Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • March 13, 2013 Township introduces gas generator ordinance by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee has introduced an ordinance that would cover gas generators for powering local commercial properties during emergencies such as the storms that knocked out electrical power in Wyckoff in 2011 and 2012. The ordinance, which will be heard and considered for adoption at the next public meeting, March 27 at 4 p.m., would allow commercial property owners to keep their businesses open and possibly allow resi- dents to shop at the stores and charge their cell phones, as often happened at various locations during the last two power losses. The ordinance would enable commercial operators to install generators without site plan approval from the township -- often a lengthy process -- as long as the generators, once installed, do not interfere with existing parking, traffic, or building layout, and would not require any variances for setbacks before installation. Screening would be required by the township engi- neer and the commercial applicant would be required to provide a current site plan, including the exact location and size of the proposed generator. The generator would be installed not less than 15 feet from any neighboring residential property and would not be more than 20KW in size. Those with generators of large capacity would be required to apply to the Wyckoff Planning Board. The sewer rates for a single-family home in Wyckoff will go up $4, from $462 to $466, based on an ordinance introduced at the March 5 township committee meeting. The ordinance will be considered for final approval at the March 27 township committee meeting, which has been moved to Wednesday and set for 4 p.m. due to Holy Week and Passover. Because the fee increase is based on the rate standards of the Northwest Bergen Utilities Authority, the rates will not be subject to amendment. The $4 per household will be effective for 2013. The annual sewer use fee for a twofamily house will be $523 plus $2.74 per 1,000 gallons of flow in excess of 156,000 gallons. Multi-family structures with three or more units will be changed $252 per unit plus $2.74 per 1,000 gallons in excess of Sewer rates up $4 based on new ordinance 208,000 gallons. Commercial properties will be charged $466 plus $2.74 per 1,000 gallons in excess of 104,000 gallons. Combination commercial-residential dwelling units will be charged an annual fee of $861 plus $274 per each 1,000 gallons in excess of 145,600 gallons for a commercial unit and one multi-family dwelling unit with the same excess use charge. Commercial units with two or more multi-family units will pay $466 plus $209 each. Flow in excess of 104,000 gallons plus 41,600 gallons for each multi-family dwelling unit will be charged at $2.74 per 1,000 gallons. Sewer service bills are mailed annually and may be paid in either one immediate payment or two installments in May and in August. J. KOSTER