Residents living directly in the path of flood-water suggested that the gates be opened days before the 10 inch rain-fall that obliviated they're homes and property- not hours suggested by the govenor, or waiting until the computer program opened them.
The residents in the path have first-hand knowledge of the impact of the flood-water. Their knowledge is based on generations of relatives and family members who have resided along the banks long before the ACOE and the use of computer programs that determine "cause and effect".
Mr. Szabo, your appeal falls on deaf ears when compared to eye-witness accounts of the flooding that has occurred since the installation of the flood-gate system.
Luckily, the residents pleas to open the flood-gate where heard and acted upon by the govenor when they were, if they waited until you, the Mayor: Chris Vergano, or the ACOE computor generated program activated the gates opening, the losses would have been devastating-well beyond reconstruction.
The flood-gate computer program cannot detect what is going on above Pompton Lakes. It cannot detect the flow or impact that is heading towards us until it's actually in front of the gate- and that ( like your plea ) is too late.

Well put Joe...Lets NOT wait for the Mayor and council to do anything. You would think that the GENIUS Councilman from the district would be sharper then HE thinks he is to do something...The politicians in this town snooze while the homeowners loooooooossseeee, big time.Looks as if stupidity were music, this group we have would be an orchestra and we ALL know who the conductor is....SHAMEFULL

It is hard to understand how these flood gates have nothing to do with the volume of water coming into the Pompton, Pequannock and Wayne area when there are areas of Oakland that use to flood IE Pleasureland and the Colony, that have not seen flooding since 2007. They did receive water during Irene, but by Monday most of the 7'/8' water was gone. Where did it go and why was it gone so fast when there are people down stream that were just back in there houses this week? I remember during the 84 floods the water in pleasureland was there for almost a week.

er um uh...did Oakland Mayor John Szabo say the gates have no impact on flooding? Or did Wayne Town Planner say that? REDONKULOUS. Szabo needs to resign from at least one of his positions. Nah, there's no conflict here. How about this John? Keep the floodgates closed next time. Let us know how things go up in Pleasureland.

Wait a minute. Isn't Szabo running for re-election as Oakland Mayor this November? Doesn't he have to say that the floodgates have nothin to do with nothin to get re-elected? Does anyone think that the 6 floods in Wayne in the past two years are consistent with the same area's experience in the preceding 30 years?

The fact is that Szabo is taking this preposterous position in the press because he's been called out by Bill Brennan because of his conflict of interest. This defensive BS position that Szabo is taking is despicable and shameful. And it insults all of the residents and business owners who are affected every time those floodgates open.

If we keep electing these same officials, we get what we deserve. Bring back Messercola. I hear that at the very least he was a nice guy.

As Joe V stated, the ACOE computer program cannot detect what is going on above the Pompton Lake Dam. It cannot calculate the effect's of the "improvements" made to the Ramapo River Basin in Oakland in 1999-2004.
The construction of the 5,800 ft of channel, or the 1500 ft at the S&W bridge, or the enlargement of the Potash Lake. These "improvements" collect a larger volume of water than the river handled before, and the channel moves the water faster down stream.
In Wayne the problem begins as soon as the water hits the gate system. It's immediately slowed down, but the volume that's going through it at one time is larger than it was before the Oakland improvements we made.
Once it's propelled through the gate, it's slowed further because of the hard left-hand turn it takes behind Ray Maroon's autolot. The overflow floods the neighborhood there first, then sweeps it way down behind Westview, Riverview, Kuhns Farm and to the FeederDam...

The FeederDam is the next major obstruction that slows the flow and backwashes into the tract of land behind Rt.23 Honda and Toyota. By this time the area on/around Dawes Highway is already flooded, as well as the this land tract. From this point-down through Wayne, Peaquonnock, Mt.view- the river is so shallow it has no place to go but into the properties that are along it's path,
Since wre stuck with the flood-gate, we should concentrate on purchasing Maroons property and the closed Chevy dealership and widening the river at these points ( as well as deeper ) and rebuiding a wider cross-over bridge at Dawes. Then deepening the balance of the channel from that point to FeederDam. At this point, turn that whole land tract into a lake. ( aaprox. the size of Pompton Lake ).
In the mean-time Szabo has to go- he's an idiot. He knew exactly how much of an impact the improvements in Oakland were going to have in Wayne. The truth is: If he didn't-he shouldn't be working here, and if he did- he shouldn't be working here.
It's clear that his main objective is to seal off his town and sell off ours.

Jessica: Your command of the facts is impressive. I suggest that the Army Corps of Engineers & the State of New Jersey pay you a lot of money to put your posts on fancy letterhead and submit it as a formal report on the flooding. Very well done. You might also be a special consultant for John Szabo. Looks like he needs some help.

What wicked webs we weave when at first we practice to deceive......The species Ochyroceratidae, has nothing on the skills and talents exhibited by this current Republican Administration. At least Louis Messercola, a Democrat, didn't display this
pathetic, unplaced arrogance that is prevalent throughout the current corrupt cast of immature characters.

WOW Let's keep digging...Never know what else will be exposed....While most are having difficulty paying bills like health insurance, these hogs are living high off the taxes, collecting inflated salaries, benefits, pensions....all at the taxpayer's expense...Adding insult to injury, there was no provision made for the displaced souls due to the ongoing flood problem...Was it Marie Antoinette who said: "Let them eat cake.." before the French Revolution? Are they still teaching History in school, or has
it also become "politically incorrect" to teach citizens how to think for themselves?
When this country become totalitarian as opposed to by the people, for the people?
When do Civil Servants display the haughtiness and sarcasm that has come out of 475 Valley Road? It is time to vote in honest and fire the incompetent and corrupt...

Looks like we need to provide Rob with an electric mining shovel...the one he currently has will soon break..(http://www.mining-technology.com/contractors/used_equipment/lnh/)...I bet it will be easier to purchase said equipment than to get the OPRA request filled in a timely and complete manner.
...Citizens who have no health insurance, no pensions, no homes to live in....your money is going to pay for all of the above plus "education"...not a bad deal, if you can get...How about these pensions...Has anyone checked to see if they are retroactive to before these people were hired???? Tax dollars...Who are the auditors???

Oh i think you will see a good turn out. The fact that WE the People of Wayne, NOT those who think THEY can control us will have people coming out. The MORE people i speak to are getting turned off by this group and they are seeing it's time for a change...We don't need the likes of them to represent US when they have a hard enough time representing them self's. THEY can't tell US that what is good for them is good for WAYNE..ANYONE for TEA??

@eyes: I look forward to seeing you and your friends at the Council meeting.

Wayne Corruption Costs Us Money -- Stop the Madness

Stopping the Madness one person at a time

Thank you Wayne Patch. This seems to be the hold-out publication that allows for free expression of speech and press; both the Record and Star Ledger ties into Facebook, which many do not have or choose to have. Additionally,, Facebook does not reach as many people: it is an extension of high school pettiness and cliques.

Yes, lets stop the madness now and at election... Think of it this way: would a money making corporation allow the sycophants and vampiric creatures to continue an extra day?? No, said creatures would be terminated and prosecuted...We are the employers of these creatures...We need to act in a responsible manner in order for our society to survive. ... The responsibility is even greater when it deals with a community full of citizens, not just the strong; but the elderly, the sick, the weak, the children...To whom much is given, much will be required...For those of us who have given, let us pass the sword to those who will now protect us and the children of this community...Let us teach integrity and the workings of our democratic government, lest we lose our freedoms.. I will be there at the meetings...Overflow the room with our demands for rightfulness.

Article dated: March 12, 2011 written by NJ.bom staff writer Michele Lee quoted Govenor Cristie's statement that an independant study into the flooding downsteam caused by the automated discharge of flood water was being launched immediately. At the time ACOE Col. John Boule and NJ Rep Bill Pascrell were on tour of the damage, and reported that the floodgates saved Oakland from millions of dollars in flood damage, but could not comment on additional damage in Pompton Lakes, Wayne, Peaquannock and Little Falls. Col. John Boule also stated that he would not hide anything from the results of the report.
The problem is- to avoid hiding the results, the report was never done. They most likely didn't consider the September flood, and when Irene did stike the Govenor immediately responded by stating that an indepenant study was going to be launched to determine the effects of the floodgates.
URS Corp. is listed as the independant. They are Headquartered in Sanfrancisco Calif. When I called them on September 16th, they did not have any information what-so-ever regarding a reveiw of the Passaic County Floodgate other than several proposals pending.
Have we actually contracted they're services or has the proposal stalled in Trenton ?
Are we being lied to by Govenor Cristie and Bill Pascrell ?
What happened to the report that commenced in March ?

Why hasn't Mayor Chris Vergano made a pubic demand to produce the report, or aleast a copy of the contract that hired URS Corp. ?
Where is Bill Pascrell ? Why hasn't he stepped up with a proposal to combine towns resourses and hire URS. Corp. ?
Residents, businesses and corporations in Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Peaquannock, Little Falls, Riverdale and Fairfield are being demoralized over a $120,000 cost.
My suggestion is to put Rumana, Szabo, Pascrell, Christie, Vergano and Col. Boule in a pontoon boat and float them in Pompon Lake during the next flood. They can yell to us to either "Open the floodgate" or "close the floodgate". Let them get a first-hand feel of what it is that we're going through.

@Jessica: RUN FOR OFFICE!!! You are spot on and anyone who reads your posts knows it, including Col. Boule, Vergano, Christie, Szabo & Rumana. If you don't mind, I'd like to read some of your posts at Wednesday's Council Meeting. I hope you can come too.

I do like your suggestion about the pontoon boat -- would make for a terrific Sunday newspaper cartoon.

RUN FOR OFFICE JESSICA!!!!

The only way this flooding will ever be resolved is to file a lawsuit against the responsible people and their negligence in the continued perpetration of this travesty. Hurt them where it means something...in their pocketbooks

These people can be sued under the Public Official Liability Coverage provided to all NJ Municipalities. As a matter of fact, attend the meeting which will be at 475 Valley Road:

The New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund meeting will be on September 22, 2011 at Township of Wayne Municipal Building, 475 Valley Road in Health Room # 2.

http://njiif.com/

Perfect place and time to submit a claim, after all, we are all used to it by now: what with FEMA, Flood Insurance, etc.

Finally, our tax dollars pay for this. The defense of the claim is paid by the premiums that taxpayers provide. DO NOT BE DECEIVED to think that defense costs will come from the township: that is only if the township doesn't report the claim will it be on its' own.

Jessica- Rob Burke is right , you should run for office. Please showup at the council meeting so everyone in this town can hear your thoughts on the flooding issues. You present a clear concise explanation as to what happens during a period of heavy rainfall. But even better than that you offer a solution. This town needs people like you to stand up and deliver your message. Enough of the career politicians that are only worried about furthering their political careers.

Wayne Taxpayers - If you are fed up and tired of the political corroption and cronyism in this town, let your elected officials know your objections. You can reach Mayor vergano at 973-633-1230 x 116. You can also call Matt Giacobbee , Wayne Township Attorney at 201-615-9926. Let our objections be known. The Taxpayers of Wayne deserve better than these corrupt self serving politicians.

