Area September 29, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Village approves $25,000 for water company audit by John Koster The Ridgewood Village Council has approved a $25,000 emergency appropriation for an audit of the Ridgewood Water company needed to contest a legal action brought by Wyckoff, a water customer. Wyckoff’s suit is based on an audit supported by Glen Rock and Midland Park, the other two water customers who did not join in the formal legal action. Wyckoff has demanded that the recent 21 percent rate increase be repealed. The contract for the Ridgewood municipal audit will be awarded to Louis C. Mai, CPA, as a special consultant. A previous audit commissioned by Wyckoff, Glen Rock, and Midland Park suggested that the Ridgewood Water Company was using water fees to support Ridgewood government operations not directly related to the delivery of water to customers outside Ridgewood. Joseph Fiorenzo, an attorney and former Wyckoff mayor, called the Ridgewood Water Company’s actions “unfair and illegal” because customers outside the borders of Ridgewood were allegedly paying for services that only benefited Ridgewood residents. A letter to the Ridgewood Village Council signed by the mayors of Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff alleges that water fees collected from their three towns may have been used to pay for more than water -- including expenses of Ridgewood government that are not directly part of the Ridgewood Water Company. “Our preliminary analysis has uncovered that Ridgewood Water has been subsidizing a number of the operating expenses of the village (Ridgewood) without any justification,” the June 7 letter to Ridgewood states. “It appears that approximately 21 percent of the total water utility expenses of $12,199,384 are for ‘indirect administrative and statutory expenditures.’ The expenses paid by the water utility, charged to the rate payers, include payments for police, the village council, financial administration and a variety of other expenditures which appear to be completely unnecessary for the operation of a water utility with 37 employees including 10 administrative staff. Our accounting expert has been advised that there is a report which purports to justify the passing off of such large expenditures to the water utility, but despite several requests it has yet to be provided.” The letter, which was released to the press last week after repeated requests, was signed by Midland Park Mayor Joseph Monahan, Wyckoff Mayor Rudy Boonstra, and Glen Rock Mayor John van Keuren. Midland Park and Glen Rock were not (continued on page 19) U PICK PUMPKINS Celebrating 100 Years! Secor• Mahwah, NJ 07430 Farms 85 Airmont Ave 201-529-2595 secorfarms.com HAYRIDES Sat. & Sun, 10:00-4:00, Large & Small Corn Mazes, Small Petting Zoo ��������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������� ������������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9-22-10 JOAN/JANINE SecorFarmsPumpkins3x3Color(9-22-10) 3x3” Rev1 WE HAVE MOVED TO OUR NEW LOCATION! ������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������� ������������ ��������������������������� ���������������������� ����� ��������� 266 Harristown Rd, Suite 102, Glen Rock GLEN ROCK PLAZA 201.345.5621 LASER & COSMETIC DENTISTRY FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY FULL SERVICE DENTAL CARE • Orthodontics • Invisalign (Invisible Braces) • Porcelain Veneers • Implants • Teeth Whitening • Oral Cancer Screening • Periodontal Treatment Mayra Modesto-Garrido D.D.S We Offer Line Of Credits And Financing Plans Free Consultation • We Accept Most Dental Insurance We Offer Oral Sedation