Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-November 17, 2010 Issue

Area November 17, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 25 Village council introduces ﬁve percent water rate hike by John Koster The Ridgewood Village Council has introduced an ordinance providing for a five percent water rate increase and a five percent facilities increase for home water service to Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff customers. An adoption hearing will be held Dec. 8. Wyckoff Mayor Rudy Boonstra and several other Wyckoff Township Committee members have indicated that they would be present at the adoption hearing. Wyckoff was the lead town in a legal action to require Ridgewood to justify water rate increases. The Nov. 10 introduction of the ordinance took place without public comment. Ridgewood Village Administrator Ken Gabbert, speaking after a recent meeting with Wyckoff, Glen Rock, and Midland Park officials, but before last week’s Ridgewood Council vote, said the 2011 rate increase was a legitimate attempt to share the Ridgewood Water Company’s operating costs equitably among the four towns the company serves -- though only Ridgewood Council members are able to vote on rate increases. “Due to the very dry summer, we had water restrictions in place,” Gabbert said. “Hence, consumption declined, creating a projected shortfall in revenue which will ultimately create an operating deficit for 2010. Any operating deficit must be raised in the 2011 water utility budget. Water rate increases will hopefully cover the operating deficit to be raised, and normal operations in 2011. In 2010, we are projecting the total gallonage of water consumed was well below budgeted. The Village of Ridgewood makes up any revenue shortage until enough revenue is produced to cover the deficit.” Gabbert added, “One of the capital improvements is a new tank for Wyckoff that will allow for currently suspended water hookups to be reinstated.” Gabbert explained that the hookups had been suspended by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “That tank alone will be in the $3 million to $4 million range. Wyckoff by far has the largest amount of Ridgewood Water capital projects with all users of Ridgewood Water footing the bill. Improvements made in one town allow for greater reserve for the other towns. Ridgewood Water has extensive capital invested in each of the four municipalities.” Wyckoff officials were surprised to learn the Ridgewood Water Company apparently regarded the new water tank as a done deal, since objections by Wyckoff residents who had collected a substantial amount of money and hired an attorney appeared to have halted plans for the new tank several years ago. Gabbert said that Wyckoff’s argument that customers outside Ridgewood are actually paying a higher rate than Ridgewood residents has no merit, but that the matter would be decided by the courts over the next few years. Wyckoff had alleged -- and a Glen Rock official tacitly concurred -- that Ridgewood was using money from Wyckoff, Glen Rock, and Midland Park to pay Ridgewood employees, including police officers, who were not directly involved in delivering water to customers outside Ridgewood. The recent closed meeting was described by Gabbert as very constructive. “The elected officials and administrators had very good questions, and the discussion went beyond just the increase,” Gabbert said. Wyckoff and Glen Rock officials, speaking after the meeting, were concerned that a financial professional who has worked with both Glen Rock and Wyckoff was not permitted to speak, and Wyckoff Mayor Boonstra said he felt that the three member towns had been “stonewalled.” Wyckoff initiated the legal action against the Ridgewood Water Company alone, after Glen Rock and Midland Park initially declined to join in, but both of those municipalities have since come on board. The Franklin Lakes Girl Scout Troop 1202 recently visited Keith Hopkins Photography Studio in Midland Park. Hopkins helped the girls earn a badge, by teaching them about photography. The girls learned how to take photos, and how to pose. Picture perfect ��