Taking authority

The mayor is right to assert himself at PWSA

If a board or authority has been established to oversee some aspect of city business, does the mayor have the right to take the wheel whenever it suits him? In the case of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Mayor Bill Peduto is right to assert himself. The agency’s problems ultimately are his responsibility.

The Rev. John Welch, one of Mr. Peduto’s opponents in the May primary, questioned whether Mr. Peduto overstepped his authority in negotiating a contract extension for Bernard Lindstrom, the PWSA’s executive director. “How much input did the board have in that contract?” Rev. Welch asked. “It should have input.”

By now, the PWSA’s problems, from costly leaks to poor customer service, clashes with state regulators and elevated levels of lead in the water, require little elaboration. In recent years, Pittsburgh has experienced economic gains in various neighborhoods, debuted new social and recreational amenities, and attracted more national exposure. A problem-plagued water and sewer agency has no place in this picture, and Mr. Peduto has a responsibility to step in.

He did as much last month, when he announced the formation of a panel to review the PWSA’s future, and two weeks ago, when he arranged a partnership with Peoples Natural Gas to provide faucet filters to customers concerned about lead contamination. City Councilwoman Deb Gross, who is also a PWSA board member, had suggested providing lead-filtering water pitchers to households with children younger than 6. Mr. Peduto used his clout to improve upon Ms. Gross’ proposal; with Peoples’ help, all city households are eligible for the faucet filters.

Now, if Mr. Peduto believes Mr. Lindstrom is the person who can lead the PWSA forward, that is his call to make. If Mr. Lindstrom fails, Mr. Peduto will have to own the mistake. It would be wrong for a mayor to inject himself into a board or authority’s work for political reasons; in matters of public safety, however, his involvement is a veritable obligation, especially when the agency’s board, however well meaning, has been unable to right the ship.

Mr. Peduto and his chief of staff, Kevin Acklin, were personally involved in arranging Mr. Lindstrom’s contract extension. Mr. Peduto said he didn’t know whether board members knew of those efforts. That’s our one complaint — board members serve on a volunteer basis, and they deserve to be kept up to speed.

The unexpected resignation of three board members last week gives Mr. Peduto additional leverage for recasting the agency. While some may view the departures as adding to the agency’s turmoil, they provide Mr. Peduto an opportunity to appoint fresh eyes and, perhaps, new expertise to an agency badly in need of help — and the mayor’s continued oversight.