Corruption is what they want to believe. The problem in Wayne is collusion. There's no money grab that can pocketed, so they form "closed door" party lines -the kitty being political power.
It's not what they say, the words are chosen wisely. It's not what they do, the steps are choreographed before the door is opened.
It works something like this: Mayors Vergano and Szabo knew fingers were going to point in their direction after Irene. Szabo especially, since his planning procedures were questioned after the 2006 N'oreaster, and each of the floods since. He's used to coming under fire and has an arsenal of answers ready. Vergano is not quite as diligent. He doesn't have the answers, but he has a cunning way of listening to the questions long enough that the person asking will usually answer his/her own question. This allows Chris to keep a subtle defensive line between listening, and having to give more information they usually leads to more fuel for the fire so to speak.
If you ask either of them if the floodgate contributed to the flooding downstream-they both will answer NO! If you ask if the floodgate is working according to the design and construction by the ACOE- they will both answer YES.
Now the collusion.

Szabo knows very well the floodgate was working properly during Irene, because the rainfall amounts were equivalent to that of a 75 year flood, and the floodgate was desined and constructed handle the maximum water capacity of a 40 year flood. ( est. 4.52 inches of rainfall )-not the estimated 7.52-10.32 inches of rainfall that fell.

Since the rainfall exceeded the design specifications of the floodgate- all bets were off.
Fingers also pointed at Oakland and the question was asked: Did the improvement at the Ramapo River Basin increase the amount of water into the Pompton Lake ?
Once again Szabo answer of NO was correct. What he failed to mention ( because he was never asked) was that although there was no increase of water- there was an increase in the amount of time it took to fill th Pompton Lake due to the 2 Jet pumps that were installed at the Potash Dam as part of the improvements made. This meant that the water arrived at the Pompton Lake Floodgate much faster than it did before the 2006 N'oreaster, and was ultimately pushed through the gates and

flooded over the banks more rapidly than it used to before any of the improvements were made upstream. The cause and effect were equivalent to the storm drains bubbling out the grates, or the rain gutters on a house flowing over. The problem is that the lower parts of the river cannot expel the water as fast as it's coming downstream. It couldn't handle it before the improvements.

Not many residents are aware that the floodgates are "limited" to a specific rainfall amount-therefor, Szabo can conclude that they are working, when they aren't working at all.
He can conclude that the flow of the Ramapo River Basin is not expelling more water- it's expelling the same amount faster. It's a "discharge" on steroids.
So it's fair for "us" to conclude that in his article he failed to mention anything about jet pumps, a 40 year ( 4.52 inch ) rainfall capacity, or the fact that the ACOE has made a point of stating that " NONE OF THE BUYOUT PLANS ARE ECONOMICALLY JUSTIFIED". That included anything from the most basic 1988 Flood way plan all the way to the 1.8Billion dollar mega 100 year over-haul. Why ?
Because both Vergano and Szabo are vain. They pride themselves on scratching each-others backs. 5 million in buy-out bucks for Szabo, 24 million buy-out bucks for Vergano and this is the facts- not an opinion or a distorted finger point.

The money is not a buy-out plan, it's a sell-out plan to avoid the real issues of of losing taxable income by making the correct improvements along the Ramapo and Pompton Rivers. They know they can never "buy-out" Willowbrook Mall, and that blows the whole improvement scheme (scam) right out of the water. But they need the sell-offs to justify the jet pumps and the floodgates. The long term plan will eventually rectify the flooding using a series of flood walls, flood gates, and basins.
It's already been established that a comprehensive plan to reduce flooding is more effective than "buy-outs", but their objective is to grab as much of the property they can first, before the comprehensive plan goes around Willowbrook and moves forward. Both Vergano and Szabo both know that they have to act quickly, while the Iron is hot, and while the residents in the Wayne and Oakland plains are in disarray.

I wonder what Chris full time job is? If in fact he is a Sales Manager, the tactics that Jessica described are typical of the snake and oil scams of times gone by. I can't recall if Chris was actually elected by the people for mayor or if he had been elected by the Council and then it was an automatic when election time came. Voters, take back the township. Everyday, it looks more like a city.

@ Rob, thanks for exposing this tidbit. Definitely, a recall...Vergano has done nothing for this community other than fill his pockets. Why hasn't this been exposed? Who else was involved? What is wrong with the local newspapers? Isn't it their moral obligation to bring this forward? A snake will always be a snake. What a betrayal of public trust, and all done with a stupid smile...Beware of the ones who smile, they are the worst. Did changing parties feel it would hide things??? Shame, shame on you Vergano... Your resignation is demanded....You let people homeless..you didn't care....

Vergano, vergogna (Italian for shame)... SHAME ON YOU...Don't go to Church today....You are a hypocrite....Resign in shame

Jess- Jet pumps explains it. It's one thing to siphon out a pool with a garden hose, it's another to sipfon out the pool w/ a pump attached to a garden hose. "Same water".
It also explains the floodgate. It's undersized, and rendered ineffecient once it hits a pre-determined capacity of flow-water.
The people living downstream are seeing the difference in the "altered flow" of water and couldn't explain why- because they didn't have all of the information and specifications., Eye-witness accounts said they saw the pompton/peaquannock rivers pushing the passaic river backwards at the lower basin- "like a truck hitting a car" he stated.
Did you aquire any of the impact studies from the EPA ? I would really like to hear what they have to say.
It's evident that John Szabo's interest in Wayne is a definete conflict of interest to the residents living here. An idependent town planner would have questioned and fought the jet pumps speeding up the water flow above the dam right from the start.

Mr. Burke I respect what you do. I was there, that room was not packed. Take out the cops, fireman, news crew. There was less than 20 people.

My point is we need to stand up and you are right it doesn't matter if there are 2 people there. We need support each other. I'm just disappointed by the local residents. We have to support each other. Nothing is going to change if we sit in our hands.

The biggest problem Im having with this is the improvements. They were supposed to be made to help save the communities/residents along the river-NOT. They were inadvertenly tricked into being compromised. All of the reports thus far state that the existing properties have no/or very little impact on the flooding, and are being offered as a "generosity offer", to those that are tired of being bullied by political rhetoric.
Even if everyone sold out, the floods will come, closing all major roads and rendering everyone else help-less anyway. We're accomplishing nothing if we keep going on this route. It's worse than the days of Messercola, McGrogan, Cavaliere, Rinaldo, Cosden and COHA. This round of the Nadines, Rumana, Szabo, Vergano, have fangs, not just blood under their finger nails.
Like Jess stated: They are VAIN...and they got to go !!!

United States Attorney district of New Jersey
Eric Holder
970 Broad St
Suite 700
Newark NJ 07102

Corruption ends here.

Again, why have the newspapers not reported this? Where are you North Jersey Media, Star Ledger? Are you sleeping on the job? I urge everyone to cancel their subscriptions for these non-news papers... Eric Holder, do the job we are paying you to do....Remember, we, the people are the employers of this corrupt group. As employers, we have the right to terminate their employment..NJ is an "at will" state, which means we can fire them for no reason... Fire Szabo...let him feel our pain...Fire all that are part of this ...Call the auditors...demand an audit of the books...Follow the money...The suit them. It is the only thing they understand. Any lawyers out there with integrity?

Who is the accounting firm that audits the township of Wayne? If they took shortcuts, they are liable...

Remember who took Al Capone down? The IRS....Follow the money...always

Chris Vergano and Scott Rumana were both quoted in this mornings Bergen Record as having no Knowledge of Jerry Bello's conviction. Both men were heavily involved in Wayne Township and Passaic County politics at the time yet didn't have any knowledge of Bello's political corruption scandal. Yep... sounds plausible to me.

Which conviction are the boobsy twins denying knowledge of? I really do believe everything that comes out their mouths, don't you?

@Rob, not everyone has Channel 77. Quite a few people prefer Satellite and are unable to see the town meetings. Many, many years ago, I was promised a way to be able to watch these meetings, with Satellite....As you would put it, another lie. Lies, lies and more lies.

Yes I understand, but if we apply the same set of standards you use on Szabo here, if Brennan does not vote (abstain) he is not representing you (his constituent). There is a conflict of interest. His own situation robs you the citizen of your representation.

I believe he recused himself from the issue from both parties so how is that a conflict? There is no plaintiff Szabo.
Is not that what you are saying Brennan would do?The suit you
refer to was part of litigation per a developers suit and a court order. It would be no different than Brennan recusing himself from Pensions issues. I am just asking you to compare apples to apples.

As far as your statement "No vote on pension reform would require his recusal" I beg to differ. Any benefit or loss of benefits to his pension would require his recusal. And of course he would never want to make "an appearance of impropriety " I believe that is against the ethics codes too.

No Begging intended or required.
Rob you ignore the facts and you loose all credibility.
Please produce something that directly show Szabo's name is somehow included in any part of the suit you mention. Your intention to clutter the issue at hand with miscellaneous rubbish is lost on me. Stick to Szabo and the conflict of interest you allege. I just want you to apply the standards you seek to apply to Szabo to Brennan should he win.

Go back to 1903 and you will see that the 1903 storm approximates the same level of flooding as this storm, there were no flood gates in 1903.

Rob this is about flooding, not you and not your political battles.

Yup the more than 14 inches of rain that fell was God's retribution for political corruption, Rob----take a deep breath, take a few days off, get a grip man.

Rob
The clutter, is you throwing out wild statements and speculation without direct proof. You can use half harted Political algebra to connect all the dots you want. produce documents. You make wild assumption all over the place in effort to create a conspiracy.
You still have not addressed my issue of Brennan and his ability to represent the 40th on Pension issues if he collecting. Maybe he should forgo his pension if he wants to represent the 40th.

Scondo the scurrilous would love to turn a discussion about incompatible office holding into speculation on some unknown potential conflict IF I were elected to the Assembly.

Perhaps we should get the facts on this issue before drifting into non-issues.

FACT The FLOOD gates have a direct impact on flooding.

FACT The Mayor of Oakland says there is no evidence that the flood gates contribute to flooding

FACT The Wayne Municipal Planner is the Mayor of Oakland

FACT The Mayor of Oakland must do all in his power to prevent flooding in Oakland

FACT In 2007 the FLOOD gates went operational and downstream communities such as Wayne, Pompton Lakes and Pequannack began to experience severe flooding in areas that had not been prone to flooding. Ask the owner of Tiff's on RT 23 how many times his business has been shut down since 2007.

FACT The Wayne Township Attorney works for John Szabo as Oakland's Labor counsel and cannot advise the Mayor and Council in any way about the conflict/incompatible offices because he himself has a conflict.

If anyone is interested in learning about some of the flooding history, check the links that follow. The fact of the matter is that Hurricane Irene was almost the spitting image of the storm of 1903, in timing, and in rainfall amount. As to there being a dam, it was there in 1903. Bill and Rob are really starting to sound like they are coming unglued. I believed that he was on very sound ground with his issues on the wind turbine, now I am having my doubts and wonder if this is not part of his grand scheme.

http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/9/8/7/19878/19878.htm

http://www.pomptonlakeshistory.com/

http://www.pomptonlakeshistory.com/events/great_flood.htm

http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/PressClipsPDF/010108ca.pdf

By the way, when the governor set up his flood commission I sent this information and much more to the commission and they adopted much of the recommendations that I had made, including draw down before the weather. I had many years experience as a contract employee to the National Flood Program going back into the 1970s and there were some things that could be done to mitigate damages, but historically it would be very difficult to completely eliminate Passaic River Basin Flooding , because from an historic standpoint it goes back to the prehistoric era.
So I would recommend buying into the Brennan Burke theories on the subject.

