December 2002 - January 2003 Edition

Council Pushing Berkshire Flood Relief    By Chris Neidenberg The Borough Council is pursuing all possible avenues in getting monies for finding ways to alleviate flooding in the Berkshire Road area. At a recent work session, members decided to lobby on at least two fronts: appealing to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in Trenton, and petitioning Fair Lawn's own Congressman Steve Rothman to see if there is a federal solution. "Let's take this to the state DEP commissioner (Bradley Campbell) and the federal government, to see if they can satisfactorily work together and come up with a solution on this," Mayor David L. Ganz urged. Additionally, the council directed Fair Lawn's public advocate to use all available resources in representing residents' interests in this area. Borough officials said the major contributor to the problem is the buildup of water in a local brook, an offshoot of the Saddle River , which routinely overflows during heavy rains. Borough Attorney Richard Lustgarten and Deputy Mayor for Community Affairs Martin Etler said the brook is in need of an overhaul. Lustgarten added that the key to relieving the problem could be dredging the waterway, a task that could be performed by a federal agency such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, if funds can be secured. Ganz asserted that the situation does not only plague his borough. "Realize that this is a problem affecting three towns: Fair Lawn, Elmwood Park, and Saddle Brook," explained the mayor, elected Nov. 6 to a three-year term on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders. "I think we should let them know we're applying for a state grant." The mayor suggested that pressure, applied by all three communities on their federal and state representatives, could attract some attention. All lie along the path of the lower portion of the Saddle River, for which the corps has proposed a much-discussed overhaul from Paramus to its terminus at the Passaic River in Wallington - once funding is in place and the project is doable. Yet Etler maintained that, since the borough's problem is confined to the brook in his municipality, the two other communities have no direct interests at stake. He explained that the problem is the brook "where the (rain) water drains into." He added: "It should be leveed, repiped and covered over." He contended that structural flaws affecting the waterway make it impossible for the brook to flow freely, assuring that any rainwater "cannot go in there (brook)." Thus, according to Etler, the water saturates homes and the roadway right near the brook Ganz said the council should urge the public advocate to "take whatever action is appropriate" in advancing Fair Lawn's cause. "The (affected) residents can sit down with the public advocate," said Councilman Vic Amato.   Note: Mr. Neidenberg is a talented local writer looking for a job. If you have a job tip for him, send an e- mail to chrisneidenberg@hotmail.com