Township Council Votes on $3 Million Improvement Plan in Llewellyn Park

An ordinance allowing $3 million in local improvements to Llewellyn Park passed yet another hurdle Tuesday night after the township council voted to authorize the reconstruction of sewage systems and the repaving of roadways inside the private property. The ordinance was approved on second and final reading as Llewellyn residents took to public comment to both adamantly oppose and support the project. 

The plan, proposed by the Llewellyn Park Committee of Managers, calls for the township to use its bonding power to finance the reconstruction project. The township issued bonds would then be repaid by Llewellyn residents that are benefiting from the improvements. 

Those against the plan contend the committee of managers is not adequately representing the needs of the community. 

"We have always been a community that pays as it goes," said Llewellyn resident Gary Stiegler, who opposed the project. "I think this has become a process that has run out of control, it's only going to hurt our community and it's only going to hurt us. This started out with eight people on a block of 150 homes. Please find out what the rest of us think." 

Others staunchly stood by the ordinance saying the plan had been a long time coming. 

"If we don't do this right now, when are we going to do this?" said Llewellyn resident Margaret Gross, who said the smell of sewage in her backyard was unbearable and that the storm waters were not being directed appropriately. "It's a problem, and while I don't enjoy paying for something when I don't have the money for, it has to be done." 

Council members said they received only six emails against the proposal and a slew of feedback supporting the improvements. 

"To me what I hear is that there is not opposition to the fact that something needs to be done, the issue is the process and the details," said councilman Joe Krakoviak. "We have to recognize part of the issue has to do with the internal government structure (of Llewellyn Park)." 

While the nine-person committee of managers has the power to authorize and fund minor improvements in the area separate from the township, they said the project called for greater supervision, cost and expertise that needed to be done by an outside party. 

"This is a magnitude of a project that can best be accomplished by professionals in the township"  given the "state of disrepair" of the roads and sewage, said Gerald Sweeney, member of the committee.

The improvement project would reconstruct and repair every road in Llewellyn Park except those that have been repaired in the past two to three years, said Leonard Lepore, director of the West Orange department of public works and deputy head of engineering. It would also remove and replace sanitary sewage systems or rehabilitate them in place.

The drainage improvement, though, would be minimal. "The Park has not requested to expand the drainage system, just to improve the existing one," said Lepore. While the existing drainage system was built years ago and isn't sufficient today, the cost to revamp the drainage and storm system would severely spike the total cost of the project, said Lepore.

Once construction finished, Llewellyn Park residents would pay a yearly fee on top of already scheduled taxes until the project was paid off, said Kenneth Kayser, assistant attorney for the township. The bonds would be paid over the course of 10-15 years. He said the tax assessor would determine how much money is owned by each resident given the assessment and hold a public hearing. 

The total cost of the project remains vague, said Kayser, making it hard to predict the financial burden on individual homeowners. 

Council members were wary the dispute between residents for and against the project could affect the township's role in the process.

"My major concern is that opposition to the proposed process might express itself to affect the township itself," said Krakoviak. "I don't want to get embroiled in litigation." 

Kayser said those fears were "imaginary" and assured the council it was an issue between the residents of the park and the committee. 

"I'm sorry to see the contention in the park, but the council is not going to get involved," said councilwoman Patty Spango.

[Editor's note: Continue to check Patch for more coverage on Tuesday night's township council meeting.]