I have lived in the Riverview Community since 1972. I witness the flood of 1984. I believe the last three years of flooding before hurricane Irene was a direct result of the Pompton Lakes floodgates. Mr. Szabo the gates are causing a man made dam break which is adversely effecting all towns down stream. You are correct in your statement that the same amount of water is going through the gates. However, when the gates are opened due to the backed up water pressure it creates flash flooding effecting all communities down stream. I would hope Mr. Szabo, that you are addressing the erosion that river front homes in Oakland are now experiencing because of the speed and force of the water when the floodgates are opened. As Governor Christie stated in the record news paper "I don,t believe that the Army Corps of Engineers did anything up there that was to intentionally hurt people or make matters worse," he said at the time. " But you learn in life that sometimes people make mistakes.". I in courage you to take a deeper look into the effects that the floodgates have caused to communities both up and down stream.

I would like to see a change in the form of government here in Wayne. I think all the people should vote for all the council. not just by district. I would like to see a movement here in town to support this.

Nadine must go.
Szabo is correct- the volume of water entering the floodgate did not contribute to the flooding downstream. What did was the "rate" of flow. It's the difference similar to cleaning a sidewalk with a garden hose compared to a power washer.
Common sense tells you that properties along the river "are lower" than the base of the river itself. History tells you that "farmers" used this to their advantage.
Modern construction was built on farmland along the river, but the river was not "altered" to compensate the modern contruction.

All of the modernization took away the places the water went when the rivers over-flowed ( something it has been doing for 10,000 years. ) Over the past 100 years, the river channels have actually become smaller, narrower, and more shallow.
When the rivers recede they actually pull in more sediment, briges are constructed right on the river banks, and a great portion of the natural river banks has collapsed completely.
Towns such as Mahwah, Pompton Lakes, Wayne, Pequannock, Little Falls, Fairfield, Cedar Grove, West Paterson, Paterson, Saddlbrook, Little Ferry ( just to name a few ) all have a very limited interest in the river itself, and depend more on the financial aspects of recovery rather than the elimination of the problem itself.

Scott Rumana was one of only a select few that actually did something to try to improve the river. The floodgate is a complete failure, but he still deserves some credit for trying- that's more than I can say about most of the politicans we have running around these days.

Back on topic. Since 8/15/11 over 23 inches of rain has been recorded in the highlands. More than 20 inches in the basin. Putting it into perspective , if this was January you would be shoveling 25 feet of snow. More than 9 inches of rain has been registered in the last month. If you want to ignore historical reality and believe that the flood gates caused the flooding that is fine----your delusions are yours alone---they rank up right next to the one that says I will not flood if I buy or build in the flood plain, and we constantly see where that one goes. Then there is the next delusion that says I should be protected from my folly by having the taxpayer save me through fem a, nfip, WBA loans etc, etc. Everywhere else in this country people understand that they will flood with certainty if they buy or build in the flood plaice or on barrier islands or shore line estuarial lands. But the collective knowledge of the rest of the land apparently did not translate to NJ. Study the history of flooding in the area, you will find that places like Lincoln park and pequannock used to be a lake. Now on to Rob, what is it Rob did the planner and the environmental commission recommend against the turbine---so now it is payback time through vicious personal attack.

I thing I know is that I’m sick of all the lying that is going on from the from the Army Corps all the way down to the local level in Wayne Township. Mr. Szabo, when the Army Corps states low lying areas in Pompton Lakes, where do you think of? I know I immediately think of the Dawes Highway area and the Riverview section of Wayne. Boy, was I wrong. But you being the Township Planner should have know better.How can you be the Mayor of Oakland and the Township Planner and hold the trust of both communities? Mr. Szabo you can’t. You have proven where you stand on the floodgates to Wayne and all towns down stream.

New York District marked a milestone April 5with the official opening of Pompton dam, a $21.6 million projectThe floodgates installed in this dam, will significantly reduce flood damage for hundreds of residents in low-lying areas of Pompton Lakes and Oakland, N.J(Spring 2007 Vol. 32, No.2 Cradle of the Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District)

To provide the maximum flood reduction benefits to upstream residences, at the same time not increasing downstream flooding, a customized computer system automatically operates the floodgates in strict accordance with operating procedures developed by the Army Corps. These operating procedures were developed to maintain the lake below an elevation that would have caused flooding within the Borough of Oakland before the project was constructed. http://www.nj.gov/dep/floodcontrol/usacepompton.htm

I agree that Nadine Bello must go. Any investigation should have been swift and concise.
I truely believe that the combination of Jerry Bello, Nadine Bello, Matt Cavaliere Jr., and John Szabo have been hand picked to execute theft by convincing the residents living along the river to "sell out" for the specific purpose of not having to persue the necessary corrections to the pompton river.
Under the sediment that has polluted, contaminated, conjested and rendered the river channel "useless", there is a solid floor of consolidated rock. Rather than remove the layer of "unstratified till" , the WEC, TC, and PB have utilized every tool including Extortion, Deception, and Bribery to avoid fixing the channel properly.
Why ? Because there's no money in it !!!
Before soil Depot opened, the depth of the river below the Feeder Dam was 14'. On Tuesday of this week past, the depth was 7 1/2' ( and the river is still somewhat high ). Park at hi-Tech, walk across the street-down the path and see for yourself.
I'm someone who has hiked, fished and/or canoed this river for the past 40 years.

In the last week there has been 3 inches of rain with no new flooding. Why? The rate and spacing of the fall. Get 10 to 14 inches in 24 hours you will have catastrophic flooding regardless of who is in office. Using the flooding to push a political agenda is not what this thread is about. As to buy outs, rather than dredging rivers. The former was and is an attempt to save people from their mistake of buying there in the first instance and to relieve their suffering. The latter would not accomplish that.

A friend of mine in Oakland sent me this link about Szabo's dirty tactics in his Oakland election campaign to stay mayor. http://theoaklandjournal.com/oaklandnj/the-ugly-side-of-oakland/

This blog is a very good foot-print of "what is wrong" and why it needs to be corrected. What Bill Brennen, Bob Burke, Jessica Brody, Sandy Fantau speak of "is not questionable hear-say", it's not rhetoric, or finger pointing. This is "our government", and the decisions they made ( as well as those they are making ) are questionable. But worse than that- some are illegal.
How can the residents resolve the questionable issues, when the council they are asking for help- is corrupt. The decisions are already made before the questions are even asked !!!

The water ways are under the control of the DEP. Youcan dredge them 10' deep and the water level will remain the same. We are in the Passaic river basin. The water table at this time is 3 feet below the ground. In some areas. The only thing that will stop the Major flooding it the tunnel.Mayor Miller was against the tunnel because the township would have to maintain the inlet and It's cost. Gov. Whitman stoped the tunnel because of the cost. If that tunnel would have been built? What it's cost this State,Towns and Gov for the floods since 2007. It would have paid for itself.

Burke, With your way of thinking. Why why aren't you yelling for them to lower the Great falls 4'. That would move the river water very fast out of Wayne. Thye Passaic river couldn't back up the Pompton River. And then we can remove the flood gates because the water will move right out. But then you'd have nothing to stand on your soap box for. And for the gag order. He is the boss. He doesn't want workers give false statments to the press. You know how the press changes things around.

@leanbean,"...He is the boss..." Actually, he is NOT the boss, the taxpayers are the boss. We pay the salaries, we have a say in the budgets and we definitely have a say at election time, when we vote out (FIRE) those whose performance has not been what the taxpayers wanted. It is a government by the people, for the people and of the people. I don't know how else to remind citizens of this basic tenant in our governmental structure. The United States is not a dictatorship where an elected government official can issue an edict which violates First Amendment Rights (speech and press in this case). The first thing dictators do is to eliminate the power of speech and press...Vergogna may consider making a move to a third world country instead of Chicago this time.

Well the info is out there so lets see if people feel the same as you and feel that working thru a stop work order is no big deal for someone running for political office and in your words Rob is hysterical. Still can't follow the logic that flooding your neighbors yard and breaking the law is hysterical but oh well.

What's hysterical is your baseless, false accusations -- compounded by your continued refusal to address direct questions regarding criminals in your government. Leanbean agreed that the Mayor & Council should publicly demand Nadine Bello's immediate resignation. Will you join us in that?

simple, I never thought I'd be on here supporting something Burke says. But the facts are that she voted to confirm his post. Knowing he is not allowed to hold public office. She might be doing a great job in the 6th ward. I'm in the first ward. And by voteing for him she broke her public trust that she swore to uphold.

It might help you if you stopped your personal attacks on people who don't agree with your thinking.

Lean bean I do agree with you. I just think it should be left to the voters in the 6th ward. I really don't think someone from outside Passaic county should be pushing to get her out. Again I just say let the voters pull the lever Nov 8th and let there votes be heard. The 6th ward has the right to say if they feel she should represent them or if she has betrayed their trust and should no longer be the 6th ward councilwoman.

A personal attack is name calling, like Scondo dubbing people critical of Vergano as being blinded by hate, for example--syas Rob---That is not what I said at all. Please get the quote right, please do not twist the words to suit your taste. Please do not try and put words in my mouth. Go back and read them again, I was very precise in what I said.

Mr. Scando, It maybe only 3% of the total population in Wayne that got flooded, but they are real people with real children. I for one am glad I was not the parent of the child who saw their basement collapse with their father down there. Or the other child who saw his Grandparents house after it blew up. You are right that the Passaic River Basin is prone to flooding, but in the last 4 years the flooding has gotten worse because of the floodgates. I have wondered why Wayne was not a part of the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission along with Pompton Lakes and Little Falls. I'm not sure but could it be because Mr. Szabo and our township attorney both work for Oakland? Maybe only 3% are affected by the flooding. However, I'm very thankful for the people who came into the flood area delivering meals to those who where affected. I'm thankful for the Salvation Army who setup and served 3 meals a day to the people affected by the flooding. I'm thankful to toys r us for donating new toys and clothing to the children who lost everything. Mr. Scando all of Wayne was affected by the flooding. And thank God some people had big enough hearts to help

This township has failed miserably to serve We The People during this natural disaster, it seems in the past as now, the theme theme from city hall is, get money, but do nothing to mitigate the problem(s), otherwise the same flooding in the same places would have been mitigated already. When the truth outs, and the lawsuits are served and found against the township, the real question will be if it bankrupts the township completely?

November 8th will be here shortly, and hopefully, the voters will come out to vote, and vote their conscience accordingly. The bottom line here is that there are things going on in this town that just don't smell right! I'm going to say this again! We need a change in government! I resent that I can't vote against Nadine Bello! I want her out of office and I can't exercise my vote to do so. We need a change!

