A divided New Kensington Council appointed a retired Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County employee to the New Kensington Water Authority board.

Council voted 3-2 to appoint Tom Ceraso to the water authority board, for a term that expires at the end of 2027.

One resident, Melvyn Smith, believed Ceraso’s appointment would be an “absolute conflict” given Ceraso’s 38-year history working for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

In 2012, the Westmoreland water authority had indicated a desire to buy or own New Kensington’s authority, but that never happened.

Smith — who is on the New Kensington water authority board — said he respects Ceraso, but said the city shouldn’t touch anything related to another water authority.

“It is too valuable a commodity to run any kind of risk with,” Smith said. “We get great reports on the quality of our water, we don’t have rate increases — we’ve had two in 12 or 13 years — the department runs very smoothly.”

Reached after the meeting, Ceraso said he has no intention of selling New Kensington’s water authority.

Ceraso said he expressed interest to New Kensington Mayor Thomas Guzzo to serve on the authority if there was ever a vacancy, given his experience nearly four decades of working on the water authority.

“I thought it would be good for the city to have someone on the board with my experience,” Ceraso said. “I thought it would be a good fit.”

Guzzo, who recommended appointing Ceraso, touted Ceraso’s experience with municipal water authorities and his work as the chairman of the New Kensington Redevelopment Authority.

With Ceraso’s appointment to the water authority board, he will no longer serve on the Redevelopment Authority, Guzzo confirmed. Ceraso also was a Westmoreland County commissioner from 2000 to 2010.

“(Ceraso) has a wealth of experience in the water industry,” Guzzo said. “As far as selling it, it’s come to all of our attention over the last 15 years, and we have never done it. And as far as I’m concerned, I don’t see that happening.”

Councilmen Corey Pistininzi and Dante Cicconi, who supported Ceraso’s appointment, agreed.

“I absolutely believe that selling the water authority would be a huge mistake by the city,” Pistininzi said.

Councilmen Todd Mentecki and Timothy Dimaio said their dissenting votes were not against Ceraso.

Dimaio suggested holding off on the appointment for another month because Ceraso’s name was not printed on the meeting agenda. Solicitor Anthony Vigilante said there was nothing wrong with that. Other appointment suggestions could have been made and moved forward for a vote, Vigilante said.

Mentecki also was open to waiting another month before voting on the appointment. Mentecki said he’s never been for selling the water authority.

“(Ceraso) might be the best choice in the city, as I do think he’s an asset to the City of New Kensington,” Mentecki said. “I’d just like to talk to him first.”

A reappointment to the authority board went through council with no comments. Council unanimously reappointed Robert Pallone to the water authority board for a term that expires Oct. 31, 2029.

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