WEIRTON — Following recent comments about transparency in the operations of the Weirton water system, Weirton Council and the Weirton Area Water Board are scheduling a work session to sit down and discuss any concerns between the two bodies.

During Thursday’s Water Board meeting, Ward 6 Councilman Anthony Rocchio, who serves as an ex-officio member of the board, announced those involved are hoping to schedule the gathering for early February.

Referencing an address made by Utilities Director A.D. “Butch” Mastrantoni to council during its meeting Monday night requesting such a work session, Rocchio said there already had been discussions about such a session.

“Prior to that, we already had a plan; me, (Ward 1 Councilman) Tim Connell, and Councilwoman (Brittany) Holloway,” Rocchio said. “We’re planning on either February 3 or 4.”

Rocchio said Mastrantoni would be in contact with City Clerk Kimberly Long for a definitive scheduling on the work session.

During his comments Monday, Mastrantoni took issue with ongoing criticisms and claims of a lack of transparency against the water board, primarily through recent news reports and social media platforms, noting the board meets in open session once per month and members of council receive regular written informational reports as well as time during council meetings where Mastrantoni and other municipal department heads are called upon.

“All our business is open to the public, and conducted in the light of day,” Mastrantoni said Monday, noting Rocchio usually sits next to him during Water Board meetings.

Much of the commentary can be traced back to one year ago when the community was attempting to rebound from a series of wide-scale water line breaks and city-wide boil orders which resulted in service outages to various parts of Weirton and some surrounding areas.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission held a hearing at the Millsop Community Center in April, listening to comments from residents and local officials.

The PSC issued a series of recommendations in June, directing the water board to submit an action plan to replace the cast iron and galvanized piping during the next five years; submit an action plan to define a leak detection and repair program; a plan to achieve a water loss percentage of 15 percent or less; resolve its violations of Bureau for Public Health standards which included having water lines located at a 36-inch depth instead of current requirements of at least 42 inches; develop a possible alternate water supply for additional backup during major outages; have a process in place to provide alerts to customers by text and email messages; and to provide details on how customers may access information during major outages or crises.

In January, the PSC further ordered quarterly updates on work performed toward those goals, with the first report filed earlier this week.