Rob, my criticism of you is not so much of you as it is of your branding others with charges of corruption and criminal actions. You are correct that the town should have changed it's position and resolved your issues and that there was an apparent deviation from land use standards, but I am not sure that it rises to a level of corruption.

I don't especially like the appointments made from the inner circle, but there is no viable democratic organization in this town. Loopy is a word I would use to describe it. Crticize the democratic group for their failure to get off the ground.

Point of clarification, I did not say 3% of the population was flooded, I said 3% of the land area is repetitively flooded.

As to the town mitigating flooding, that presupposes that Wayne has a lock on controlling an 8 county hydrological system. Flooding in nj frequently is determined by what happens in orange and rock land Sussex and upper Passaic, not to mention Bergen and Morris counties. It is more than a local problem

I did not delete the comments. I don't know what happened to them. They were probably flagged by someone else, although there is nothin inappropriate contained in any of them. Don't know what happened there, but that is the nature of these forums.

"Your description of democrats in Wayne as loopy is irrelevant and bizarre. And, incidentally, sounds like name calling again." says Rob
Rob, are you having a problem reading what I wrote. This is what I wrote:

I don't especially like the appointments made from the inner circle, but there is no viable democratic organization in this town. Loopy is a word I would use to describe it.--Scondo actually said.

I did not call Democrates loopy, I described their organization as loopy, Such subtle distinctions seem to be lost when you translate them. Loopy being kind of scattershot offbeat, and that is how they have always struck me, there are few opposition candidates and thus the Republican side of the equation runs full steam ahead with no checks and balances. Blame it on the Democrats for their failure to recruit in the main stream in town.

All I know is that the flooding has greatly increased over the past 3 years because of the floodgates. Every major highway to get in and out of Wayne is affected. The only way to get out of Wayne now is to use the Dotty Road bridge in Oakland and get on 287. I think we need to learn the difference between a dam and a floodgate. A dams main job is to protect communities down stream from getting flooded during a storm. A floodgates main job is to protect communities up stream from getting flooded during a storm. Most times during the year the floodgates act like a dam and keep the water level high enough to maintain the lake at a determined level. During a storm the computerized system takes over and starts to let water out of the lake at a rate that will keep the lake at the determined level. More water coming down the Ramapo River, the more water they let out of the gates while maintaining the lake at that predertemined level. The floodgates are not designed to help people down steam and I wish that the people representing me would understand that.

Sandy if you remember the food of 84? That flood also had all the major highways in the area were affected then also. And there was no gates. When we get as much rain as we got. We're going to flood. They only answer to it. Would have been to install the flood tunnel. Even with the gates open. Parts of Oakland still flooded. THE TUNNEL IS THE ONLY ANSWER.

http://books.google.com/books?id=dWRHAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=Flood+district+commission+NJ&source=bl&ots=l9YqsG9WgN&sig=3DP2NbMqvFNB6Re3O90T8VR7iU4&hl=en&ei=_kqLTqi9JMzF0AHF6qmFBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&sqi=2&ved=0CHMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Flood%20district%20commission%20NJ&f=false

Council (One, four-year term per ward)
Ward 1
Alan Purcell* (R)
Gary Marchese (D)
Ward 2
Al Sadowski* (R)
Arlene Marchese (D)
Ward 3
Franco Mazzei (R)
Matthew Giordano (D)
Ward 4
Joseph Scuralli* (R)
Michael Bradley (D)
Ward 5
No (R) filing
Chris McIntyre* (D)
Ward 6
Nadine Bello* (R)
Issam Mirza (D)

Sandy, If the DEP opened the gates days before the forcasted rains come. There wouldn't have been the floods last spring. As for Irene. The floods would have been there gates or no gates.

Yes there are historical floods like 1903-1968-1984. And the most resent flood 2011. It is my understanding that Oakland flooded 1 or 2 days after Hurricane Irene when the dam at Echo Lake failed. Are you suggesting that ever time the Passaic River Basin Flooded after 2007 should now be considered an historical event? The message I would like to convey is quite simple; flooding to communities down stream has now become a “CHRONIC PROPLEM”. Example dates of flooding to communities below the floodgates (non-historical flooding events); Christmas Eve 2007-March 2010-two floods in March 2011-April 2011. In the community I live in every time it rains we are concerned about the opening of the floodgates, which causes flash flooding down stream. Can everyone please direct their comments to non-historical flood events and the effect the gates have on the communities down stream?

Sandy, the article I pointed to earlier was from 1905 and I put the link up to show historical flooding. Btw, the pequannock dam just above the feeder dam is largely ignored and is probably more a problem than the feeder dam. We should not overlook the 1945 flooding in the Passaic system.

Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
George Santayana

Sandy, I do not mean to be mean, but the real fact of the matter is that people buy into the flood plain because of affordability issues. The houses are less expensive, and they think to theymselves that they can live with the occassional inconvenience, not realizing that there is no such thing as occassional inconvenience---there are just varying stages of devastation ranging from escaping the bullet to the total devastation recently seen. The flood gates do not do a single thing to change that equation. 1936 saw devastation, 1942, 1945, 1951 and so on and so on. That is why I do not believe anything short of buy out will produce relief.
What does a person think when he or she goes to look at a house and sees that the neighbor's house is on a foundation 10 feet high, does he or she think there is a reason for that. It is human nature to look to blame someone for problems, when in actuality there is no one to blame, it is nature and natural that the flood plain flood. Man likes to try and bend nature to his will , rarely does he seek to work within the confines established by nature, as can be seen by the recent catastrophe.

Scando, I have lived in the Riverview Community from 1972. Yes my neighborhood was flooded in 1984. From 1984 till the opening of the floodgates we have never had water except on Lake and Waterway, which is a very small part of our community. (Example dates of flooding to communities below the floodgates (non-historical flooding events); Christmas Eve 2007-March 2010-two floods in March 2011-April 2011.)That is exactly what the floodgates have done, man has tried to bend nature to benefit a few and has changed the natural flooding pattern. Maybe it is time for government to look into all the FEMA claims from 1968 or 1984 and let the flood claims speak for themselves. I cannot speak for other neighborhoods only my own and the floodgates have had a divesting effect on us and need to be corrected.

Most definitely the Pequannock Dam should be removed, if the elevation was checked on that dam, they would probably find that it is the same as most of your neighborhood, the maps show the area below the dam as a dry wash or a flood channel. It holds water back as you noted and causes flooding. My understanding is that the historical preservationist resist the idea of dam removal because they are involved with the Morris Canal Greenway Project---but that is just the rumor I hear.
Your neighborhood does have a history of flooding prior to 1972 that is well documented through the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

@leanbean; Just read your post at Burke. Can you please tell us ALL out of ALL that sit on the council, which ones were ELECTED and which ones were APPOINTED? Im sure a person of YOUR knowledge would know this. With the matter of respect to these people, respect is earned and not taken for granted. Please don't tell me YOU would respect someone that would do things without YOUR knowledge or consent. It is an issue of the people that sit before us showing US respect, not the other way around. Look at the planning board and zoning commission as well. These people are NOT elected to these positions either. They are ALL appointed and we ALL know who does the appointing. It does not matter if they have knowledge in the field or NOT they are placed in the position...So its very hard to show respect to people that have NOT EARNED it.. Now do some homework and see who really WAS elected..

Eyes wide shut, Except for the last one a month or so ago. Some were appointed but won there seats in elections except for the last one that replaced the one that got the judgeship.. As for the boards I beleave that after they are appointed there is a time limit where they have to take a course in Land Use. Politics will always play a part in filling the boards. It always has and it always will. Is it right? No But it is what it is. What ever party is in office fills the seat as there terms are up. Just by your screen name. I think I'm replying to you Ray. And it's my pleasure to do so.

Dear Mr. Scondo,
Pertaining to your previous posts; 9:58am - Oct. 5th. People buy not only because of affordability issues but also because the Riverview Community is a great place to raise children and know your neighbors. Please open up your mind and look at all the variables that make up a community. There is such a thing as living with an occasional inconvenience. This community was doing fine up until 2007. You would know that fact if you lived in the community and therefore spoke from experience. Also, the flood gates have changed the equation, once again, if you lived in this community that would be a given. It is also human nature for people to rush to judgment instead of taking action to correct a problem. From any standpoint, that is what leadership is all about. Your next posting 11:31am states and I quote "It holds back water as you noted and causes flooding". You are now putting the Pompton flood gates into perspective. The gates are designed to hold back water creating hydrostatic pressure, then upon opening of the gates a Flash Flooding situation occurs to the communities downstream. I want to thank you for that quote and all the postings you provide. I am curious, as you know, I reside in the Riverview section of Wayne since 1972. What community do you live in, therefore, we can compare Apples to Oranges. Take care for now. Sandy

Lean bean I actually agree with you on all you have said and you have your take on the Bello situation. I by no means will say you are wrong on this issue except to say I have a different view. I have seen what council women Bello has done for the 6th ward and she is 100 percent here for the entire 6th ward. I hope people come out vote and that the ward can be the one to choose if we want her to represent us for another year. Lean Bean I have respect for you and all your view points but on this one we will have to agree to disagree. Hey at least after Nov 8th puppet and puppeter will run for the hills or I guess it would really be Iowa,

Now back to the Morris Cannel. First the section of cannel that runs behind the Riverview Community to the Pompton Lakes Dam/Floodgates is a spur off the Morris Cannel. It fed water through the Wanaque River to the “Pompton Feeder,” a feeder canal with two dams . By the 1860s the Pompton Feeder was transporting full size Morris Canal boats directly to the Pompton Iron Works. The Pompton Feeder provided water to the Morris Canal’s eastern division, it was used until the early 1900s until competition from railroads made it no longer feasible to use. I believe the only walk able part of the towpath is from Kiddy Beach to the Pompton Feeder Dam and also behind Preakness Chevy to the Floodgates. It should be noted that the Morris Canal was leased to the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1871, taken over by the state of New Jersey late in 1922, and formally abandoned in 1924. The Dam was rebuilt in 1928. As any one can see there is nothing historical to preserve along the Pompton Feeder.

@ simpleton You have twisted an article about floodgates and conflicts of interest into your platform of hatred for anyone who complains about corruption in government. You must take great pride in calling me a "puppet." This is typical projection of your own inadequacies, Rumana is a peppeteer and the council are his puppets. If you think someone pulled strings and forced me to sue an extortionist bribe taking convict off the council you are not only simple you are delusional.

As for the barrage of demands that I engage in a one way debate with hostile harrassors you can forget it. I will be debating Mr. Rumana twice between now and the election. Since Rumana and his legislative aid (puppet) Silly Lyin Ronnie bot read this forum, why don't you ask them the same questions, when they don't respond you can level the same criticism. Oh right, you are commenting from his office and don't need this forum to get marching orders from your boss.

Hey Rumana! WHY DID YOU APPOINT AN EXTORTIONIST BRIBE TAKING CONVICT?

Follow along - Rob Burke and William Sue Brennan cost the Wayne tax payer money.

Oh, Rob it wasn't corruption that motivated the decision to with hold a copy of the legal bill, it was testosterone driven machismo and a visceral dislike for you that prompted them to do that that an a big dose of stupidity. They let their emotionalism factor into the decision. You were rubbing their noses in it and the figured to try and get even. they were monumentally stupid, but that does not equate with corrupt. My hope is that they stop being stupid and get this wrapped up with out any more stupidity.

