PROJECT REPORT – ACE NY DISTRICT

Project Manager John O’Connor, P.E. was excused from the meeting due to family commitments.

NEW JERSEY DEP REPORT

The New Jersey DEP report was presented by Charles Defendorf. The ACOE and the NJDEP are moving forward with two (2) contracts:

a) TalmadgeAveBridge

b) Removal of ConrailBridge

Both projects seek to protect Bound Brook. Bids will be opened at the end of September and project award is anticipated by the end of the year.

Project Funding of $ 5 Million is in place for FY 2007.

The Finderne Farms wetland restoration project is approximately 90 percent complete.

Bound Brook athletic fields are anticipated to come on line in the spring. There have been minor drainage issues which are being addressed.

The R-1 levee and floodwall system is almost complete, in place and operational.

NJDEP is hosting a pre-application meeting on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 in Trenton to discuss technical permitting requirements to complete the floodwall and levee system.

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

1. Edward Zuskowski and Robert Billian of Bound Brook questioned timing of restoration of water and electricity in the park. Coordination with John O’Connor of the ACOE is required to resolve.

2. Bound Brook questioned the amount of arsenic contamination for the bridge projects. NJDEP has identified approximately 6000 CY of contaminated soil in the embankment only. No contamination was identified in the channel.

3. Frank McAardle of North Plainfield inquired regarding the Green Acres issues in Bound Brook. NJDEP explained that the matter was proceeding at high levels and would require action of the NJ State House Commission.

The Green Brook Flood Control Commission will likely pass a supporting resolution to encourage positive action by the NJ State House Commission relating to the transfer of property required to complete the project at an appropriate time.

4. Joseph Skupien, P.E. of Somerset County expressed reassurance that storms anticipated over the Labor Day Weekend did not materialize. It is however clear that annual funding of $5M per year will not adequately address the flood protection needs of this region.

The Commission needs to press for additional funding and should develop a media plan to assure a common message should a flood event occur in the region. The message should be New Jersey to Feds, Finish the Job.

5. Frank McArdle of North Plainfield commented that funding or the lack thereof is a political issue. Over the next nine (9) difficult weeks, it is incumbant on members of the Commission and the Public to bring the attention of politicians to this issue and to support those that support us. There is tremendous local support for this project but little or nothing from Washington, DC. It’s about time we changed that.

6. Joe Skupien, P.E. indicated that this is a 65 square mile drainage basin with over one million residents. Many of these are lucky enough to have never personally experienced flooding. We need to point out the tremendous costs associated with not proceeding with and completing the work. It is the hope of this Commission that the new Congress will be more in tune with this concept and will be more sensitive to the needs of this area. $5 million doesn’t cut it anymore.

PRIVLEDGE OF THE FLOOR

1. A Green Brook resident suggested that local stream cleaning initiatives were what is necessary. He challenged Commission members to walk the rivers in the basin. There is a tremendous amount of garbage, leaves, etc. fouling the waterways. He intimated that $5 million should be more than enough if people stopped dumping in streams and local governments cleaned the streams up.

Mr Skupien pointed out that although local initiatives in stream cleaning are commendable and needed to improve flow characteristics during lower level storms, the initiatives of the Commission and the ACOE are for protection from significant flood events where the local initiatives would have little or no impact.

2. Dunellen residents questioned the lack of a representative to the Commission from Dunellen and wondered regarding the timing of improvements impacting the Dunellen area.

At this time, improvements will be completed in Bound Brook and Middlesex prior to beginning work in Dunellen. Funding will ultimately determine timing. The resident was directed to the Dunellen governing body to seek better representation on the Commission from Dunellen. The Commission would welcome increased participation by Dunellen.

3. Plainfield introduced its new representative, Eugene Dudley.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Green Brook Flood Commission will be Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 7:30pm in Plainfield.

HOST COMMUNITY