studies.

Brooks is a vocal opponent of privatization who has voiced concerns that Aqua Ohio will charge exorbitant rates in the long term and give poor customer satisfaction. He also has been critical of the current administration’s apparent focus on growth rather than maintaining the city as it is.

Thalman also has called for a delay, saying all options have not been explored and all questions have not been answered. She and Brooks have criticized the current administration for what they see as a lack of transparency.

Jordan, who’s seat is up for election, has said she is leaning in favor of privatization but was still researching the proposed contract. She also has said she would like to see more cooperation among council members with the mayor’s administration as she seeks re-election.

Other council candidates include Mark Poindexter, who has been critical of the fact that there is only one bidder for the systems, and past councilman Perry Jones, who has said the city should take the best option available.

Pugh also has given the opinion that a new council member should not be seated at Monday’s meeting before a decision regarding the Aqua Ohio contract is made, since the new council member would not be as familiar with all aspects of the issue.