@ Scondo's Comment regarding people purchasing in the flood plain written on Wednesday. Actually, there are many cities in the world who do quite well with water and flooding.
They have been engineered accordingly. Examples not limited to are: Venice, cities in the Netherlands and many others. A person looking at a house on a foundation 10 feet high may just be logically looking at a well engineered plan for flooding, not devastation. This devastation has been aggravated by corruption, not engineering.

@Burke, the problem with "donations" is that one doesn't know how much or to whom to provide it to. Only "insiders" know the hidden knowledge that pertains to this aspect of doing business in Wayne and are able not to get caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Through the years, it is a well-known fact that certain building inspectors, code enforcers etc. have made a nice part time tax-free income from same "donations". Imagine the IRS auditing their returns....

@dude, Burke owns the company that pays the township of Wayne over 36,000 in taxes plus fire fees plus ordinance fees, etc, etc. What do you pay to the town of Wayne? What do the apartment dwellers pay to the town of Wayne but still have a constitutional right to voice their opinions? When did paying taxes equate to fraud? Please define as I will be writing the IRS soon and let them handle this.

@ leanbean, who is the a hole of 2011? Did you mean an event, such as the time lag to take care of our flooded citizens? Other towns were on it immediately, but then other towns do not condescend. This VOAD was too little, too late.

The VOAD comments were disturbing. It gave the Catholic Charities credit; but where were the Catholic Churches (there are at least 5 in this town) to help the victims? Pompton's non-catholic churches were providing meals and assistance from the get-go, not the Catholic churches. So VOAD before you continue to pat yourself and certain politicians on the back, think of your own motives which were not so pure, as evidenced by the time lag. Wayne citizens were asked to go to other towns for shelter..Incredible. Leanbean is this the a hole of 2011

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Do Not delete this comment, it has everything to do with back-patting and non-time censored displays of gratuitousness.

Everyone agrees that the flood-water will-not ever be totally eliminated. So maybe it's time that everyone agrees on a "middle ground" that would include some dredging, some residental foundation and road raising, and earlier evacuation that would help minimize rescue.
The idea of complete resolution has been fun, but it's been going on for "all" of the 50 years that I've lived here, and the flooding has gotten worse- not better. The thoughts of a peaceful co-existence with the mighty Pompton, Ramapo, and Passaic River has been expained and re explained by every political figure since Albert Payson Terhune and Schuylar Colfax. It's time to put a fork in it.

I read this morning that the city council meeting broke out in pandimonium last night with at least one council member commanding some one 'look at me when I am speaking to you?' are you serious?
First we heard that the mayor has ordered a news blackout by city staff speaking with the press, and now this where even the Police are in on it by telling the individual to not come back?
This mind you with the bust of George Washington in the court yard?
Maybe its is time that We The People consider disbanding the Wayne Police Department over this sort of conduct and contract with the Sheriffs Department for Police services instead, because it is clear that the council feels threatened by the People and the Police are willing to intimidate the public and have an official policy of threatening arrest of any one who dares excercise their right to redress under our form of government ?
This is a chilling state of affairs where a council of appointees think they have a right to shout down and intmidate the People.

When I awoke this morning, I asked myself, am I in America? After watching last night's council meeting, I question whether there is democracy in Wayne! Why is it, the public can only speak for 5 minutes, and the council in their defensive rebuttal can speak adinfinitum, or adnauseum! Last night, Scuralli got the floor and gave his defensive diatribe for about 25-30 minutes. This guy loves himself. There has got to be a better system. Why should the council have an edge. They're not priveledged. Heck, their getting paid to be at that meeting. We're not.!

Well we all heard Nadine Bello's big patriotic and passionate speech last night and I guess we are expected to forget that she concealed her husband's criminal activities and serving on WEC. I really feel sorry for her for having to endure the "lies and attacks" she suffered thru at the prior meeting. I guess she was referring to Mr Brennan and Burke. Funny, I didn't hear any lies or attacks from either one of them that night, what I heard was nothing more than plain facts! And who was in the audience at this meeting applauding her? God help us if these are the Wayne voters. I know of them was Rex Mackey telling us how hard Nadine works and making his love and peace speel. Please Rex, wake up.

wow....

Rob, Two things : I guesss this means that there won't be an early settlemet.
2. I think that perhaps these folks ought to recuse themselves from discussions of your matters if they can not get beyond their visceral response to you. They seem to genuinely not like you. Are you that unlikable ?
3. I guess you will not be inviting him over for Thanksgiving Dinner :)

To the Town Concil get this back on track and stop with the nonsense. You are allowing these meetings to get off track and you are engaging in foolishness. Get the matter of Burke resolved and let us move on. The elections are a month away and that will be the end of these contentious back and forth tirades.

Scuralli thinks he can say anything in those endless rants.of his....he conveniently bends the truth by using semantics and twisting wordzas he did with Mr Burke's tax payments...he knows darn well that the business owned by Mr Burke pays the taxes.. ...it is a matter of substance over form....and he is criticizing Mr Burke running his business under a LLC formation? Saying he is hiding behind it...Is he kidding us? Doesn't Scuralli own some business in Wayne? I would be surprised to hear it was formed as a sole proprietorship

Rob, The question Are you that unlikeable ? Was seriously a joke.
Additionally, you are incorrect I don't know you so I don't know if I would like you or not. I actually do like some things about you: You are standing up; for good government., You are advocating the use of new energy technology. You have followed the law in seeking and getting your approvals---to the town fathers--that issue should be done. I wish you well in that regard. I do not like the idea that the town is squandering money on that and that they apparently were influenced by personal and non MLUA concerns. I do think that at times you paind with a too broad brush. Matt Cavalieri should not be subjected to attacks for a mistake his father made. I think you have been unfair in that regard. Likewise Mrs. Bello should not be hammered over things she has not done. So it is not about liking you or not liking you , it is about approach. I think you are purposefully pushing their collective button and I can not understand why they can't grasp that. They are becoming more and more entreched and they are almost foaming at the mouth, when they need to get a grip, resolve matters and move on . Have a good day.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR VERGANO & THE COUNCIL:

Ladies & Gentlemen:

You have made it abundantly clear that the owner of a business in Wayne, New Jersey who does not reside in Wayne, New Jersey has only those rights and protections of the laws of these United States that YOU decide.

You have also endorsed Councilman Scuralli's lie that I do not pay taxes to the Township of Wayne. In fact, as Scuralli knows all too well, I sign the checks that total $36,000/year in property taxes payable to the Township of Wayne. The checks are written out of a bank account that I am the 100% owner of.

Given that you do not respect the protections afforded to me by law, and that you deny that I pay taxes, there is no reason why I should continue to send tax money to you. You may bring legal action against me for nonpayment of taxes and then we can get the complete attention of the local and national media.

You have all violated your oath to uphold the laws of the State of NJ and the United States. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I know that I am ashamed of you. And Nadine Bello still must resign and you are derelict in your duty for not demanding her resignation.

See you at the next Council meeting.

Robert W Burke.

Ok, now I think we have officially left the Flood Thread and crossed over, so with that I am totally bowing out of anymore notiices about this thread.

I think some people are missing the point people are trying to make over flooding. I don't think anyone is saying that flooding never happened in the Passaic County River Basin prior to the dam. What most people are saying is;
1. The frequency of flooding has increased in the basin.
2. Smaller events are creating flooding in areas that were not prone to flooding in the past.
3. These events match up with the opening of the Pompton Flood gates.

Talks of delusions about the effect the flood gates may have down steam is is just as uneducated as our politicians. Over and over again we are told that the volume of water moving over the dam does not change. VOLUME IS NOT the unit of measure that is critical. Flooding is studied based on Flow rates in and out of the affected areas. Rate is volume over time. To say this has not changed with the opening of the gates is an outright lie. As the rate of water into an area increases water levels will increase if the rate of flow leaving the area is not increased. Please bring me your scientists who say this is not the case. THEY ARE LYING TO YOU!!!!!!

This is like a scientist trying to describe acceleration or velocity without time. They are nothing but meaningless numbers until we use the proper units of measure. So yes the volume has not changed, but is really a meaningless statement.

oh yes, let us return to the flood, and how the mayor issued a gag order on city staff last year from speaking about the citiies response or lack there of that resulted in and estimated 2500 properties being damaged or destroyed this year?
please, let us discuss this at length?

Let see that "gag order" and let's all read what it says Stewart.

Ok, let us get down to business--What caused the flooding in spring of 2011, was it the flood gates or was it the 30 inch snow pack that extended from Phillipsburg to Newburgh and all points in between.

What caused the flooding in Sept, was it the flood gates or the 20 inches of rain around that time.

Let's get factual.

Eyes wide shut, If you wpuld open them. You see that the gates are being mismanaged. If we get a forcast of 4 to 5 inches of rain to come are way in a day or two. They should open the gates then to lower the level of the lake. That way it gives the river a chance to be lower by the time the rains do come. They can except more over flow. But when they open them with high water levels in the river. It just makes them levels get higher faster. No matter what. With all the rain we got from Irene and Lil. We would have flooded. But if they operated the gates correctly in the spring? There might of been only minor flooding. Where in the Passaic River Basin. We are going to flood. If they would have installed the tunnel back in the 80's You never would have seen any of the water levels that high spring or summer.

225 comments, most of them deleted

@Stew, trying to educate some of the people on this blog is like throwing pearls to swine. Matthew 7:6....Please do not stop trying. This town is continuing to be a totalitarian regime which ironically the US has sent military to overthrow in other parts of the world... Any military on the council?

@Scondo, telling me that is not how it works...what qualifications do you hold, other than an OJ degree. Are you also going to pull a Scullari and have me escorted out?

Bottom line can be quite simple. Water flow can be managed. Development in the flood plain can be managed. Response to floods can be managed. Mismanagement is the issue.....electing (selecting) officials that do not have the competency to manage is criminal. Being a resident of Wayne since 1979 and not having seen any productive response to alleviating major floods leads me to believe that something is wrong.....I do not believe that our current and past Wayne Council members have any clue to the reality of the flooding issue. Issuing proclamations for "good deeds" and exchanging platitudes is not management.....accepting the problem is not management.....showing up for photo ops and serving platters of food to the "flooders" is not management.....

The dam is causing all this flooding and if you don't agree, you're an idiot. Where do you think all the water Pleasureland used to get is going,, back up in the sky. It's going in 5 towns homes to save 1 town. Also did anyone hear that Oakland payed for part of this dam, and wants to develop this land by Pleasureland? All they have to do is stay dry for 5 years.

@Elyse
The following is a partial listing of flooding in the Pompton, Pequannock ,Ramapo confluence. Noting that the confluence of the Passaic does not begin until Two Bridges.
1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1993, January 1996, September 1999, April 2005, October 2005, April 2007 and March 2010 , Spring 2011, Summer 2011. The Dam did not cause the flooding, get beyond that and realize there is a flood plain. Now as to what happened in Oakland, I asked two friends who live in Oakland, and their individual responses follow. I also asked about the Pleasureland issue. BTW, Oakland did not pay for the dam, so stop with that nonsens.

