The notes which follow deal with some of the matters; mainly those of a technical nature, and overall fiscal nature, which were discussed at the regular monthly meeting of the Commission held April- 5, 2006. These notes are grouped by subject, and do not necessarily follow the order in which matters were discussed at the meeting.

The April 2006 Meeting was held at the Community Room of the Middlesex Library at the Municipal Complex on Mountainview Avenue, Middlesex, NJ.

Presiding Officer, and Chairman, Joseph Debler called the meeting to order at 7:42 p.m.; and then led the Commission in the salute to the flag. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

THE ORDER OF BUSINESS

Chairman Joseph Debler announced that notice of this meeting was given in accordance with therequirements of the. State law, and he explained the order of business: reports by the Federal Engineers, the State NJDEP, the Commission Engineer; followed by questions and comments from the appointed members of the Commission, ~ and other Commission business; after which questions and comments from members of the public, addressed through the Chair, are welcomed.

ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING

The meeting -was attended by Commission representatives and members of the public from Somerset County, Middlesex County and Union^, County; 'the° Municipalities of Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Green Brook, Middlesex Borough, North Plainfield, Piscataway, Scotch Plains, South Plainfield, and Watchung; representatives from the State of New Jersey NJDEP; and from the Federal Engineers (Corps of Engineers, New York).

Legislative Committee Chairman Frank McArdle reported that the suggested Resolutions for Congressional support of the Project in the next Federal Fiscal Year (FY2007, beginning October 1, 2006) have been received from Bound Brook Borough, Bridgewater Township, Green Brook Township, North Plainfield Borough, and Watchung Borough.

A copy of the suggested Resolution was attached to the Memo Report of the Commission Meeting held March 1, 2006.

Copies of the adopted Resolutions are attached hereto.

Mr. McArdle urgently requested that all the other Municipalities within the Green Brook Basin should act as quickly as possible to adopt similar Resolutions of support for the money which will be needed from Congress to keep the Project moving forward in the next year.

If we want flood protection, it is very important that each Municipality express themselves by Resolution to the Congress.

FLOOD PROTECTION WORK TO BE DONE NEXT YEAR IF FEDERAL MONEY IS OBTAINED

In response to a question, John O'Connor, P.E., Federal Engineers, reported that if Congress appropriates the necessary money (and if the State of NJ supplies its matching share) the work which the Federal Engineers will undertake next year will include:

• The Talmage Avenue bridge over the Middle Brook, at an estimated cost of approximately $12 million.

• The R2 levee, which will extend the line of protection from the Talmage Avenue bridge down along the Middle Brook and then along the Raritan River. The estimated cost of this levee is approximately $4 million. The Federal Engineers. are prepared to advertise with the necessary Plans and Specifications by this coming summer (if monies are, appropriated).

• The removal of the disused Conrail railroad bridge (from Middlesex Borough to South Bound Brook). The regulations of the NJDEP require that this old, disused bridge must be removed.

• The preparation of a "scope of study" concerning up to date plans for the protection of the Upper Portion of the Green Brook Basin (Mr. O'Connor noted that the Federal Engineers are not now authorized to carry out such a study; but in order to avoid future delays, they consider it prudent to be prepared for the necessary study by working out the "scope" and the costs of this necessary study).

In connection with the challenge of obtaining the necessary Federal money, for next year, Chairman Joseph Debler noted that there has thus far been no response from the Office of Congressman Pallone.

It was pointed out that the decisions made by the appropriate committees, and subcommittees, in Congress, concerning appropriations for the Project for the next year are expected to take place in the latter part of April 2006 and/or the early part of May 2006.

Frank M. Meeks, Commission Treasurer, reported the new video prepared for the Commission, illustrating the terrible consequences of major floods, has now been completed, and a supply of copies (in several different formats) has been received.

Mr. Meeks reported that an appointment has been made with Congressman Ferguson to show this new video to him on April 11, Arrangements are also underway to show this video to Congressman Frelinghuysen (a member of the key committee in the House of Representatives which prepares recommendations for appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for projects, including the Green Brook Flood Control Project).

