Flood Study Near Completion

At the most recent Westwood council work session, Borough Engineer Stephen Boswell said the Pascack Brook Study was near completion. 

“We’ve put in substantially more than 40 hours on this report,” Boswell said.

Officials decided that before a final draft of the report is completed they will send it to neighboring municipalities for feedback.

Mayor John Birkner Jr. said there are no other updates to report in regard to the study, but once it’s complete officials will take it to the Department of Environmental Protection to make a case for changing operational procedures.

At the Oct. 18 council meeting, residents who live in flood-affected areas - who formed a coalition called the Hillsdale and Westwood Flood Solution Coordination Group - and their lawyer, Don MacLachlan, . 

Birkner said they will be welcome to view the results once they are complete. The group said if they do not feel the results are adequate, they will challenge the study.

The residents previously requested to meet with Boswell so they could address their concerns in person, and to also see reports from the Pascack Valley Waterway Management Task Force. They asked that the task force provide an action plan for the next six to 12 months that sets measureable goals.

The residents also previously asked that the study be completely independent of United Water, concerned by the fact that Boswell Engineering lists United Water as a client on its website. They also asked members of the council to abstain from favors, compensation or campaign contributions from United Water until the study is complete.

At the Nov. 1 meeting, Boswell said the firm is taking most of the information for the study from independent sources. He said the only information used from United Water is how the company operates its dam.

MacLachlan released a statement on behalf of the Flood Solution Coordination Group who said they are awaiting a copy of the report.

“We are very interested to see how the study is approaching the critical issues related to United Water’s operations and the NJDEP permit issued to United Water,” the statement said, adding that while they’ve had positive discussions with the governing bodies and they're waiting to hear back on an offer to pay 10 percent of the study’s cost for the ability to participate in the process. “We are hoping for some positive responses to our offers to volunteer and contribute the group’s resources.”

The council also reported at last week’s meeting that United Water is attempting to raise their rates. Birkner said the utility is petitioning the Board of Public Utilities for an increase of 23 percent.

The mayor called the potential increase “ridiculous,” while Council President Robert Miller shared similar sentiments and called it “appalling.”

“People have a hard enough time in this economy paying their bills,” Birkner said.

At the next council meeting on Nov. 22, the council is going to vote on a resolution to oppose the rate increase.

“We’ll send our resolution to other municipalities who I believe will pass a similar resolution,” Birkner said.

Miller said he does not believe the rate increase is related to the study.