There are literally hundreds of You Tube videos showing flooding all over from Irene, the dam did not cause the flooding.

#!
The river was up to the roof of the house that is down behind my house
so I think that answers your question about flooding in Oakland. The
last that I heard, the town was in the process of obtaining Pleasure
Land either by getting the owner to sell the property or by condemning
it. They want to put in ball fields.

#2

Flooding in Oakland during Irene was as bad, probably worse, than during
Floyd. There were a number of houses condemned. Anybody saying Oakland
didn't flood is delusional.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k7lhUBO6Bo&NR=1

Attention all flood prone residents living downstream from the Pompton Dam! Please consider signing this petition - http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?PL032010&1. Over 560 signatures and counting!

bello conviction and indictment source documents

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wayne-Corruption-Costs-You-Money/174703042610204

@lie: We await the study release on 2/1/12. I have not come to any conclusion, but of one thing I am certain and that is that the flood gates did not cause the flooding. I noted that the confluence of the Passaic does not begin until Two Bridges---which essential says that the Passaic flooding is for the most part independent of Wayne flooding issues , except that it is all part of the same basin. I do not like to rely solely upon the anectdotal accounts of so called eye witnesses , I prefer to rely upon independently verifiable sources. That is why when someone says Oakland no longer gets hit, and I know it to be untrue---for I have seen it myself---I verify with the youtube video I put up---so all can see. When I hear people say things like it never was this way I put up the historical listing of the flooding episodes. See people forget, and one year they forget they got 6 inches of water in the street and the next a foot and the next they got hammered with 4 feet.

Dear Mr. Scondo, Just as a reminder the first time I placed a remark here had to do with Oakland and erosion and flooding below the floodgate. 6:17pm on Friday, September 30
Lew Levy, chairman of Oakland’s Flood Commission, said the erosion, which extends about 1,000 feet and impacts a number of properties along Lakeshore Drive, began several years ago, but last month’s rainstorms have aggravated the problem causing water-soaked land to give way and starting several rock slides. BY MONSY ALVARADO WRITER The Record Apr 3Meaning Of several: 1.Being of a number more than two or three but not many Could he be talking about the opening of the floodgates?
My neighborhood flooded by 2:30 PM on Sept.28. I believe Oakland flood the following day on the 29th after the dam in Tuxedo, NY broke. It should be noted that other neighborhoods down stream also flooded for a second time.
TUXEDO — Town of Tuxedo engineers have determined the breach of the privately owned Echo Lake Dam in the Arden section of the town was the major cause of the catastrophic flooding in the Town of Tuxedo.

Tuxedo Supervisor Peter Dolan said, based on engineers’ forensic review and calculations, 100 million gallons of water from Echo Lake gushed into the Ramapo once the concrete dam broke.An eyewitness reported to the property manager around 9:30 a.m., during the hurricane, that the dam failed, Tuxedo police officials said. Alyssa Sunkin Times Herald-Record This was the 29 of Sept.

• (September 28) 12:01 AM The River below the floodgates was at 6.3 feet. Above the floodgates the lake was at 8.85 feet.
• (September 29) 12:01 AM The River below the floodgates was at 22.18 feet. Above the floodgates the river was at 11 feet.
• Below the floodgates the river went up 16 feet in a 24-hour period. Above the floodgates the lake went up 2.83 feet within the same 24-hour period.
• It should be noted that flood stage at the dam is 11.7 feet. Not once during this 24-hour period did the water rise that high.
I believe that Oakland did not receive any water until after 2:30 PM on the 29th of September. This was a direct result of the Echo Lake Dam break in the Arden section of Town of Tuxedo.

Sandy: Look at the you tube video from Oakland it was uploaded to you tube on 8/28. Oakland was flooded on 8/28. This is one reason why reliance on the memory of people is not a good way to go, they get their dates screwed up, as you have in this instance. It is part of the human condition memory is not always accurate that is why we rely on independently verifiable facts.

The forensic engineers must be incorrect. According to Army core a Dam breach could not cause a flood! The overall volume of water has not changed. The water was going to flow downstream anyway. The army core and our politicians preach this over and over. It has no foundation scientifically. Szabo's statement "There’s been no scientific, hydrological evidence, or study that shows the gates have contributed one ounce to the problem" is extremely misleading. There has been no study at all. How can you get scientific evidence without the study. Thank you John Szabo for clearing this matter up

The only difference between flood gates opening and a partial dam failure is the flood gates are opened on purpose!!!! They both have the same effect on lower lying areas. The flow rate of water has INCREASED to the areas below yet the flow rate out of the area has not been increased.
Who do you think is more likely to be misleading on this topic. A group studying a natural disaster? Or perhaps the Army Core and local government officials defending a Flood gate system they built without a full study of water flow into lower areas?
This flood gate was part of a larger Plan included flood Tunnels/dredging and widening. Nothing else got done. Just the flood gate. No one has been able to produce a study showing the effects of the dam on down stream areas. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ingdEjWjvnQ&feature=related
The flood gauge at The Pompton Falls Dam was at 24 feet, @ 2:15pm, on 8-28-11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hgwya9pRfs&NR=1
I wonder how they are going to protect the gas line along the river?

Look, I have been telling you from the get go that there was more to this than the gates,
I heard of the dam breach in Tuxedo almost at the time it happened , because I got the alert from my service. An 8 foor wall of water coming downstream , later determined to be 100 million gallons of water. I saw water coming over the spillway at Packanack Lake at 7 AM on 8/28, something that never happened before , even during Floyd. I knew from my experience that this was the storm racing straight north of us , which means 160 square mile addition to the Passaic River Basin, that is why Bergen flooded and Orange and Rockland and NY State and Vermont. It is not just water, it is direction of water and drainage dynamics.

The Study comes out 2/2012.

I'm sorry if I got my dates wrong. I have also stated that Oakland is also having problem because of the floodgates. Why do you keep stating facts with nothing to back them up or at least recent. At least I give out where my information is coming from so people can check for themselves. I also would like to state that you got your information from a different newspaper. (www.strausnews.com By Nancy Kriz) Why do you keep implying that all the flooding that has happened over the past 3 years was not a direct result of the floodgates. Hurricane Irene I agree was a problem for all. However, you must be the one with the short memory if you do not remember Oakland flooding before the opening of the gates.The measurement below I have gotten from the waterdata.usgs.gov/nj. I corrected a mistake.
• (September 28) 12:01 AM The River below the floodgates was at 6.3 feet. Above the floodgates the lake was at 8.85 feet.
• (September 29) 12:o1 AM The River below the floodgates was at 22.18 feet. Above the floodgates the river was at 11 feet.
• Below the floodgates the river went up 16 feet in a 24-hour period. Above the floodgates the lake went up 2.83 feet within the same 24-hour period.
• It should be noted that flood stage above the dam is 11.7 feet. Not once during this 24-hour period did the water rise that high.
• Flood stage below the dam is12 feet.
I wonder why the gates where closed at about 1:00 AM and were reopened at approximately 5:00 AM. Someone was watching

Sandy, I just hope that the DEP was watching ch.2's weather this evening. There forcasting a tropical low to come up the coast and hit us Thur, with up to 5" of rain. If they open the gates well ahead of it hitting? My bet is that we won't really feel the affects of it to bad. If they don't there will be another wall of water going down stream.

I've used this screen name since I was 57. I'm 68 now. Sorry but on the internet I don't put private info. You know me. I'll stop in the deli one of these days and say Hi. I don't need the hassle from some of the wacko's on here and other forums.

With the gag order in place. Your not getting any misinformation.Let him make his press release. Then he and only he has to stand by what he said. Not one of the town employee's wanting to get on tv. Giving out false reports. Because that's what he thinks he heard from someone else. It happened in the 84 flood and there were all kinds of rumors running around. I'm not for gag orders but in a case like this I agree with one. It's not because we don't want the world to know that we get floods in this town.

I guess that the hoopla over flooding in Wayne is over....Rep. Bill Pascrell is doing his usual photo ops (adding guidance couselors to elementary schools), Parents plead for fields free of floods (Hawthorne soccer moms), Cresskill flood victims seek long-term solution, op-ed in the Record: "What happened to NJ watershed management?"......I suppose that no news regarding Wayne is good news...

Rumana and the repugnicants run from the truth! Just notified that there will not a be a League of Women Voters Debate this year because Rumana and his cowardly cabal are afraid of attending. The reasons they gave for hiding are absurd and ring hollow. The League of Women Voters debate has been a fixture of every election for well over a decade. Cowardly Scott Rumana runs away from the truth again. He hides behind his legislative aid Lonnie Miller Ryan and has her talk about baking cookies because he cost Wayne more than 12 million on his cogen scheme and appointed an extortionist bribe taking convict.

Wayne Corruption Costs You Money

You must have missed last year's debate. Keep an eye out for on ch 77 in every town except Wayne. It's running on public access television every where but Wayne because I am being censored by the Township of Wayne. I'm not the one running away from a fair debate - Rumana is.

Thursdays at 11:30 Have someone who lives outside the Iron Curtain tivo it for you!

Remember the last debate he was in?? Don't think league of women want to go thru that again. I remeber his last debate like it was yesterday. He got spanked first by councilwomen Bello then again by Lonnie Miller Ryan. Lean Bean you are so right!! He does not have the ability to debate, only to attack. Nov 8th will go to prove that attack mode does not win. Your record and your platform are what gets you your votes and Billie Sue has neither of these.

Grasping at straws. Nov 8th stick a fork in you two. Your done.

NEWS FLASH: I AM NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE. November 8 is just another day on the calendar. I am not going anywhere and until these issues are addressed by the government officials or law enforcement, I intend to keep publicizing them. My budget will increase by $36,000/year, too, since Scuralli said I don't have to pay taxes in Wayne any more. Thanks Joe!

C'mon simpleton accuse me of making up that quote, I'll be showing you the video of her statemenst later this week.

Getting back to flooding in Wayne.....Today's Record: "Vergano said he assumed the the Red Cross would open a shelter in Wayne"....What was the basis of that assumption???? Cluelessness.... "Even Councilman Alan Purcell, who is among the displaced,....." His living quarters are high and dry.....The amount of fact checking and good reporting is a lost art.....

I have been trying to read the reports on flooding from 1903 and 1948. Both of the reports have a reacurring theme. 1 we need to get rid of the water faster, 2 there is a need to have larger storage areas for when we do have storm to collect the water and release it slower. For some reason people are blaming everyone who resides in a flood zone that it is their fault for buying there. People who buy in a flood zone buy there for the same reasons as non-flood zone residents. They want to raise there children in a great community. We need to remember that they are not the people who make the decisions concerning land use and whether or not to follow the recommendations of the commissions of those who have written the reports. However, that is why we have elected officials represent us, and they should base their decisions on the recommendations from those who have the expertise. One example is the removal of the feeder dams between Wayne and Pompton Lakes. This would create a larger storage area for when the dam needs to be opened. because of the floodgates we need a larger storage above also. I believe that the floodgates protect about 300 homes. Maybe we should look into buying out some of those homes to make a larger storage area above the dam. That way we would have storage both above and below the dam and the water can be let out at a much slower pace. I'm not an engineer but it maybe something to look into.

