August 24, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Council plans penalties for water use violations by Jennifer Crusco This week, the Ho-Ho-Kus Council will hold a public hearing on Ordinance 994, a proposal that would update the violations and penalties associated with water use violations. If the council approves the ordinance as introduced, the borough code would include the following amendment: “After a first offense in accordance with Section 81-33 of this ordinance, any person or business who thereafter violates the water use restrictions imposed pursuant to this ordinance shall have its water supply discontinued. The water supply shall not be turned on unless and until such person or business pays a $100 fee. For a third and subsequent offense, in addition to the penalty set forth herein, the fine imposed shall be $2,500 or imprisonment for 30 days, or both.” The water superintendent, any police officer, or any employee of the department of public works would be authorized to enforce this ordinance. In a recent interview, Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall told Villadom TIMES this ordinance would put in place a more definitive mechanism to address violations. He also noted that tougher penalties would show the state that the borough is serious about complying with its current allotment, which is one million gallons of water per day. Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli added that the borough does not currently have a good ordinance “with teeth” when problems arise. Cirulli noted that no fees are currently in place for chronic offenders. Ho-Ho-Kus recently sent two of its professionals to Trenton to discuss a possible increase of the borough’s water allocation with representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Eileen Feldman, a public engineer and senior principal of Hazen & Sawyer of New York, and Katie Hoek, principal scientist at the same firm, represented Ho-Ho-Kus. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief John Wanamaker recently acknowledged the ambulance corps for making a key donation to the police department. “I want to publicly thank the ambulance corps. They knew the budget was tight, so they donated a state-of-the-art radar unit for the new police car,” Chief Wanamaker said. “We all know what a great job they do, but this was over and above!” The chief added that the police department has an excellent working relationship with the ambulance corps. Ho-Ho-Kus Ambulance Corps Captain Carol Tyler said the impetus for the donation was simply the need for a radar unit for the new car. “When we heard the car was going out Chief acknowledges donation without radar, the ambulance corps’ executive board decided to donate the money,” Tyler said. She explained that approximately $2,100 from the emergency savings account was dedicated to the police equipment. “The community needs it. This is important,” Tyler said of the radar unit. “We’re very involved and attentive to things that can save lives,” she added. Tyler pointing not just to the radar unit, but also to the successful 2010 fundraising effort that brought the lightning detection system to the North Field and the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School’s field. Last year, Tyler worked closely with the Ho-Ho-Kus Office of Emergency (continued on page 8) Although borough officials were optimistic about a potential adjustment following that meeting, the borough is still obligated to comply with its current one million gallon per day water use requirement. The borough exceeded its water allocation for 2010, and is already over its allotment for 2011 to date. The borough is currently facing a fine for exceeding its 2010 water allocation, and the exact amount of the fine is under negotiation. Borough officials acknowledge that there could be several reasons the municipality has been exceeding its water allocation, however non-compliance with the current watering schedule is often cited as a contributing factor. The public hearing on Ordinance 994 will be held as part of the regularly scheduled council session, which will be held Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. in borough hall.