August 14, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Area Ridgewood Water’s shut-off deleted in three towns by John Koster Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff -- three of the four towns served by the Ridgewood Water Company -- have deleted the options of shutting off water service to customers for up to 90 days for violat- ing watering bans. The three municipali- ties have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, watering regulations on a town- by-town basis. Wyckoff officials, who introduced the draft of the new watering ordinance at the Aug. 6 township committee meeting, noted that Wyckoff’s version does not include the clause in the original Ridgewood ver- sion that threatened a possible shut-off to customers who ignore watering regula- tions. Wyckoff also deleted jail penalties. A requirement for a $50 fine for violations (payable to the Violations Bureau) was inserted instead in the Wyckoff version. Midland Park’s ordinance, adopted on July 25, imposes a maximum fine of $100 or/ and 15 days of imprisonment. Glen Rock has inserted a $50 fine as opposed to threatening a water shut-off for violators. The jail option has also been removed from that borough’s ordinance. “Midland Park didn’t want to get involved with the water shut off aspect of enforcing the water restrictions. It is up to Ridgewood Water to file charges rather than our police department,” explained Midland Park Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan. Additionally, since Glen Rock, Wyckoff, and Midland Park have taken Ridgewood to court for allegedly using Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff water ser- vice fees to pay Ridgewood salaries not related to water services, the officials were unwilling to threaten their own residents with a water shut-off -- which was deemed unlikely in any case due to safety and sani- Half-marathon announced The Wyckoff Family YMCA and the Franklin Lakes Mayor’s Wellness Cam- paign have announced the inaugural “Franklin Lakes Scenic Half-Marathon” to be held Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8 a.m. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Franklin Lakes Mayor’s Wellness Cam- paign and the Wyckoff Y’s Pietro Maugeri Fund, which helps families navigate and survive the financial challenges of critical illness and injury. The course will proceed throughout Franklin Lakes, beginning and ending at the Franklin Lakes Municipal Complex on DeKorte Drive. The individual registration fee will be $50 through Monday, Aug. 26. After that date, the fee will increase to $70. Groups of 10 or more who register together will receive the preferred rate of $50 until registration closes or race day, whichever comes first. For registration forms and complete information, visit www.wyckoffymca.org. tary reasons. The ordinance Wyckoff introduced last week provides for a $50 fine and elimi- nates the Ridgewood language “not to exceed $500 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both. Upon fur- ther violations, the Department of Water Supply shall have the right and is hereby empowered to cut off the supply of water to the premises and meter upon and from which such violation shall have taken place for such a period or periods of time as shall be deemed necessary to secure compliance with all the terms of this chapter.” The ordinance as adopted in Midland Park and introduced in Wyckoff provides for four phases of user restriction, and this language was retained as written. Stage I, Moderate, provides for manda- tory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednes- days, Fridays, and Sundays at properties with even-numbered addresses. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed at any time. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays except for the use of a hand-held hose. Stage I regulations shall be effective each year beginning June 1 and continuing through Sept. 15. Stage II, Severe, provides for manda- tory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays and Saturdays at properties with odd- numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays at properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation shall be allowed Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for the use of a hand-held hose. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed ay any time. Stage III, Pending/Critical provides for mandatory restriction of irrigation to the use of a hand-held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays at properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays at even-numbered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Stage IV, Critical, prohibits irrigation at any time. Exceptions for irrigation using a hand-held hose may be allowed under con- ditions prescribed by the Village Manager of Ridgewood. The Village Manager of Ridgewood is also empowered to declare elevated levels of restrictions based on the water supply and weather conditions. “The water restriction system is bal- anced and reasonable in allowing water (continued on page 27)