News Bites: Your FH Council Catch-up

Some news tidbits were briefly mentioned at the last Borough Council meeting involving everything from water main break woes to speed limit stickers on garbage cans.

Here’s a rundown of those things briefly bandied about at the June 12 meeting:

• Councilman Jonathon Peters was pretty peeved at what he deemed a lack of accountability and responsiveness at the hands of in light of emergencies, namely the recent water main break at the Swimming River Reservoir’s Water Treatment Plant.

“Apparently, a year and a half after a storm, they (NJAWC) don’t schedule maintenance of a system that is frail,” Peters said.

Residents said they felt the plant is not handling the capacity of water it should, posing a potential danger to the area.

Mayor Ben Lucarelli said he was at in Oceanport on the water and main break issue and is confident the governor will follow through with his promise to launch a full investigation of the matter.

Lucarelli said that average standard water usage is roughly 30 million gallons a day, which is halved in the winter to about 15 million gallons. During a heat wave, usage is more than doubled, jumping to about 70 million gallons.

NJAWC needs to take a harder look at its present treatment capacity, residents reiterated, claiming the plant is in danger of not being able to provide enough water.

• The borough, by resolution, modified borough Engineer Richard Gardella’s title to director of Engineering and Public Works. The departments and positions of municipal engineer and Public Works manager were separate previously. Richard Gardella, under the resolution, was appointed director of the combined department. An assistant will be hired to assist Gardella.

An ordinance was adopted realigning what were the separate departments (Engineering and Public Works) and making them one, while also creating the director and assistant director of Engineering and Public Works positions. The positions are appointed on three-year terms.

Residents questioned the need for more staff, and Councilman Robert Marchese rebuffed the contention, saying he resented any implication that would impugn Gardella. He added that the borough is lucky to have Gardella, who, he said, is one of the best engineers in the state. Mayor Ben Lucarelli echoed the sentiment.   

• Councilman Robert Marchese, by resolution, was appointed to the Executive Committee of the newly-established . Marchese is to be one of five on that committee.  He will represent the governing body.

The appointment extends to the end of this year.

• Christopher Cerruti, of 35 Lockwood Place, as a regular member of the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company, has been appointed to the Fair Haven Fire Department.
• Police on special duty for patrols of the Tour de Fair Haven on Aug. 12 will receive $40 an hour, per resolution.
• A resolution was passed permitting tailgating for the Tour de Fair Haven.
• The grace period for third quarter tax payments has been extended from an Aug. 10 to 14 deadline. The county Board of Taxation was late in forwarding “necessary information for the preparation and mailing of final tax bills,” a resolution extending the grace period said. So, taxpayers will get a reprive.
• Mayor Lucarelli pointed out that he's looking into getting stickers, similar to those seen throughout Little Silver, for garbage cans warning people to drive within the posted speed limits. He said the investment is cost-effective and could be a help in reminding people to slow down on residential streets.