HOWELL – The Township Council has adopted two ordinances that will finance the construction of sanitary sewer mains in Howell. Council members took the action during a meeting on May 15.
The ordinances were adopted by Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro, Councilman Bob Walsh, Councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell and Councilwoman Pauline Smith. Mayor Theresa Berger was absent.
The first ordinance the council adopted authorizes the construction of sanitary sewer mains and laterals, and related expenses, to serve properties in the Freewood Acres section of Howell.
The section of Freewood Acres will be on the easterly (northbound) and westerly (southbound) sides of Route 9 between Interstate 195 and Sunnyside Road. The ordinance appropriates $9.26 million for the work, including $462,909 as the down payment, with the remainder to be issued in bonds or notes.
The second ordinance the council adopted authorizes the construction of sanitary sewer mains and laterals, and related expenses, to serve properties on Route 9 northbound between West Farms Road and Casino Drive. The ordinance appropriates $3.45 million for the work, including $172,710 as the down payment, with the remainder to be issued in bonds or notes.
During the public hearing on the ordinances, several residents expressed concern about the sewer projects, the estimated cost and the effect it would have on their home or business.
Nicastro told the residents that Director of Community Development Jim Herrman is handling the project and he said, “We understand one size does not fit all and there are going to be some adjustments.”
“Everything is not etched in stone,” Walsh said.
Herrman described the projects and said a notice was sent to residents and business owners in Freewood Acres and on Route 9.
“It is an assessment program, so all of the commercial properties that are in the Freewood Acres neighborhood and on Route 9 will be assessed what is called their fair share of the project. That is for the construction as it relates to their property,” Herrman said. “It is based on 35 percent lot coverage for a building, OK, that is it. This is an initial assessment, so this is an initial spending authorization we are doing right now.”
All of the funding for the project will initially come from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT), he said.
NJEIT “is giving us authorization to proceed right now to get construction started … When we get to the end of construction, which is at least probably a year-and-a-half from now if everything goes the way I want it to, we are going to have to certify all of the exact funds at the end of the job,” Herrman said.
He said notifications will be sent out with the final cost to each property owner who is affected by the sewer project.
“Your portion of the cost is based on your lot size and being in a commercial zone or being a commercial business in a residential zone and you will be assessed your portion of the project that will be payable over 20 years. So if you have a $20,000 payment we calculate, it will be $1,000 a year for the next 20 years,” Herrman said.
Nicastro encouraged anyone who has questions about the sewer project and the impact it could have on them to speak with Herrman.
At the same meeting, the council members authorized a $962,265 professional services contract with Maser Consulting for professional engineering services related to the Freewood Acres and Route 9 sanitary sewer extension.