September 25, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Wyckoff Revaluation of properties to begin next month by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee voted last week to approve a town-wide revaluation priced at $415,000 after negoti- ations with one of the most reputable firms in the business. Realty Appraisal Company of West New York, said to be the oldest municipal revalu- ation and appraisal firm in New Jersey, is expected to begin work in Wyckoff next month, pending state approval of the con- tract. “The firm is experienced,” Wyckoff Township Committeeman Kevin Rooney said last week. Rooney said he and Town- ship Attorney Rob Landel conferred with the firm and that state approval is antici- pated in the next 15 days. Earlier this year, the Bergen County Board of Taxation ordered Wyckoff to per- form the revaluation of all residential and commercial properties. The upcoming revaluation will be Wyckoff’s first since 2006. The purpose of the revaluation is to equitably redistribute the tax burden by estimating all properties at 100 percent of their true market value. The process, also known as tax equalization, is said to ensure that all property owners pay their fair share of taxes based on the actual market values of the properties they own. Residents and businesses should expect to see the inspectors retained by Realty Appraisal Company visiting Wyckoff prop- erties in October or November. The process will be completed by Oct. 1 of 2014. In other business, the township com- mittee awarded a contract for drainage improvements, including the installation of an underground drainage storm water detention system near the Pulis Soccer Field and the adjacent leaf compost facility. The contract for $35,200 was awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, New N House Service from Pompton Lakes. The work is to be funded by a $50,000 Bergen County Open Space Grant to improve recreational areas. Wyckoff had previously awarded a $42,000 contract after competitive bidding for the purchase of the drainage system, including the pipes and connectors. Wyckoff Public Works Manager Scott Fisher will supervise the project and Wyckoff officials credited the township’s approach of bifurcating and competitively bidding the two cost components -- the parts and the work -- with bringing the whole project in under budget. Rooney noted that the bids for the second phase came in between $35,000 and $218,000, and that Wyckoff’s approach had saved taxpayers a considerable amount of money. “This is an admirable application of strategic bidding,” Rooney said. The township committee also noted that it had received word of a $2,000 state grant for forestation and added it to last week’s agenda for approval rather than wait for a subsequent meeting. Township Committeeman Douglas Dial noted that the proceeds from the 2013 Labor Day fireworks had covered the expenses of the annual fundraiser, but said the margin was not impressive. “We did end up on the up side -- not very much, but on the up side,” Christie, a long- term volunteer firefighter, said. The township committee had discussed a study of whether the annual fireworks could be continued if the cash flow had been negative. Rooney also reminded residents, sec- onded by Landel and Mayor Rudy Boonstra, that the successful referendum permitting raffles or games of chance as fundraisers did not mean that groups raising funds could automatically hold raffles. Applications for raffles and games of chance must be cleared with Township Clerk Joyce Santimauro, forwarded to state officials for approval, and then returned to Wyckoff, where the clerk’s office would issue permits. “This is a requirement,” Rooney said. The process could take several weeks and group leaders who wish to host raffles are urged to plan ahead.