VOLUME XVII, NUMBER 1

PERSUADING THE FEDERAL ENGINEERS

The question arises from time to time: How does the Commission persuade the Federal Engineers to do what needs to be done?
Sometimes it's only an easy matter: Should the PARSA sewer line be relocated in Billian Legion Park before the levee is built in that area?
Sometimes it is a quite major matter: Can we buy out the houses on Prospect Place in Middlesex Borough, instead of flood proofing them?

THE COMMISSION CANNOT GIVE ORDERS

The basic reality is that the Commission has no power to give orders to anyone. The individual Counties and Municipalities which make up the Commission, of course, have the power of government. They can levy taxes. They can acquire property, and they have police power.
But the Commission itself has no power to give orders to anyone. And no power to levy taxes or assessments. Persuasion is the only power available to the Commission.

HOW CAN THE FEDERAL ENGINEERS BE PERSUADED?

A written request from the Commission to the Federal Engineers often is not enough.
A clear-cut request from the State of NJ is different. That does cause the Federal Engineers to listen. But is isn't always easy for the Commission to persuade the State of New Jersey to make a written request to the Federal Engineers.

A LONG HISTORY

The full title of the Federal Engineers is the US Army Corps of Engineers. A few of the people are Army personnel. About 600 nationwide.
But the vast majority, about 34,000, are civilian civil service employees. Many, but not all, are Engineers. They've been in existence a very long time - since 1775.
There's only one voice to which they really listen: Congress.
When Congress speaks, they pay attention. Their authority to do things, and the appropriations which enable them to carry out projects, all come from Congress.

BUSY PEOPLE IN CONGRESS

Members of the House of Representatives, and the US Senate, are busy people. Each member of the House represents thousands of people. Each New Jersey member of the US Senate represents millions of people.
So the Commission must be careful about pestering them on every little matter.
Fortunately, the present member of the House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, Mike Ferguson, takes a keen interest in the progress of the Green Brook Flood Control Project.
His predecessors, Bob Franks and Matt Rinaldo, similarly paid close attention to the Flood Control Project.

WHEN CONGRESS SPEAKS, THE FEDERAL ENGINEERS PAY ATTENTION

Because the US Army Corps of Engineers receives its authority and its appropriations from Congress, the Federal Engineers pay very careful attention when the District Congressman speaks up. That voice from Congress is what ultimately makes the difference.
When the Commission runs into road blocks, it seeks help from our elected leaders in Congress. And Mike Ferguson, and his predecessors in Congress from this area, have never let us down.

VERNON A. NOBLE, Chairman
111 GREENBROOK ROAD, GREEN BROOK, NEW JERSEY 08812 • (732) 968-2018