After Congressman Frelinghuysen has had an opportunity to see this video, a "media event" will be scheduled for noon on a weekday, to make this video available to the various media which serve the area.

Commissioner Meeks explained that after Congressman Frelinghuysen has had an opportunity to see this video, it will be generally released, including a showing to the members of the Green Brook Flood Control Commission.

FINDERNE FARM WETLANDS MITIGATION SITE

John O'Connor, P.E., Federal Engineers, reported that the Finderne Farm Wetlands Mitigation construction is now well advanced. A total of approximately 70,000 cubic yards of earth havebeen moved, and the Project is now at the stage of planting and landscaping.

Mr. O'Connor noted that approximately 100,000 plants are being planted.

The end date for physical construction of this Wetlands Mitigate Site is expected to be accomplished by June of this year. Maintenance operations at the Site will be the responsibility of the contractor until March 2007.

Charles Defendorf, P.E., NJDEP, explained that the planting involves various species which are adapted to wetlands, and he added that a "full time biologist" is present at_-the Site during this planting.

Mr. Defendorf also noted that there is a "two mile walking path" around the Site. The total of the plantings is approximately 5,000 plants.

Mr. Defendorf expressed the view that this Wetlands Mitigation Site construction has been carried out "very well, and in a very timely manner".

Several questions arose concerning the Katrina hurricane, and its effect on New Orleans. Several of these questions concerning the Katrina disaster in New Orleans were discussed.

It was brought out that the policy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is that their regulations presently are based upon protection for a "150 year" flood, plus three feet of "free board" above that level.

Apparently FEMA is reviewing their standard for flood insurance, including the question of whether such flood insurance should be for a 100 year recurrence frequency event, or perhaps instead a 500 year recurrence frequency event.

In addition to reconsideration of the "recurrence frequency standard", the mapping of expected flooding in the New Orleans vicinity is being questioned.

It was reported that as a result of the review by FEMA, based upon the events at New Orleans, consideration is being given to changing the protection level from a 100 year storm to instead establishing the standard as perhaps a "500 year" storm. If this were to be done, the insurance premiums would presumably be higher.

It was also pointed out that the trailers which were made available for use in New Orleans after the Katrina storm could not, in some cases, be positioned there because they would have been necessarily placed in a flood plain.

Chairman Joseph Debler reported that the Finance Committee of the Green Brook Flood Control Commission has prepared a "Request for Proposals (RFP)" for Consulting Engineering services to be furnished to the Commission; and another Request for Proposals for secretarial services to be provided to the Commission, and copies were made available at the meeting.

To be considered for selection, an original and five copies of a complete signed proposal must arrive at the office of the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Green Brook, at 111 Green Brook Road, Green Brook, New Jersey, 08812-2501, not later than 10 AM on Monday, May 15, 2006. _

Copies of these two "Requests for Proposals" dated April 6, 2006, were made available at the meeting.

Charles Defendorf, P.E., NJDEP, reported that negotiations between David Rosenblatt of the NJDEP and the Borough of Bound Brook concerning the matter of replacement "Green Acres within the Borough of Bound Brook seem to be progressing towards a solution.

In connection with the adoption of a Flood Plain Management Plan for the Borough of Bound Brook, Joseph Skupien, P.E., Somerset County, reported that Somerset County will also adopt the final Flood Plain Management Plan for the Borough of Bound Brook.

In this connection, it was noted that the provision for over topping of the levees, as part of the Flood Plain Management Plan, will provide that any possible over topping of the levees along the Middle Brook will occur at the location of the Little League baseball playing field, as the location which will cause the least damage should the line of protection be over topped.

John O'Connor, P.E., Federal Engineers, reported that the baseball playing field at Billian Legion Park is expected to be ready for use in May 2006.

He further reported that representatives from the Little League Headquarters in Williamsport, PA, are expected to visit the site in the near future so as to "certify" this field.

John O'Connor, P.E., Federal Engineers, reported that the R1 levee system along the Middle Brook, from Union Avenue (Route 28) to Talmage Avenue is now "essentially complete".

He added that there are some excavated materials still remaining in that vicinity, which will be removed in the near future.

