PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP

PLUMSTED MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY

Monthly Update
February 2010

To: Mayor and Township Committee

From: Peter Ylvisaker

Subject: PMUA February Update

Date: February 22, 2010

The following is a summary of the PMUA’s February 16th meeting.

Reorganization

The PMUA took the following actions:

·     Mr. McCue was reappointed as chairman

·     Mr. Bronson was reappointed as vice chairman

·     Mr. Kiernan was reappointed as treasurer

·     Ms. Peacock was reappointed as secretary

·     The PMUA will advertise for professional service contracts for auditor, general counsel, bond counsel and general engineering services

·     The Township Committee will be asked to adjust terms of MUA appointments to conform with state statue requirements

Redevelopment Project

Van Cleef Engineering

Van Cleef continues to take monthly water level readings at the Lakewood site. Since October, when the first readings were taken and to February 16, the seasonal water levels have risen on average 3.68’. At wells #1 and # 2, which are within the area identified as having the greatest recharge potential, the rise has been less, 2.27’ and 3’respectively. The study assumed the seasonal groundwater levels to be 2’ higher than the levels recorded in October 2010. Van Cleef will continue to monitor the water levels on a monthly basis.

Site Access Agreement

The PMUA has received a signed Access Agreement from one of the three property owners we are seeking permission from to enter their properties for the expanded wastewater study. Mayor Dancer or Mr. Ylvisaker is following up with the two other landowners or their representative. It is hoped we will have signed agreements from the two remaining property owners by early March 2010. If not, other options may have to be explored to maintain the Lakewood site as a viable site for wastewater disposal.

Press Release

The Messenger Press and Tri-Town newspapers published news articles based on the PMUA Press Release. The Press Release was also hand circulated to residents in the Woodland subdivision. The PMUA has received one inquiry from a resident in the Woodlands subdivision as a result of the Press Release. The PMUA has offered to meet with this resident and any others to answer questions or concerns.

NJDEP

We continue to work with the NJDEP on the critical issues related to moving the redevelopment project forward. Mayor Dancer has made a formal request to meet with Mr. Martin whom Governor Christie has nominated to be the next NJDEP commissioner. We are hopeful this meeting will be scheduled in the very near future. The Mayor has also discussed the Redevelopment Project with two members of the Governor’s staff who have committed to working with the Township and NJDEP on this project. 

We continue to work with Rick Brown, our principal contact at NJDEP, who is coordinating NJDEP’s response to several critical issues. We received from NJDEP confirmation of our long held understandings related to the designation of the Town Center Boundary and Sewer Service Area for New Egypt. The Town Center boundary and sewer service area reflects the movement of the Natural Heritage line to the tree line at the PRRC.  Plumsted has requested the NJ Department of Community Affairs approve this final version for the boundary for New Egypt’s Town Center as part of the Plan Endorsement process.   

Interim Shared Service Agreement

Mr. Weirsky, Mr. Minter and Mr. Ylvisaker met with Mayor Dancer on February 1, 2010 to discuss the PMUA’s draft outline for a solid waste and recycling program for Plumsted Township. It was agreed it made sense to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to determine if, in fact, cost savings to residents and the Township can be achieved through a competitive bidding process. The Committee requested the Township Committee adopt a Resolution authorizing the PMUA to proceed to prepare and issue an RFP. The RFP would not be issued until some time after April 1, 2010 when Ocean County implements single stream recycling. The RFP would not be binding on the PMUA or Township. Mayor Dancer also offered to schedule a meeting with the directors of Ocean County’s Solid Waste and Recycling departments. The Committee welcomed the Mayor’s offer to schedule this meeting. In preparation for this meeting, the Committee will draft an RFP utilizing the state’s minimum bid requirements for solid waste and recycling collection. 

Cc: PMUA

       Main Street New Egypt

       Greg McGuckin

       Steve Foran

       Richard Kachmar