Potential increase may come as result of Ocean Spray departure.
by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — In addition to losing a valuable ratable and a longstanding landmark, the relocation of the Ocean Spray Plant may also mean higher sewer rates for residents – both in the city and township.
The company held a grand opening ceremony for its new facility in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania earlier this week. According to Ocean Spray’s website, the 62-acre property on East Park Street in the city opened its 500,000-square-foot juice-bottling and manufacturing plant in 1943.
Mayor Stephen Benowitz and Committeeman John Moynihan announced a potential increase had been discussed at a meeting of the Bordentown Sewage Authority’s Board of Commissioners immediately prior to the Township Committee meeting on April 21.
”The most significant thing that was discussed in a rather long meeting earlier tonight that we had to break away from was that they’re considering a rate increase to coincide with the departure of Ocean Spray,” Committeeman Moynihan said. “So that’s on the table for discussion over at the sewer authority.
Since the authority is shared between the two communities – its board consists of three representatives from the city and township – the rate increase would be felt by all residents, the mayor said.
Both Committeeman Moynihan and the mayor noted neither were present for the conclusion of the board meeting.
Richard D. Eustace, executive director of the authority, acknowledged the discussions of rates in light of the Ocean Spray’s departure.
”Of course as you know Ocean Spray is leaving town so of course with the financial impact of the authority we have to look at all options and to make sure our authority’s going to be viable so yes we are discussing issues with regards to our rates at this time,” Mr. Eustace said.
”We have a rate hearing annually, normally looking at our connection fees so prior to any of those kind of things we want to make sure that we do one rate hearing and one rate hearing only,” he said. “We look at all our financials before we do that rate hearing.
”Like any authority or utility we have to look at our financial structure on almost a daily basis because of what’s going on now and make sure we’re doing the right things,” he added.
According to the authority, the current rate is $69.90 per unit, which for a single family house is per kitchen – homes with two kitchens would be considered two units. In addition, $2.40 is charged for every 1,000 gallons of water used.
The possibility of a sewer rate increase comes on the heels of layoffs announced by the juice-bottling giant.
Up to 138 employees of the Ocean Spray facility may be laid off in early May, though the company says approximately 100 will be brought over to its new facility in Pennsylvania.
According to February 2014 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice on the State’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development website, up to 138 layoffs are expected and may begin as early as May 2.
As a requirement of the WARN Act, enacted in 1988, employers are required to provide notice 60 days in advance of applicable plant closings and mass layoffs.
Under state law, the notice must be provided to either affected workers or their representatives – such as a labor union – to the state dislocated worker unit and to the appropriate unit of local government.
Kellyanne Dignan, a company spokesperson, confirmed the potential layoffs, though she added up to 100 Bordentown employees “have or will eventually be” relocated to the company’s new Lehigh Valley facility, which is slated for an April 29 grand opening.
”As we ramp up operations in Lehigh Valley this spring, we will begin a ramp down in Bordentown,” Ms. Dignan, said. “We expect some operations and personnel to remain through the summer and have communicated to our employees and local officials that there will be phased layoffs over the next six or so months.
”We made the notice because the first of the planned 138 layoffs could start as early as May 2,” she added, noting the first layoffs would impact between two and three employees.
Even with the April 29 grand opening, Ms. Dignan said the company would still be producing products in Bordentown, “as it will take several months” for Lehigh Valley to ramp up production.
”We remain committed to working with all our employees through this transition,” she said.
The company is currently in the process of hiring approximately 90 new employees from the Lehigh Valley area, she said.”
Major construction has been completed on the facility and we are in the midst of commissioning that plant. This means we are testing both equipment and process,” she said.