Every improvement that Wayne Township makes-works against us. Pequannock already had planned to turn "the meadows" into an accessible park. They renamed it Aquatic Park in something like 2003/4. So removing Feeder Dam expedites their intentions. This area should be bull-dozed, dredged, dug, and redesigned to form Aquatic Lake.
The same goes for Riverside Park in Wayne forming Riverside Lake.
Pio Costa Park in Lincoln Park should be redesigned into Pio Costa Reservoir.
Ray Maroons Kiacar lots have to be eliminated by the Pompton Falls and that area has to be widened along with the bridge at Dawes Highway. Then the channel from that point to feeder Dam has to be dredged, and a tunnel has to be constructed from Riverside "Lake" to Pio Costa "reservoir" and again from the outlet of Pio Costa down past Willowbrook.
None of this will ever happen in our life-time, so we have to concentrate on things we can eliminate that will make our town a better place to live.
Nadine Bello has to go. We need to be able to stand in the river of misery without the threat of someone drowning us "all together".
Maybe we can't change the course of the river, but we can change those that cannot be trusted to row when the boat is sinking.
In the face of devastation, she'll run away with the oars.

Jessica. I,m not talking about the feeder dam over by top soil depot. There are 2 smaller dams also in that stretch of river that was used to channel the water to the Morris Canal so it could raise and lower water in a lock that no longer is there. From one report I read it suggested that after every storm that Pompton Lakes should be drained to accommodate the next storm. What is sad is they do a study every so often and it seems to me those responsible never follow the advice given.

Amazing, there are those who think that Wayne Township Officials actually have a say in what happens through out the watershed. Does Wayne have a bigger say than Pequannock or Lincoln Park or Pompton Lakes or Fairfield or Little Falls . Of course not . This is not a problem solvable at the local level. North Jersey Water Supply Commission could help if they got on board, but they will only listen if it comes from the State House. Scott Rumana was the only local politician who did anything about trying to help. His buyout of Huffman's Grove is nearly complete, yet there are those who resist going. As long as people continue to buy in the flood plain there will be stories like this.

Go upstream, if NWDWC and NJWSC and PVWC and Greenwood Lake Commission and all the myriad private lakes that actually can respond and help, if only the DEP would enlist them. Drop the levels in January and February to make ready for the melt off that surely will come in March and April, monitor the snow pack in places like Sterling Forest and Ringwood State Park and Ramapo State Forest and you can pretty much tell where you need to be at any give point in time. It is done in the High Sierra, why can't it be done here. Computer modeling and speed would help, but there is a problem--and it is the existence of feifdoms and the inertia of State Government in NJ

@Stewart: Maybe the Law Firm did the incorporation, but you probably never thought of that little detail before you started with innuendo, now did you.

@Stewart, who does not give a rip, but offers nothing by way of possible avenues to a solution but gives a good rant. OK, Stewart, What say you as to solutions.

Report to the Governor:
Recommendations of the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission
January 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Overview of Advisory Commission Recommendations and Costs
The Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission has put together a realistic package of recommendations (15 recommendations in total) that will help to minimize the impact of flooding in the Passaic River Basin. There is no “silver bullet” that will solve the flooding in the Basin, especially for the 10- to 100-year flooding events. The Advisory Commission also acknowledges that none of its recommendations can change the reality of the Passaic River Basin: floodplains will continue to flood in this basin, as they do in all comparable basins. A package of small and large solutions must therefore be the path to a comprehensive, though not perfect plan for the mitigation of flood damage in the Passaic River Basin.
The continued development in the Passaic River Basin floodplains over the past 100 years has continued to compound an already long-term problem. The reality is that state and local governments have allowed development to continue in these floodplains, and so the consequences of flooding have become more severe and comprehensive flood mitigation more difficult. An additional reality is that any of the “big” solutions (e.g., a massive flood tunnel) will cost the federal government and the state billions continued

of dollars—expenses that neither will embrace readily.
Recommendations
The Advisory Commission is making 15 recommendations as a comprehensive package to minimize the impact of flooding in the Passaic River Basin. Implementation of all of these recommendations can begin immediately.
1. Federal and State Floodway and Floodplain Property Acquisitions
The Advisory Commission recommends expanding and expediting floodway property buyouts. The close coordination of the NJDEP and NJOEM to effectively leverage available state Blue Acre funds with FEMA funds should continue to prioritize structures in those areas of the floodplains most susceptible to regular, chronic flooding.
2. Structure Elevations in Floodplains
The Advisory Commission believes that home elevation projects in flood prone areas should be encouraged if acquisition is not an option to either the homeowner or the municipality. The Advisory Commission recommends that a new, state-funded grant and/or low-interest loan program be established to effectively leverage available FEMA mitigation funds.

continued

3. Federal Open Space Acquisition and Preservation
The Advisory Commission supports federal and state efforts to prevent Passaic River Basin flooding from increasing through flood storage area preservation. This would require the acquisition of undeveloped land, in some cases through condemnation, to increase flood storage areas.

4. Improved Operation of the Pompton Lakes Dam Floodgates
NJDEP will request that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) obtain the services of an independent consultant to undertake a more robust unsteady flow hydraulic model to evaluate the gate operation and downstream flow patterns. The goal is to minimize downstream flooding.
5. Desnagging and Shoal Dredging
The removal of flow constrictors such as fallen trees and sediment shoals may provide reductions in floodwater elevations by facilitating river flow and should become a routine activity. The large number of constrictions that have been identified initially by the most active municipality, Pompton Lakes, indicates that a systematic annual removal program may provide at least very localized relief to some floodplain residents.
continued

6. Feeder Dam Removal
In order to provide some level of flood mitigation and relief to the communities of Pompton Lakes, Wayne and Pequannock, which are situated upstream of the Pompton and Pequannock Feeder Dams, it is recommended that these structures be removed.
7. State Adoption of National Flood Insurance Program Regulations
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs should adopt the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations in their entirety. State adoption of the NFIP regulations means that all state agency requirements would be at a minimum consistent with local flood damage prevention ordinance requirements, and would eliminate the risk of FEMA suspending its flood insurance program in New Jersey, as it has repeatedly threatened to do.
8. Expedited NJDEP Permit Process to allow towns to clear trees and repair river walls and shoals
The Advisory Commission recommends that the towns have the ability to quickly obtain a permit to be able to desnag and remove debris, to repair retaining walls and to remove shoals with a flexible permitting process. The NJDEP must develop a process to allow permits-by-rule or online general permits to accomplish this.
continued

9. Improved Effectiveness of County and Local Emergency Response Plans
The NJOEM analysis indicated that further planning and training with the Red Cross for sheltering, planning for flash-flooding particularly in areas such as Woodland Park and Little Falls, and consistent use of the Reverse 911 System by county OEMs across the State to notify the municipal coordinators will improve implementation of the Emergency Operation Plans.
10. Enhanced Passaic River Flood Warning System
The Advisory Commission, assisted by its NJOEM members, recommends the implementation of a list of specific future actions to enhance flood management response in the Passaic River Basin. Additional stream gage data will enable earlier warning to NJOEM, towns and the public.
continued

11. Inundation Mapping
The Advisory Commission supports the NJOEM proposal to contract with the National Weather Service (NWS) to create inundation maps for any NWS forecast point in the Passaic River Basin. Inundation maps provide critical information to emergency management officials, enabling greater flood preparedness and quicker action with flood projections. These maps enable emergency management officials and residents to see where the potential threat of flood waters is highest. Digital geospatial flood-inundation maps that show flood water extent and depth on the land surface are powerful tools for flood response and damage and loss mitigation.
12. Enhanced Public Involvement, Information and Outreach for Flood Response
The Advisory Commission learned from its public process that the NJDEP and the municipalities need to provide regular forums to the public, to explain the technicalities of the Passaic River flooding and of potential flood mitigation actions. The public needs to be informed with regularity what flood control projects are being planned and implemented, or why projects are not being considered. These meetings need to occur between flood events, not solely on the heels of flood events, so that the discussions can be more deliberate and less confrontational.
continued

13. Reevaluation Request to U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
The Advisory Commission recommends that New Jersey submit a reevaluation request to the United States Army Corps of Engineers to study and analyze larger potential engineering projects for long-term flood damage reduction. This primarily includes levees and floodwalls, but would also include updating the cost/benefit analysis for a flood tunnel.
14. Updated Flood Risk Mapping
The majority of existing floodplain mapping within the Passaic River Basin is generally over three decades old. As such, most of the existing floodplain mapping is considered to be outdated or simply consists of approximate mapping with no detailed modeling available. NJDEP has already initiated this process and the Advisory Committee recommends the completion of this process.
continued

15. Moratorium on All New Development within the Floodplain
Municipalities within the Passaic River Basin should pursue flood risk reduction changes to their existing Master Plans, their existing zoning ordinances and their existing local flood damage prevention ordinances. The goal of these changes is to reduce negative impacts from future flooding by guiding development away from the floodplains or by completely phasing out and preventing any future development in these high risk-prone areas.

At the source of the problem, where the ocean meets the river- the ocean's tidal water pushes the Passaic River "backwards". In turn, all of the river's, the Pompton, Ramapo, Pequannock, and the Passaic stop flowing downward. Tracing the history of the Morris canal display's the evidence at all levels ( from top to bottom ). The only way the river's can be corrected is by adding very large retention areas such as lakes and reservoirs, and we're going to need a lot of them. If we use the river's as the retention area, then they will have to be much wider and deeper than they are now. How wide and deep is the big question. It's also going to take a series of locks and dams to 1). retain the flood-water and 2). release the water at specific times.

I saw a comment that appears to have been removed regarding Bill's grading of his personal property and the lack of receiving neighborly permission. I am not certain of town codes but I am aware that they are arbitrarily implemented; depending of who you are. Most codes do not require neighborly approval, unless one lives in a condo or other homeowner's association. My real interest to that post was the use of a 3 letter word that begins with an a and it's reference to Bill. It is encouraging to see that Bill's opposition has a mono-syllable, 3 / 4 letter vocabulary....Bill, you will win hands down.

@Rob, we are trying to talk flood here, Tia
@Jessica, the tides have no effect on river flooding. The tidal flow on the Passaic would never get above the Dundee, let alone the great falls. Theincoming tides and the outflowing river create an estuarial system, the briny tides rides over the fresh but the fresh continues to flow. Your analysis is flawed. The floods flood the flood plain it is ievitable

Scondo the tital water does have an effect on the Passaic River right up to the Dundee Canal, if it didn't the flooding "wouldn't be worse" during high tide. The tide can also delay the cresting of the river. Still I agree the floods are inevitable, and that the river continues to flow over the incoming tide, although it's more like "lava" during that period.
I analyze the water, not the amount of it, just what's in it. Over the past 28 years I've collected several thousand samples from all of the local rivers, from here to Trenton. Each one has it's own identity, it's own DNA if you want to call it that.
There are dozens of improvements that can be made, but you are 100 percent correct, the flooding isn't going to stop. Not without some major event such as an earthquake, or something that alter's the entire landscape from the Great Lakes to the Hudson Bay.

