Families say changes aren’t working
By: Joseph Harvie
CRANBURY Two Petty Road families told the Township Committee Monday night that changes made to their road to alleviate flooding are not working.
Rees and Connie Powell and William Bauder, all of Petty Road, said the drainage swale, a ditch used to move rainwater down the street, is not working properly and water is standing in the swale, sometimes for more than three days after a storm.
The swale is on a 40-foot township right-of-way that is directly in front of the Powells’ front lawn on Petty Road.
"I can tell you there is water in that swale sometimes over 72 hours after it rains," Mr. Powell said.
The swale moves rainwater from the street and to a larger swale alongside the Powells’ home.
Township Engineer Cathleen Marcelli said she sent a team out on April 26, 48 hours after a rainstorm. She said the team reported about 1.7 inches of rain, and said there was no standing water in the swale.
"If there is no standing water within 48 hours after rain, then the swale is working," Ms. Marcelli said.
Mr. Powell said the swale has been flooding since the township made repairs last year.
Mr. and Mrs. Powell contended that there have been numerous occasions when water was standing in the swale well after 72 hours after a rainstorm.
Fellow Petty Road resident William Bauder said he also has noticed the problem and has taken photographs of rainwater standing for days at a time. He said there have been plantings and small clay structures placed in the swale by the neighbors that could be the cause of the problem.
He urged the council to repair the swale because the standing water poses a safety issue.
He said Ms. Marcelli’s office used a spirit level similar to a level that can be purchased in a hardware store, to test the grade. He said this method was inadequate.
Committeeman Michael Mayes said he would stand by Ms. Marcelli’s findings, and unless there is water there for more than 48 hours the council should not take action.
"I have a hard time second-guessing engineers that are trained in this field," Mr. Mayes said. "I find it difficult to move forward at this time."
The committee encouraged the Powells to call Township Administrator Fred Carr or any of the committee members if water stands longer than the 48-hour mark.