Borough officials will rebid the water interconnection construction project. Bids will be opened on June 22.
By Lauren Graham Delehey
At Hopewell Borough Council’s June 2 session, Engineer Dennis W. O’Neal reported a recent snag in the ongoing negotiations for a water interconnection agreement between the borough and New Jersey American Water.
After taking several months to review the pact submitted by the borough, New Jersey American responded with significant revisions to that contract, said Mr. O’Neal. The discrepancy lies in which entity would own and control the water interconnection vault. While the borough had proposed and anticipated that it would maintain full title to and authority over the vault, New Jersey American presented a revised contract placing the deed and, therefore, final control over the vault in its own hands.
"Is this a deal-breaker?" asked Councilman Mark Samse. "It’s too soon to tell," Councilman David Mackie replied.
Council discussed some of the pros and cons of ownership of the vault. With ownership comes not only control, but responsibility: "If they own it, they have to maintain it," remarked Mayor David Nettles. And Mr. Mackie noted, "We don’t want to have to make other capital investments in the future."
Mr. O’Neal and the borough’s Water Interconnection Committee will meet to further discuss operational and access issues before responding to New Jersey American’s proposed contract revisions.
Borough officials will rebid the water interconnection construction project. Bids for that project will be opened on June 22. Mr. O’Neal reported that four entities already had picked up packages for that bid.
When Hopewell Borough shuts down two of its three active wells for treatment issues, it hopes to rely on the agreement with New Jersey American Water to provide water on an "as-available" basis. That plan was OK’d by council in February.
The problem faced by borough officials relates to the presence of radionuclides in two of the town’s wells. Radionuclides are unstable nuclides of a particular atomic species that return to stability by emitting ionizing radiation. They may arise naturally or as a result of human activities. In February, Engineer O’Neal said Wells 2 and 5, which contain the naturally occurring radionuclides, would have to be taken offline or receive treatment to reduce the radionuclides. He said it appeared that taking the wells offline was the most sensible short-term solution.
COUNCIL REVISITED the proposal for construction of a new basketball court at the railroad station.
Mr. Samse reported that when he raised the issue at the May 4 meeting of the borough Planning Board, several board members expressed concern that a full basketball court might "overwhelm" the railroad station property. Board response was more positive for repairing the existing court and baskets or constructing a half-court on the property.
Board members suggested that, either instead of or in addition to the railroad station project, the borough consider contributing toward costs to repair the court at Hopewell Elementary School.
Following up on this idea, Borough Administrator/Clerk Michele Hovan said she spoke with Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board Secretary/Business Administrator John Nemeth regarding the court at the elementary school playground. Mr. Nemeth noted that the playground had been recertified for safety approximately two months ago, and said he has not received any requests for repairs to the basketball court. But Ms. Hovan said she was told the school board’s Facilities Committee would be open to discussion with the borough about repair costs.
Councilman Sky Morehouse commented that, while a full-court may be too big, demand certainly exists for improvements to the basketball court at the railroad station. "I’m much more inclined to back a half-court solution," said Mr. Morehouse.
Council asked Mr. O’Neal to prepare a plan and estimate and submit an application for a Neighborhood Revitalization Grant from Mercer County to build a half-court basketball court at the railroad station.
IN OTHER BUSINESS:
Council adopted Ordinance No. 651, a bond ordinance providing a $200,000 supplemental appropriation for capital improvements to the borough’s water system infrastructure, and authorizing the issuance of $190,000 in borough bonds or notes to finance part of the appropriation.
Council passed resolutions 2005-64 through 2005-70, including the approval of long-negotiated interlocal agreements with Hopewell Township for police and health services.
Council appointed Debbie Post to an unexpired term on the Library Board of Trustees, to expire Dec. 31, 2009.
Hopewell Borough Council meets next on July 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Hopewell Borough Hall.