Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • September 14, 2011 Area Local mayors urge DEP action on Beekmere dam by John Koster The mayors of Midland Park and Wyckoff have sent a joint letter to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection urging some action on the Beekmere property dam in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Water was observed flowing around the sides of the dam during the hurricane, which also flooded out a number of basements in Wyckoff and points downhill. The two mayors jointly urged that the DEP assume some responsibility for the flooding problem. “By way of background, DEP, on several occasions, has written letters to Beekmere, Inc. (“Beekmere”), expressing concern about the integrity and safety of the Rambaut Dam. Beekmere is a defunct development corporation which is the owner of a parcel of land on which Rambaut Lake and Rambaut Dam are situated,” Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney and Midland Park Mayor Joseph Monahan wrote to DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “Given Beekmeere’s legal status, it has been non-responsive to DEP’s request and no action has been taken to assure that the dam is maintained in accordance with applicable standards, including the Safe Dam Act. “While Wyckoff has entertained numerous discussions with homeowners living adjacent to Rambaut Lake (who, together with other homeowners in the area were originally intended to be part of a lakefront association formed by Beekmere), such discussions have not resulted in any consensus. For this reason, Wyckoff and Midland Park (which is immediately downstream from Rambaut Lake) remain greatly concerned about the health, safety, and welfare of their residents.” The mayors also told Martin, “In light of the defunct status of Beekmere, and in light of the fact that residents adjacent to the lake and dam, who were originally intended to be part of a failed lakefront association, are unwilling to assume maintenance responsibilities, the concerns of Wyckoff and Midland Park for the safety of their residents remains paramount. As a result, we are respectfully requesting the DEP provide appropriate guidance and undertake such immediate action as may be required to avoid a potentially catastrophic occurrence.” The letter also includes a statement from a neighbor of the dam who disclaimed any personal liability. “I have no ownership of the dam you are referring to,” the neighbor wrote to township officials. “I bear no responsibility for its maintenance…I am simply a Wyckoff homeowner with property on Rambaut Pond, just like the other 19 homeowners on the pond. Beekmere (the formal lakefront community) has been a defunct organization since 1986.” When Beekmere was a going concern, neighbors of the lake assumed collective responsibility for its maintenance, but when the organization became defunct in 1986, new homeowners bought their houses without signing any agreements to maintain the lake or the dam that confines that lake, making the responsibility for lake maintenance a moot point. Previous attempts to involve the DEP have been rebuffed, and Wyckoff township officials have generally opposed tax-funded construction work on the dam because such a project would benefit only a small segment of the township’s 16,000 residents. Wyckoff The Wyckoff Family YMCA and the Northern New Jersey Down Syndrome Alliance will present the Seventh Annual Bergen Buddy Walk on Saturday, Oct. 1 (rain or shine) at the Wyckoff Family YMCA, 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. This year’s event will feature a special appearance by Chris Burke, from television’s “Life Goes On.” Registration for the one-mile walk will begin at 10 a.m. and the walk will begin at 11 a.m. The Buddy Walk has three primary goals: To promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome; to raise funds both locally and nationally for education, research, and advocacy programs; and to enhance the position of the Down syndrome community. The walk raises funds for research and education and the Billy’s Buddies and Shining Star Express programs offered by the Wyckoff Family YMCA. Some of the day’s events will include live music, a real Annual Buddy Walk set for October 1 fire truck to explore, children’s face painting, exhibits and information from special needs organizations, games, giveaways, prizes, and food. Sponsorships and registrations are currently being accepted. Registration fees for the walk are $10 per individual, $25 per family (two adults and two children), and $5 for each additional child 13 and under. Those who register by Sept. 15 will have the opportunity to receive a Tiffany watch. Registrations include a T-shirt, lunch, snacks, and drinks upon crossing the finish line (while supplies last). Organize a team of 10 or more to collectively raise pledges and have a team photo taken by the official photographer. Sponsorship and recognition opportunities begin at $100. All donations are 100 percent tax-deductible. Visit www. wyckoffymca.org or bergenbuddywalk.com to register and donate online. Registration forms are also available at the Wyckoff YMCA. Call (201) 891-2081 for details.