Binghamton Mayor Ends Sewage Treatment Plant Privatization Push

The move to privatize operations at the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant has been put on hold.

Binghamton Mayor Richard David on Wednesday issued a statement indicating discussions on turning the Vestal facility's management over to a private firm have ended.

David also said Veolia "has agreed" to not begin work on a proposed audit of plant maintenance operations "until June 16."

The mayor last month announced the city would pay Veolia $66,300 for the maintenance assessment.

The plan was delayed after some members of city council and others expressed concerns about the wisdom of hiring the company, which has done past work at the facility.

Councilman Joe Burns, the Democratic candidate for mayor, has said he's opposed to Veolia conducting the maintenance review. He wants the work to be done by an independent company "without a vested interest in the potential outcome of any audit."