PERMITS FROM NJDEP FOR REMAINING WORK IN BOUND BROOK BOROUGH

Charles Defendorf, P.E., NJDEP, pointed out that the R2 levee (from the Talmage Avenue bridge down along the Middle Brook, and thence along the Raritan River) is not yet "permitted" by the NJDEP.

Mr. Defendorf added that the old, disused Conrail bridge over the Raritan River, from Middlesex Borough to South Bound Brook, which will be removed as part of the Project, is "permitted".

Commissioner Frank McArdle asked John O'Connor, P.E., Federal Engineers, about the status of the work of the Federal Engineers to plan for protection of the Upper Portion of the Green Brook Basin.

John O'Connor, P.E., Federal Engineers, replied that more information on this subject will become available "this summer".

Frank M. Meeks, III, Treasurer, submitted the Treasurer's Report as of March 31, 2006 (copy attached).

The Treasurer's Report was approved unanimously.

ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE BRUNCH

Chairman Joseph Debler announced that the Annual Legislative Brunch, held each May, will be held as usual at the Willows Restaurant on Washington Avenue in Green Brook Township, to which all Legislators are traditionally invited.

(Subsequent to the meeting, Mr. Debler has announced that the Brunch will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2006, beginning at 11 AM.)

All elected members of Legislative bodies having responsibility for the Green Brook Basin (at the Municipal level, County level, State level and Federal level) are invited to attend as guests of the Commission.

Interested. members of the public are also welcome, and will be responsible for payment of the costs of their meals.

Chairman Joseph Debler explained that the postage expenditures by the Commission are reported on. the basis of when they are paid, rather than which month they pertain to.

The result is that in some. months the expenditure for postage actually paid represents the cost of postage for more than that one month.

Chairman Debler offered copies of a detailed analysis of recent postage costs to those interested in the details.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously adopted that the Memo Report prepared by the Commission's Consultant concerning the March 1, 2006, Meeting of the Green Brook Flood Control Commission be approved as the Official Record of the actions of the Commission at that meeting.

Chairman Joseph Debler reported that written advice of appointments as Members of the Commission has been received as follows:

• Scotch Plains: Theodore Bassman and Harold Brody

• South Plainfied: Alice Tempel

• Bridgewater: Mssrs. Bogart, Kurdyla and Norgalis

• Warren Township John Runfolo

Chairman Joseph Debler advised that if there is any person willing to volunteer to serve as "Webmaster" for the Commission, at no cost to the Commission, they should make their availability known to the Commission.

Commission Consultant J. B. Wiley, Jr., P.E., P.P., reported that he had been requested to meet with the Mayor of Wayne Township, together with a number of interested citizens of Wayne, to explain to them the history of the Green Brook Flood Control Commission.

Accordingly, Wiley attended a meeting convened by Mayor Scott P. Rumana, and briefly. outlined to them the history of the Green Brook Flood Control Commission, which extends over very many years, but which ultimately was able to achieve an authorized Federal/State Flood Control Project for the Green Brook Basin.

Wiley reported that under the leadership of their Mayor, there seems to be a possibility that Wayne Township will take the lead to organize a flood control commission, with the objective to find a solution to the flooding which severely affects that area when major storms occur.

(Wiley's attendance at this meeting involved no cost to Wayne Township and, of course, no cost to the Green Brook Flood Control Commission.)

It was moved, seconded and unanimously adopted that appreciation be expressed to Middlesex Borough for the use of their Community Room in their attractive Library, and for their continued financial support for the work of the Commission.

The present schedule for future meetings of the Commission is as follows:

Saturday, May 20, 2006, 11:30 AM - Annual Legislative Brunch at "The Willows" Restaurant on Washington Avenue, Green Brook Township. Public welcome to take luncheon subject to $30 charge for luncheon for other than members of the Commission.

Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 7:30 PM at the Piscataway Municipal Building.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006 at 7:30 PM at Scotch Plains

Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 9 AM - Annual Memorial Service - Mountain View Park, Middlesex Borough

Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at 7:30 PM Green Brook Township Municipal Building (It is planned that the December 2006 meeting will be held in Plainfield.)