Council wants to oppose
proposed water rate hike
2 issues related
to water draw
officials’ reaction
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer
The two water companies serving Howell are under scrutiny by the Township Council for separate reasons.
At a recent meeting, the governing body discussed New Jersey-American Water Company’s (NJAWC) proposed 22.3 percent rate increase as well as the possibility of imposing a building moratorium in the Ramtown (southern) section of Howell pending the Parkway Water Company’s completion of a plan to address a problem within its service area.
Township Manager Bruce Davis was instructed by the council to see to it that Howell is formally represented at the NJAWC rate hike hearing that will be scheduled by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which regulates water rates.
Councilman Juan Malave brought the rate hike request to the attention of the governing body.
Mayor Timothy J. Konopka then addressed the matter. Konopka is the only sitting member of the governing body who was in office four years ago when he fought for and won a 10 percent rate decrease for Howell customers who at the time were, and still are, paying one of the highest water rates in the state.
Another outcome of that same hearing was that the administrative law judge presiding at the time decreed that Howell should be granted incremental decreases in its rate payments over the next several years in order to bring the township into parity with NJAWC’s customers statewide.
"They can go take a hike," Konopka said of the company’s pending request for 22.3 percent rate increase.
Noting that Howell customers are still waiting for their court-ordered decreases, Konopka said, "The next BPU request should mean a decrease for Howell, not an increase. Make them stick to the judge’s decree."
The unanimous decision of the council was that Howell should fight any rate increase and look to put the rate decrease into effect.
Regarding the Parkway Water Company, Konopka asked Township Attorney Thomas Gannon if a moratorium on building is a lawful option for the township.
Konopka was making a case for a building moratorium in the Ramtown section due to the notification this summer from the company that two of its wells that provide water to some 1,800 Howell customers exceeded accepted levels for alpha radiation.
After maximum contamination levels of radionuclides were found over a continued period of company testing, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) imposed a remediation schedule on Parkway Water.
The remediation of the two Parkway Water wells is expected to be completed within two years.
"Can a health and safety issue call for a moratorium?" Konopka asked Gannon.
Although he acknowledged the fact that the DEP did not declare a health and safety issue in Ramtown this summer, Gannon said perhaps a case for a building moratorium could still be made.
"Since the DEP doesn’t state an emergency, we need to be sure that builders couldn’t challenge it. A moratorium on building is a drastic step and could be challenged," the attorney said, adding that he would like to take up the matter with an expert in the field. "We could use their numbers and contact an expert to do our own test."
Gannon estimated the cost of an initial private expert’s study to be about $5,000.
Malave, as a Parkway Water Company customer and notwithstanding his duties as a councilman, noted his own personal concerns regarding the contaminated water.
However, Malave said he wanted to be sure the township did not commission a study from someone who is only looking to make a name for himself by disputing the DEP’s findings while also looking to make an easy buck. Nevertheless, he agreed with the rest of the council that the township should commission a study.
"We should definitely explore the situation. A few thousand dollars is worth it to spend," Malave said.
Gannon closed discussion in the matter by noting he has been involved in prior environmental matters. He said he would research his files to find a credible expert.