Area December 19, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 The Borough of Waldwick, one of the six original members of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority, is spearheading an effort to reclaim for the six towns moneys paid into the authority’s debt service reserve. The reserve was put in place when the authority was created in 1965 as security so that the Waldwick treatment plant Original NWBUA towns want their reserve funds back could be constructed. Waldwick officials said the other five municipalities – Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Ramsey and the Township of Wyckoff, have indicated support for the effort and are hopeful that the NWBUA commissioners will heed the original members’ request. Last week the Waldwick borough council adopted a resolution opposing the authority’s intended use of that reserve fund and demanding that the moneys be returned to the six original municipalities. “We want to reclaim those funds for our use as we see fit rather than they use our money,” said Waldwick Councilman Frank Palladino, the council’s representative to the NWBUA. The authority plans to use some the moneys to fund current capital improvements and to utilize other portions of these funds to offset future rate increases. The moneys accrued total more than $8 million, according to Waldwick Borough Administrator Gary Kratz. “Over the next three years the entire proceeds of that debt service reserve of eight million plus will no longer become necessary for the purpose that it was pledged,” Kratz said, as the bonds have or will be maturing. “If this concept is adopted by the Authority, municipalities other than the original funding communities will benefit from this action without their having contributed to the establishment of this reserve,” the resolution points out. The current members, in addition to the six original towns, are Franklin Lakes, Mahwah, Ridgewood (portions), Saddle River and Upper Saddle River. “The authority’s plan to utilize those funds penalizes the municipalities that provided the source of that money,” Kratz said. The utilities authority’s 2013 operating budget includes a $2,962,535 transfer from the debt service reserve “to be used to (continued on page 20) A lesson from the pros While working on their first aid badge, the members of Mahwah Brownie Troop 4158 visited the Mahwah Ambulance Corps and learned basic first aid skills. Pictured with Troop 4158 are Chuck, Arielle, Charlie, and Karl from Mahwah Company 4 Volunteer Ambulance Corps.