To the Editor,

I’m sure a lot of people saw the blatant and disrespectful behavior of the Weirton Water Board on June 12 on local television news. The insulting behavior of the board toward Karen Mentzer was appalling. Not one person had the decency to answer her question about accountability over the city’s water problems.

However, I know personally what that treatment feels like. For me my treatment was with the previous council administration, when I asked, not once, but on three separate occasions, why the city had to double the water and sewer system with a declining population. And all I got from members of council and the mayor was a “deer in the headlights” reaction. To this date, I have never received an answer to why we need to double the water system.

So now under a new administration, with an old and aging water board, you get this immature child like display, on television. What if someone was watching with thoughts of relocating to Weirton? If it was me, my decision would be, no way, I’m going to Weirton. Then to hear one member of the board saying he would only answer questions in private and not a pubic setting, really? Where is the transparency of the board? His actions should be met with termination. We need people with compassion, not arrogance.

To the new mayor and council, you were elected by the citizens of this city and you work for the citizens, you are not independent contractors. As for the water board; members, are selected by council and can be terminated. So how can the mayor and council, after watching a despicable display unfold on television, not terminate a few, or all of the board? Do you want these people representing the city?

We have a new mayor and council with a new set of eyes and plans for the future. I certainly hope and pray for transparency in their leadership. I certainly hope they govern with compassion and sensitivity to the concerns of an aging population and do their best to serve their needs. I certainly hope action from council can be seen in upcoming weeks about a reorganization of the water board, with new members. And I certainly hope and pray that the citizens of Weirton can approach the administration, with any and all questions and concerns, and can expect straight and truthful answers, in a public forum. Enough is enough!

Thomas Zielinsky

Weirton