Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-September 9, 2009 Issue

Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 9, 2009 Waldwick Town to share in cost of resident’s new water service A Waldwick property owner will have to pick up half the tab for the extensive work necessary to replace his water curb box and return his water service, the Waldwick Council decided last week. “We should each assume culpability and meet half way,” recommended Borough Administrator Gary Kratz during last week’s council workshop session. When the Waldwick Water Department went to replace the curb box in anticipation of replacing the water meter at the Lincoln Place residence, they found the galvanized pipe connection totally corroded and hole-ridden, said Kratz. He bolstered his explanation by displaying for the governing body a portion of the pipe in question. He said that a leak resulted, and the condition of the pipe did not allow for its connection to a copper sleeve at the curb. “We are now going underneath the sidewalk, and we don’t know how far we’d have to go before we find the leak. They have a beautiful yard and rock garden which woould have to be disturbed,” Kratz said. He recommended a new water service instead, which will run between $1,800 and $2,500, he said. The administrator said that after a similar problem occurred when replacing a water meter in 2005, the council, on the advice of its attorney, had decided that homeowners would be responsible for having appropriate connections to meters before the water department would replace them. In that instance, on Highwood Avenue, the meter was indoors and substantial damage was done to the finished basement, he said. The practice of checking the curbside boxes before changing meters was instituted to assure water service could be turned off at the curb if an emergency resulted. “Better to find out the box doesn’t work when it’s not an emergency situation,” Kratz said of the current practice. Rate increase options The council also discussed the best way to implement needed rate increases for the water utility, which last saw rate adjustments in 2007. The council decided that the increase would be done over a two-year period. Kratz explained that in order to generate the needed revenue, the increase could be structured over two years at 8 percent per year, or 14 percent all at once. In recommending the smaller two-year option, Kratz said that if the borough receives stimulus funds for the water tank replacement, the second year rate would have to be restructured in any event to incorporate the debt service. Councilman Don Sciolaro noted that while the percentage amount sounds large, the actual dollar figure is only $8 on the basic $96 quarterly bill. The increase will be spread equally among all classes of users, the council decided. ”It’s more egalitarian and provides uniformity,” said Kratz. Sciolaro noted that the last adjustment had been weighed in favor of the small users, such as senior citizens or small businesses. Clerk reports on resident conﬂict question Waldwick Borough Clerk Paula Jaegge took umbrage last week at a charge that her position may be compromised in the November general election because her husband is running for council. Jaegge told the Waldwick Council at its workshop meeting that someone had raised the issue with Bergen County Superintendent of Elections Patricia DiCostanzo. “It upset me quite a bit. I do my job always the same. I don’t anticipate any problem,” Jaegge said of DiCostanzo’s call questioning her impartiality. “There is no possibility of tampering with the machines. I always tally with another person,” Jaegge told the council. The clerk said she has been working on the elections since 1986, and has been in charge since the 1990 election. “I’ve never had a problem,” she said. Jaegge stressed that DiConstanzo was simply following up on the resident’s inquiry and had been satisfied that all safeguards would be in place for the election. �� Paul Banach Construction, LLC Home Remodeling Waldwick • 201-689-0765 • Windows • Doors • Garage Doors • • Finish Carpentry • Crown Moldings, Cabinetry, Walk-In-Closets, etc... • Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations • Take advantage of the Energy Tax Credit in 2009 www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits Speak to your tax advisor to ascertain if you qualify, as these credits will make a project more economical for you! 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