Montoursville council narrowly votes down motion to terminate Owens water contract

Montoursville Borough Council voted 4-3 on Jan. 5 to reject a motion to terminate the borough’s contract with Owens Professional Solutions, LLC for water operations, leaving the outsourced arrangement in place.

The motion to terminate the contract was moved by Council member Donald Konkle and seconded by Dr. Tina Kline. Debate focused on the borough’s experience managing water operations in the past and on whether outsourcing had led to testing or safety issues and failures of communication with borough staff. Clifford Hoffman, the borough’s Street and Water Project Coordinator, told the council that he was not aware of safety violations when the borough ran water operations and that, in his view, “since water operations have been outsourced there has been violations, testing issues and nothing being communicated with him or the Borough office.”

After discussion, Mayor Swank called a roll‑call vote. The tally was: Mark Tillson — No; Dr. Tina Kline — No; Misty Emick — No; Marshall Winters — Yes; Donald Boyles — Yes; Donald Konkle — Yes; Mayor Swank — No. That produced three votes in favor and four opposed; the motion therefore failed.

Council members who spoke framed the question as one of operational capacity and oversight. Konkle said the borough should consider bringing water services back in‑house; Tillson and other dissenting members asked for clarity about specific safety or compliance failings before making such a change.

No subsequent motion was recorded to reopen the contract or to set a follow‑up study; council business continued with other agenda items.