BUILDING A LEGACY
Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake
PA S C AC K VA L L E Y ’ S BEST H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R
VOLUME 23 ISSUE 44
STYLISH SUPPORT
JANUARY 13, 2020
PASCACK VALLEY
SUEZ PLAN ON LEAD FIX GETS JAN. 21 HEARING
Alexa, 5, has donated 12 inches of her hair to a children’s charity. SEE PAGE 21
PASCACK VALLEY
DRAMATIC SEA LEVEL RISE MAY IMPACT NJ, REPORT SAYS BY HILLARY VIDERS SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS
Sea levels in New Jersey could rise from 2000 levels as much as 1.1 feet by 2030, 2.1 feet by 2050 and 6.3 feet by 2100, according to a new study released during the first meeting of New Jerseyʼs new Interagency Council on Climate Resilience. The study, “The Rising Seas and Changing Coastal Storms,” was commissioned by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and prepared by Rutgers University and leading climate change experts. The report also concludes sea-level rise projections in New Jersey are more than two times the global average, according to NJDEP. “New Jersey has much to lose if we do not act quickly and decisively to adapt to the realities of climate change,” NJDEP Commis-
See CLIMATE on page 204
PHOTO BY ALYSSA DAWSON
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
WILLIAM ‘BILL’ MARTIN is Westwood’s Volunteer of the Year for 2020. Martin, a ‘citizen architect,’ has a wealth of experience leading the borough’s land use boards. He is pictured Jan. 6 with Council President Chris Montana, member Erin Collins, Mayor Ray Arroyo, wife Jackie Martin, and councilmembers Rob Bicocchi, Beth Dell, and Jodi Murphy. BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
WESTWOOD—Saying, “Iʼm not a fireman, Iʼm not a doctor, Iʼm not an EMS tech; Iʼm not sure I deserve to win,” a local architect with his eye on the big picture nevertheless deservedly is the boroughʼs Volun-
teer of the Year for 2020. The mayor and Borough Council have honored William J. “Bill” Martin with the distinction in part for his “innumerable hours of service to the Borough of Westwood and its residents and incalculable con-
Continued on page 3
Mayor Calamari faces tough questions heading into 2020 BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council reorganization meeting on Jan. 6 saw the swearing in of two new members, both Republican, one of whom was then elected council president. Swept out in Novemberʼs election were Independents Robert Bruno and Michael Ullman, the latter of whom observed from the audience as Stacey DeMarco-Feeney and Desiree Morgan were sworn in. No members of the public spoke. The town faces a number of challenges moving forward.
Before he left last year, Bruno said heʼd initiated a request for an outside investigation into town finances. He also said he was available to serve as town finance director. At the meeting, Mayor Peter Calamari reported that “We have run out of time and options to find a temporary home in the township for the [Department of Municipal Facilities while the soil is being remediated and a new facility is constructed.” He said, “We will start exploring out-of-town
Continued on page 24
A proposal to replace customer lead service lines for a flat fee of $1,000—and impose a surcharge of up to 85 cents per month on water bills for 200,000 customers in Bergen and Hudson counties—will be open for public comment at a hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Meeting Room in Hackensack. The state Office of Administrative Law (OAL) is conducting the hearing, which will be overseen by Judge Jacob S. Gertsman. “The company is requesting approval of a monthly surcharge up to $0.85 per month to General Metered Water customers, which includes the costs of the program and the companyʼs costs incurred above the $1,000 per residence payment as part of the total,” states the public notice. The company notes it will initially pay the difference above $1,000 to replace a customerʼs lead service line and seek reimbursement later via a monthly surcharge on all customers. The Suez petition to begin a two-year pilot program was transferred last year by the state Board of Public Utilities to the OAL for a decision and recommendation back to BPU. Public advocate opposed Suezʼs proposal is opposed by the state Division of Rate Counsel—an advocate for statewide
See SUEZ on page 314
THE RIGHT STUFF
B ck in time...
A Township of Washington resident is among four Immaculate Heart Academy seniors just honored for outstanding character. SEE PAGE 18
What we now know as Bacari Grill, at Pascack and Ridgewood roads, was Pine Lodge when home-cooked meals were advertised in 1930. SEE PAGE 4