There is an old adage: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” The East Brunswick Sewerage Authority has been a wellmanaged, cost-effective operation for many years. Its customer service is excellent, and the cost to the average homeowner is one of the lowest in the state of New Jersey.
Having served as sewer commissioner for 10 years, I was part of a study team several years ago to research the possibility of merging the water utility and the sewerage authority. At that time the synergies and potential cost savings did not warrant the merger. I don’t believe the environment has changed that much in recent years.
Additionally, recent ventures by the township of East Brunswick have come up significantly short of expectations. The Golden Triangle has become tarnished. The profitable parking lot at that location has been replaced by a $30-plus million parking deck that will require government subsidies. The police firing range is currently looking for a buyer or a different source of income. The Sixth Street property (former bus depot) was to be sold to pay for the firing range. That property is still sitting vacant and may still have environmental problems. The Nielsen parking deck is still in debt and is not a break-even venture. The McGinnis School is deteriorating rapidly, with no end use in sight.
I applaud the efforts to cut costs and streamline operations, but this proposed merger is flawed. I would suggest looking at combining services with the Board of Education or other municipalities. Also, I would recommend reviewing the massive fleet of municipal vehicles to see where reductions could be implemented.
Rod Kulp East Brunswick