Thursday, June 13, 2013
Potential flooding expected if storm stays on track to deliver 3-4 inches of rain to Bergen County.
United Water began releasing water from the Oradell Reservoir midnight Thursday upon orders from Governor Christie after the National Weather Service issued the third flood watch in a week for Bergen County and much of the tri-state area Wednesday, according to New Milford Mayor Ann Subrizi. Subrizi spoke with representatives from United Water who said that they were releasing water from the Oradell Reservoir to make room for the water coming from the release of the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir. Oradell is the lowest reservoir on the reservoir chain. Subrizi stressed that she and Police Chief Frank Papapietro, who also heads the Office of Emergency Management, are closely monitoring the storm and will provide updates as they become available…
The National Weather Service warned of potential flooding in Bergen County Thursday through Saturday morning.
Updated at 8:07 a.m. Thursday. United Water began releasing water from the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Wednesday after the National Weather Service issued the third flood watch in a week for Bergen County and much of the tri-state area Wednesday, according to Westwood Mayor John Birkner. The watch lasts from Thursday morning through Saturday morning. As of 7 a.m. Thursday, water in the reservoir was at elevation 94.05. The drawdown came just one day after engineers who prepared a report about the upcoming dam project said that releasing the water will not necessarily mitigate flooding, but a tool to predict the best time to release water in order to reduce some flooding could likely be created by studying the reservoir and brook. The NWS has …
Monday, May 27, 2013
The fifth annual Reservoir Challenge will raise money to protect the Hackensack River and its tributaries.
Hackensack Riverkeeper and United Water are planning to hold the fifth annual Reservoir Challenge at the Oradell Reservoir in Haworth this weekend. This year's schedule includes 5K and 10K boat races, two guided paddles, nature walks, and the annual Mayor's Cup, in which local mayors compete. There will also be a barbecue lunch, live music and activities for children. The full schedule is available on the Riverkeeper's website. Money raised at the event will go to Hackensack Riverkeeper, a group which seeks to protect the Hackensack River's watershed. Last year's Reservoir Challenge raised more than $10,000. Registration for the Reservoir Challenge costs $30, or free for spectators. Boats can also be rented for $25. The deadline to …
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The overwhelming reaction to the BOE's vote approving a 'conceptual' contract with the developer of the United Water property dominated the conversation in town this week.
Jaws dropped and tensions mounted during Tuesday's Zoning Board meeting at the revelation that the New Milford Board of Education (BOE) had entered into a separate agreement with the developer of the United Water property to receive a parcel of land to build a 'field of dreams.' Depsite the loud response that accompanied the revelation that the New Milford Board of Education (BOE) had entered into a separate agreement with the developer of the United Water property to receive a three-acre parcel of land to build a 'field of dreams,' the Board of Ed stands by their decision. Defending the BOE's decision, Superintendent Michael Polizzi said, "Creating 21st Century learning environments extend past the walls of the classrooms." It took four …
Friday, April 19, 2013
Expert says the master plan puts affordable housing on 13-Acre United Water property.
Thursday's special meeting of the Zoning Board began where it ended last--with the cross examination of the applicant's planner, Peter Steck, who owns a private consulting firm in Maplewood. As with his prior testimony, Steck repeatedly stressed that the proposed development of the United Water property--70,500 sq. ft. supermarket, 4300 sq. ft. bank and 24 low and moderate income housing units (down from 221 units)--is an "inherently beneficial use." Under the borough's first two Council of Affordable Housing (COAH) requirements, New Milford needs to construct 45 low to moderate income housing units. The current United Water application requires all 24 of the housing units to serve as affordable housing. "It was my conclusion [the …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Company says increase needed to cover infrastructure upgrades and other expenses.
United Water is seeking approval from the state for an 18 percent rate increase, the company said. The company said it needs $30 million generated by the higher fees to pay for infrastructure upgrades and other expenses. An average residential United Water customer using 7,480 gallons of water per month would see an increase from $557 to $657, according to a report on northjersey.com. “This is a challenging economy, not only for our customers, but for the company. The cost of providing reliable water service continues to climb and we are sensitive to seeking a rate adjustment at this time. We must remain committed, however, to providing uninterrupted water service and maintaining exceptional water quality,” Jim Glozzy, United Water vice…
The state Department of Environmental Protection has given United Water until April 1 to outline their schedule for the project.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is requiring United Water to start work to upgrade the dam at the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir "as soon as possible" in a letter dated March 1. The DEP is requiring United Water to approximately double the rate at which water can flow out of the reservoir so that the dam would not break in a 1,000-year storm. United Water has until April 1 to submit a schedule for the project. Steven Goudsmith, a company rep, told Patch that the schedule is still being developed. United Water's plan was approved by the DEP in late 2011, but work has not yet started. Hillsdale officials have insisted the borough's Planning Board should review the effects the project could have on downstream flooding along …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Hillsdale & Westwood Flood Solution Group's attorney said some flooding along the Pascack Brook can be stopped.
The Hillsdale & Westwood Flood Solution Group, an organization of residents affected or concerned by flooding, offered to work more closely with the Hillsdale government during a borough council meeting Tuesday night. Donald MacLachlan, an attorney representing the group, said that the council should form a committee tasked with advising the governing body on resolving the flooding problem along the Pascack Brook. MacLachlan said the committee could help with formulating a plan and also finding funding for any projects needed for the plan. The state government is currently "highly sensitive" to flooding issues, he said. The upcoming United Water project to upgrade the dam at the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir is one focus of the group, but not …
Monday, February 25, 2013
United Water sued Hillsdale to void a pair of land use laws the borough passed last year.
A lawsuit filed by United Water against Hillsdale stands as the next step in the legal battle over a proposed project to upgrade the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir dam. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is requiring United Water to approximately double the rate at which water can flow out of the reservoir. The DEP approved a plan submitted by United Water in 2011. Hillsdale has asserted that its Planning Board should review United Water's plans because of concerns that the project could worsen flooding along the Pascack Brook downstream from the reservoir. The borough passed two ordinances last year which create additional borough oversight for tree removal and utility projects in order to "protect the public health, safety …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Grant petitions the court to invalidate the appointment of Marc Leibman as Borough Attorney citing conflict of interest and 'pay to play.'
Councilwoman Hedy Grant has filed a lawsuit against Councilman Austin Ashley, Mayor Ann Subrizi and the Borough of New Milford petitioning the court to invalidate the appointment of Borough Attorney, Marc Leibman of the law firm Kaufman, Semeraro, Bern, Deutsch & Leibman. The complaint, filed in Superior Court in Hackensack, submits that as Leibman's client in the matter before the New Milford Zoning Board regarding the potential development of the United Water property by the S. Hekemian Group, Ashley was "disqualified by self-interest" from voting for the appointment of Leibman as Borough Attorney. Grant seeks a judicial determination that Ashley had a "disqualifying conflict of interest" by nominating and voting on the appointment of …
40.92383
-74.02719
New Milford Borough Hall
930 River Rd, New Milford, NJ
/articles/grant-files-suit-to-remove-borough-attorney
728213
/locations/8751528
Ulises
2:37 pm on Thursday, June 13, 2013
Joe, these things are hard to predict but I don't think it'll be disastrous like in 2007 or in 2011 with Huricane Irene. Nevertheless, we always plan for the worst because we have neighbors like United Water that mismanage their reservoirs and are pro-development of our floodplain. more ›