Flooded Residents Want Answers About Engineering Study

Dozens of residents attended the Westwood council work session Tuesday night, along with a lawyer they have hired, to ask officials to provide additional information about the engineering study of area waterways that they and to consider some changes.

Calling themselves the Hillsdale and Westwood Flood Solution Coordination Group, the residents have organized in the last three months and hired attorney Don MacLachlan, who works out of Upper Saddle River, to represent them.

MacLachlan brought a lengthy letter to the council meeting that he handed out to all members of the governing body, which outlined all the information the group is seeking. He said members of the group, who have experienced numerous floods in the past year, are "committed to the acceleration of the flood solution evaluation process" and want to ensure that it is "transparent and independent of United Water." He called the group a watch dog for the process.

Members of the group want to see a draft of the engineering study that Boswell Engineering is in the midst of conducting about the area waterways. Maclachlan said his clients want to have input now to make sure they agree with the parameters of the study, which he said could carry a lot of weight.

"We'd like to be on board," MacLachlan said. "We would like to not have to fight your report because we don't believe it's had sufficient rigor of analysis."

He added that the group was willing to pay 10 percent of the study's cost, estimated to be about $7,000 total, and "have a seat at the table and participate."

Members of the group would like the scope of the study amended to include some potential alternatives for moving water from the Woodcliff Lake to the Oradell reservoirs other than the Pascack Brook. MacLachlan said a pipeline could be a possible solution, pointing out that United Water uses a pipeline in the Wanaque area.

MacLachlan also brought up conflict of interest issues relating to the study. He said since Boswell Engineering lists United Water and other water utilities as clients on its website, residents are concerned. He asked that the firm not bid on any United Water projects or engage in any services until the study is complete.

While Borough Engineer Stephen Boswell said his firm would not have any dealings with United Water during the study, he said he could not agree to stopping work with other water utilities. He said his firm serves as the engineer for Garfield and Hawthorne, doing their water engineering. He said he will not stop that work.

"Both of the other water utilities have no reservoirs, no dams. I see absolutely no conflict," Boswell said. "If the governing body deems that is a requirement, then we'll respectfully withdraw from doing the study."

MacLachlan also asked members of the council to disclose if any of them receive favors, compensation or campaign contributions from United Water and to take a pledge that they would not do so until the issues are resolved.

MacLachlan said he would like to see reports from the Pascack Valley Waterway Management Task Force to get a better idea of the work that has been done. He also asked that the task force provide an action plan for the next six to 12 months that sets measurable goals. He said residents would also like to be more involved in that group since they are directly affected and asked that the Flood Solution Group be given a seat on the task force.

Because officials had not seen the letter or heard the requests until that night, they said they wanted some time to digest the information and would respond accordingly.

But Mayor John Birkner Jr. did address the crowd, saying officials are doing their best to find a solution.

"What we are doing, and it is a very real and tangible route to finding relief, is that we have engaged a legitimate engineering study on the operation of the dams and water in the reservoirs," Birkner said. "What we're hoping to do is take that information back to the state who holds the permits."

The mayor said officials are trying to come up with a solution, which has been evasive for years. He said the engineering study is something new that hasn't been tried before.

"Every action that we have taken has not been a delay tactic or put it off until the next rainstorm," Birkner said. "It has been to move ... to find a solution."

Borough Attorney Russell Huntington suggested officials confer and then respond to Maclachlan, who will serve as the representative and spokesman for the group.

Boswell estimates the study, in its original form, will take four more weeks to complete.

The next Westwood council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 18.