Ridgewood March 2, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Ridgewood Water’s bond bid sent back for reductions by John Koster Ridgewood Mayor Keith Killion and the village council told Ridgewood Water Company Director Frank Moritz and his staff that the request for a $4.2-million bond to install radio-read water meters in 14,000 customers’ homes would have to go back to the drawing board – or the cutting board. “Much of what you say makes sense, but a $4 million project is hard to swallow in one pill,” Mayor Killion said at last week’s council work session. “Four million in one shot is just a killer.” Mayor Killion suggested that the project to make water billing more accurate and less troublesome might be more palatable if it were spread out over five years instead of bonded at the present time, when finances in Ridgewood – which laid off or retired 34 employees last year – are tight. “The meters have reached their operational lifetime,” said Eric Fooder, Ridgewood Water Company’s licensed operator. He and Business Manager Dave Schreibner explained that installing the new and accurate meters would not only make the lives of the Ridgewood Water Company staff less hectic, but would also enable the company to monitor water quality remotely but more effectively. An extreme rate of water use at a smaller residence, for instance, could indicate serious leaks or even system backups, a potential hazard. Moritz, Schreibner, and Fooder explained to the council that Ridgewood’s principal system of monitoring water use in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Wyckoff, and Midland Park had always been through telephone lines, but that a hard drive crash in 2007 – “a minor catastrophe in telephone readings” -- had compromised the accuracy of this system. At present, about 27 percent of the customers are on radio-read monitors, and the remaining customers are on the compromised telephone system. “As for 2007, less than half the meters are read on a successful basis,” Schreibner said. “The upshot is that the telephone system, which is no longer supported by the original manufacturer, is a relic. We’ve been very fortunate that it hasn’t failed already. It could go on working for years or it could fail tomorrow.” “We’re the tip of the spear in public health,” Fooder said. “As your licensed operator, I’m directly responsible for your health.” Mayor Killion acknowledged that the system was less than perfect, but said that 2011 was simply not the time to take on another $4 million in public debt. “If you can’t make the payments, you can’t afford the car,” Killion said. “You get a new set of tires and run the old car until you can pay for a new one.” “What if you blow your engine and the transmission falls out?” Fooder asked, extending the metaphor. “Then you take public transport until you can afford a new car, but you don’t go into debt,” Killion said. Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh established that the cost of each new meter would be about $200, and the labor cost of each installation would be about $75 or $80. About 2,000 radio meters are already installed and said to be functioning properly. Another 2,000 could be linked to radio-reading without complete replacement, and the others would have to be replaced completely. Moritz argued that it would represent a saving in the long run to install the radio meters at the same time, but the council members still had issues with the amount of money involved. Councilman Paul Aronsohn noted that the major issue for the water company appeared to be convenience rather that safety. He said that since the meters were monitored every three months, the chances that radio-read meters would nip sanitary problems in the bud were miniscule. Deputy Mayor Thomas Riche, supported by Mayor Killion and Council Members Walsh and Aronsohn, suggested that the Ridgewood Water Company might like to sell some surplus land and use the proceeds to subsidize the first few years of the replacement project. While the Ridgewood Water Company is under the direct supervision of the Ridgewood Village Council and is autonomous from the local governments of Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, the water company officials said they had extended an invitation to committee or council members from the other towns as a courtesy. Wyckoff Township Committeeman Brian Scanlan accepted that invitation, and sat through the meeting as an interested observer. Several Ridgewood residents also appeared to concur that early 2011 was not the time to bond another $4.2 billion. “I have heard from my board of directors,” Moritz said, adding that he would investigate ways to save money. BK BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SERVICE, LLC  QUICKBOOKS PRO SPECIALISTS Servicing All Small Businesses Phone: 973-423-0303 Fax: 973-423-3131 bkbookpay@optonline.net Annmarie Breeman • Nancy Kough  Need a second opinion? We’re your alternative to the Dealer! TIRE & AUTO SERVICE 209 S. 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