CENTER TWP — Supervisors said they are unsure if they will pursue further legal action against the sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority to Pennsylvania American Water, after Center Township’s appeal to Commonwealth Court was denied last month.

Center Township joined Summit Township last year in opposing the sale of the sewer authority, on the grounds the two townships would not see any proceeds from the sale despite many of their residents being customers of the service. Additionally, the appeal claims local control of what has been a public entity would be lost if BASA was sold to a private company.

During a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 9, supervisors said they don’t know much about the future of the lawsuit. The meeting agenda had no mention of the BASA sale, and an executive session at the end of the meeting was to discuss “other litigation,” said Mike Gallagher, the township’s solicitor.

Commonwealth Court dismissed the appeal on the grounds that Center and Summit townships waived their arguments on appeal by failing to raise objections to a settlement they reached in 2023 with BASA and the entities involved in the sale. The court opinion said the townships voluntarily abandoned their protests against the water company’s application by agreeing to the settlement.

On Nov. 9, 2023, the state Public Utility Commission voted to approve the $230 million sale agreement between BASA and Pennsylvania American Water; the proceeds will be evenly split between Butler and Butler Township, after the payments of debts and liabilities.

Center and Summit townships filed the appeal in December after the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved the sale.

The supervisors approved the release of Fire Relief Aid funds to the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company and Oneida Valley Volunteer Fire Department. Unionville will receive $50,148, and Oneida Valley will receive $4,360 from the fund.

The supervisors also voted to donate $3,500 to the Center Township Food Bank, and $1,500 to the Butler Area Public Library — the same amount the township gave each entity last year.