In interviews, Larry Downing and Carol Simpson say they support Commissioner Dennis Reinaker's pleas for independent analyses of the deal's impact on customers and for more time for residents to respond.

"The bosses -- the taxpayers -- haven't had a fair chance to have input on this,'' said Downing. "I'd like to know more. This is a once-and-done thing. Once we do this, it's done.''

Reinaker wants independent financial and utility experts to review the proposed $25.5 million deal with the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority. He is the only commissioner to step forward and voice uncertainty about the move.

Downing and Simpson, Republicans who are expected to take office in January, support Reinaker's recommendation.

"An independent study shouldn't take more than a few months,'' Simpson said. "I see no reason why we can't step back and do that. Like everybody else in Manheim Township, I want to see hard costs and a real a-b comparison, looking out 20 years, of selling it versus not selling it.''

None of the other commissioners -- Harry Ritter, Bob Bledsoe, Don Smith or Bernie Gordon -- would comment this morning.

"I don't make statements to newspapers. If you want to know something, come to the meetings,'' Ritter said.

Gordon, when asked for comment, said: "Why don't you come to a public meeting and ask questions like everybody else does?'' He also asked the New Era to correct "distortions'' it had published about the potential sale. When asked by a reporter for specifics during a phone call, Gordon hung up.

Downing and Simpson are expected to replace Reinaker and Gordon on the five-member board. Reinaker was defeated in the May primary election. Gordon initially had sought re-election to a second term but later withdrew from the race for reasons never publicly explained.

Because of the magnitude of the $25.5 million sewer deal and because the commissioners are vague about how the township would use the proceeds, the issue is being closely watched in the suburb.

Residents who routinely attend public meetings say they are suspicious that the money might be used to build a $25 million community center instead of being invested.

Many are also unclear about the potential financial impact of the deal and are worried that a majority of the commissioners are rushing to approve it.

Downing said he understands the reasons for the pace.

"The cost of a bond is very low now, probably the lowest in years, and obviously you want to move as an individual would move on buying a house,'' he said.

"On the other hand, I don't see anything that tells me it's going to skyrocket either, and I think the residents need an opportunity to get a closer look at this situation.

"Maybe from (the commissioners') perspective, they're not pushing it,'' he said. "The problem I have is the public -- including myself -- is only finding out about the data ... and are concerned about the true value of the system.''

Downing and Simpson stressed that they are not opposed to the sale. They just want the commissioners to do a better job of explaining the issue.

The board will try on Aug. 25. It will be the second such meeting. Many questions were left unanswered after the initial forum, held in July.

"While I applaud the commissioners, and I thought they did a very good job of having the meeting just to talk about the sewers,'' Simpson said, "my criticism would be that there really weren't a lot of hard numbers, nor when they were challenged by residents could they provide the hard numbers.

"I think the level of detail wasn't there that the residents of Manheim Township want and expect,'' Simpson said, "when we're making decisions at this level.''


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