Former B.A.
Greg Fehrenbach

PERTH AMBOY – 8/10/15 Caucus Meeting: Ordinance No. 10: Bond Ordinance providing for various improvements to the water utility in and by the City of Perth Amboy, in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, Appropriating $7,275,000, therefore and authorizing the issuance of $6,525,000 bonds or notes of the City to finance part of the cost thereof.

Former Business Administrator Greg Fehrenbach came forward to give a more detailed explanation of what this ordinance covers. This pertains to the Water Treatment Sewer Separation on Outer State Street. This would include: Interceptive Line Cleaning that CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Communities have to comply with under the new State Regulations.

“There was a time line of 36 months to meet the deadlines. We have a 50% Forgiveness Reduction after only 5% of the system is separated. New Brunswick used grants when updating their Water/Wastewater System. That’s why they are not a CSO Municipality. We are 47 days behind meeting  some of the State’s milestones or compliances.”

After Fehrenbach finished talking, Councilman Fernando Gonzalez voiced some concerns. “We need to have in place, the posting of major dates of deadlines that the City must meet for CSO Compliances to avoid penalties.”

Fehrenbach added, “The City is in complete compliance with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).”

From www.nj.gov (CSO Communities) The paragraphs below explain part of what CSO stands for and the rules, regulations, compliances and purpose:

The Department is committed to working with Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) permittees and CSO communities to reduce or eliminate CSOs. The Department will assist permittees in meeting their permit obligations by providing technical assistance, guidance, and training.  

The individual CSO permits, effective on July 1, 2015, encourage permittee and community collaboration on the planning and development of projects that will provide urban redevelopment opportunities, improve water quality, beautify neighborhoods, and improve the overall quality of life in our urban communities.  

The Nine Minimum Control Measures 1.) Proper operation and maintenance 2.) Maximum use of collection system for storage 3.) Review of pretreatment requirements 4.)Maximization of flow to POTW for treatment 5.) Prohibition of CSOs during dry weather 6.)Control of solids and floatables 7.) Pollution prevention 8.)Public notification – new signs, website, public notices 9.) Monitoring of CSO impacts and efficacy of controls.