@ Simple, This is what I stated previously: "I saw a comment that appears to have been removed regarding Bill's grading of his personal property and the lack of receiving neighborly permission. I am not certain of town codes but I am aware that they are arbitrarily implemented; depending of who you are. Most codes do not require neighborly approval, unless one lives in a condo or other homeowner's association. " You may continue to interpret my statements in your interests. I love Freedom of Speech. Keep it coming.

Silly the neighbors didn't stop him the town did due to him regrading his entire back yard. The town put a stop work oder on him and he continues to work right thru it. Don't see why you keep saying neighbors. Neigbors can only bring it to the towns attention they can't stop him. By the way how close is his shed to his neighbors property?? Oh that is right. Laws in Wayne mean nothing to Billie Sue. They only pertain to everyone else.

Rob, We are tryibng to talk flood here---but maybe , just maybe I know why they got married while he was doing time. maybe the facility had a rule that only allowed conjugal visits for marrieds--maybe just maybe there was no testimonial privilege issue at all. Stop seeing things as so black and white adversarial. Come we reasonable people can reach reasonable solutions.
Like this one: How about the DEP identify all of the detention bodies of water in the Passaic Water Shed and ask them to voluntarily lower their levels through Jan, February and March by one or two feet, and then at the end of March allow them to capture melt run off and try to see if that can help prevent spring flooding. Wanaque and Canistear and Greenwood Lake and Clinton and Chalottesburg and even the small private lakes , I bet if everyone was on board we could impact flooding in spring. But we need politicians with vision and drive to push the bureacrats to make this effort work. This was one of the recommendations that I had sent to the Govs. flood commission when they were appointed. So Far nothing done on it.

Another suggestion, the Pequannock Dam and the Canal Feeder dam no longer serve any purpose at all, so why not cut a spill way into the dam , the dam at Little Falls can be re configured so that PVWC still can draw water, but in time of flood the level can be lowered, how about it. Let's move on it, rather than study it.

China can build a border to border high speed train line across country in less time than it takes a local zoning board in the US to approve a 45 foot tall wind turbine, and we wonder why our economy is tanking.

Sorry I missed you, but ever since I have gotten sick I take a mild. Chemo once a week and I get infused with another drug once a month. Not to mention all the others I take daily. Hope to see ha again.

Eyes wide shut when you bring your car in do stand in the hallow hall and read the walls lined with all those articles. Don't you think it is a bit much?? Why does he need a shrine?? Seeing that I don't go there because he has enough of my money already next time your in can you find out who Kaplan is for me. Just curious.

You are free to spend money how ever you would like. I just don't want my hard earned money going to Billie Sue Bob. Billie Sue Bob cost tax payers money.

Hey Eyes wide shut at least we agree on something.

I heard the Governor's study on the flood plain could take 3-5 years! I bet many residents are not physically and emotionally equipped to deal with this for another-3-5 years! Keep studying and studying...how many more studies are needed? I bet the residents living in flood-prone areas can provide helpful information to resolve some of the issues with protecting them from what has become routine flooding it seems! I wonder if Pompton Lakes had to sanction the building of the dam? Did Wayne also have to give the nod too? Whoever gave the nod, in my opinion, should be working like crazy towards a solution for relief and not wait other 3-5 years for some sort of relief to occur for their residents in their communities and beyond for others downstream.

I bet the residents living in flood-prone areas can provide helpful information to resolve some of the issues with protecting them from what has become routine flooding it seems! Says Love

Love it has been flooding in these places since time immemorial, nothing has changed on that score. It has always been routine for the basin to flood. There is nothing new under the sun. Flood plains flood.

The town gets money to replace some of the taxpayer money that goes into Police Overtime, Fire Department Diesel Fuel, DPW overtime to pick up the garbage left from the desolation of the floods. In actuality the Town gets back about 75 cents on the dollar spent and it has to do with things like evacuating people who don't leave and then find themselves in a bind. It is no different in Lincoln Park or Pequannock or Pompton or Nashville or New Orleans. Move out if you want to solve your problem.

Scondo - routine you say? Not routine for residents to flood five times and have to replace everything in their homes since March. What a cop out! Most experiencing this flooded a handful of time prior to the installation of the Dam! I know some in PL and Lincoln Park and beyond that never had water in their homes until the dam was built - you really aren't making any sense at all with your brush-off statement. Sorry!

I believe this part of the report is talking about the 2 feeder dams below Pompton Lakes Floodgates.
A Passaic River Flood District
Commission. DECEMBER 1ST.1906.
Sixth. —The Morris Canal crosses the proposed dam site and traverses the edge of the proposed reservoir for a distance of about four miles. Unless the canal is abandoned it will in the erection of flood controlling works be a source of useless expense.

The Pompton reservoir, as planned for flood regulation alone, will have a capacity equivalent to a run-off of eight and one-half inches (Si) on the watershed above the proposed dam. This represents a flood somewhat greater than that of October 1903. Now, in order that the entire amount of water arising from such a flood shall be held behind the dam, it will be necessary to keep the reservoir empty at all times except when floods are descending. In other words, the pro- posed flood-regulating reservoir will contain only enough water to hold back the greatest flood that may ever be expected on Pompton river. After the flood in the remainder of the Passaic basin has subsided it will be necessary to empty this reservoir, as fast as the channel capacity of the lower valley will permit, so that the reservoir will be ready to hold back another flood No one can predict when another such flood will occur, and therefore it will be necessary to have the reservoir in readiness at all times.
continued

It follows that there may be many consecutive months during which the reservoir will be dry and practically in its present condition, except that the population now occupying the site will be removed. When, however, the dam is raised to provide for water storage the basin will be flooded at all times.

Would the 1906 plan be fair to the homeowners on the lake? Of course not. Is there a possible Middle ground? I believe so. I don’t believe NJWC is taking drinking water from the lake any more and stated in a full-page ad that it is OK to lower the lake before a storm. Maybe this idea should be considered as a possible solution for all towns down stream of the Floodgates. I don’t believe there is any need to reinvent the wheel here, just gleam what is a good idea from other reports, maybe make a few improvement and start putting words into action.

@love--You were the one who used the word routine on 10/11/11 @5:55PM go back and read I took the language verbatim from your post.
Go back in the thread and you will see the times it has flooded for I posted that too. Here is the official partial list starting in 1968 :1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1993, January 1996, September 1999, April 2005, October 2005, April 2007 and March 2010 , Spring 2011, Summer 2011---if you want to call that a handful of times you are seriously delusional. 17 times in the 40 years before the gate, or about every other year.

@Rob, Let's throw it up . If you buy in an area that is designated Flood Zone, do you not expect that there will come a time that you will be flooded. If you bought your house today and they started building the "flood tunnel " today, you would be flooded 18 to 20 times before the flood tunnel became operational. That is a hard truth that flood victims do not want to grasp when they buy into flood zones.

Flooded victims get my sympathy, I genuinely feel for their plight, but they want everyone else to take ownership of their problem and want to avoid having to make some tought decisions about continuing there or moving out. I think buyouts should be made available to assist them in getting out.

@eyes, Maybe so, but at least I offer some potential solutions, you offer nothing. Go back and read the possible solutions, Regional approach to retention , removal of the defunct dams. buyouts , working within the constraints that the topography and nature provide, truly understanding the cause of the flooding--that is what I talk about, you talk about nothing and you contribute nothing to the dialogue.

@eyes Waiting for you to let us know what your solutions are. How long will we wait for Eyes to come up with a possible solution ? Come on Eyes give it a try, what will it be tunnel / buyout/ dredging/ de snagging/ regional retention ---pick one and defend your position if anyone disagrees with you. Nah, not you--you just want to vent and rant, you don't want to have to discuss. BTW, no one has yet to disagree with any of my potential solutions that I recall. Who disagrees with a regional retnetion approach ? Who disagrees with de snagging ? Who disagrees with offering buyouts for people who want to be bought out ? Who disagrees eyes.

@Scondo, myself unlike YOUR self don't have the answer. But seems you can list 5 or 6 things as ALL solutions. Anyone can list a slew of answers without the knowledge how any of them will work. Unlike YOU. Im not throwing many many reasons out there and hoping that one will stick.The fact of the matter GENIUS is YOU are not an expert although you believe you are. Perhaps the Town of Wayne should hire YOU to fix the problems. Have you applied for the position with you extensive backround and knowledge in the field? If not why haven't you? Maybe if Wayne does not hire you, one of the many other towns that flood will. Just send then your application, im sure the will also believe you are a Genius. Oh BTW if for some odd reason, you don't get hired, don't talk down to anyone, it kind of makes you look more of a fool then you are...Better yet, why not just post your resume here for all of us to see...

@eyes, Give me one instance where what I have said is not factual ? Try hard.
No harder.

People in my neighborhood have asked to be bought out after 2007 when the flooding became a chronic problem in the Riverview Community. How much additional ownership are flood victims supposed to take when all decisions are made at the government level?  And when will these officials take the appropriate actions necessary to correct the problems? Example 15. Moratorium on All New Development within the Floodplain 
Municipalities within the Passaic River Basin should pursue flood risk reduction changes to their existing Master Plans, their existing zoning ordinances and their existing local flood damage prevention ordinances. The goal of these changes is to reduce negative impacts from future flooding by guiding development away from the floodplains or by completely phasing out and preventing any future development in these high risk-prone areas.
Who makes the above decisions, people who live in the flood zone or our elected officials and those they hire to represent the best interest of the town? I for one believe a man can not serve to masters!

Sandy, There is the 5th Amendment to the constitution to be considered. people buy into the area knowing or at least should be aware of the inevitable flooding that will come. There is no secret that flooding has existed in the flood plain for 12000 years.

The Fifth Amendment (Amendment V) to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215. For instance, grand juries and the phrase due process (also
found in the 14th Amendment) both trace their origin to the Magna Carta.
Are you talking buyouts when referring to the 5 th amendment?
The Supreme Court has held that the federal government and each state has the power of eminent domain—the power to take private property for "public use". The Takings Clause, the last clause of the Fifth Amendment, limits the power of eminent domain by requiring that "just compensation" be paid if private property is taken for public use. The just compensation provision of the Fifth Amendment did not originally apply directly to the states, but since Chicago, B. & Q. Railroad Co. v. Chicago (1897), federal courts have held that the Fourteenth Amendment extended the effects of that provision to the states. The federal courts, however, have shown much deference to the determinations of Congress, and even more so to the determinations of the state legislatures, of what constitutes "public use". The property need not actually be used by the public; rather, it must be used or disposed of in such a manner as to benefit the public welfare or public interest.

If you are at all interested in making your concerns known, you may want to contact your legislator, who is Scott Rumana and let him know. There is a potential souce of buyout funds that need legislative approval before they can be used. This message is not intended for eyeswideshut, as it will not be of use to him.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/proposal_to_allow_nj_towns_to.html

My point was that many residents that NEVER HAD water before are getting it now since that dam was built! Let's hope this study is expedited...yet another study and still no immediate relief for the residents! I will say it again the residents living in the areas that are suffering know much more than they are given credit for and have valuable input to provide and should not be brushed off.

Why is it that you disagree with my contention that flood gates contribute to wayne Flooding? Answer: I am not familiar with your contention(or what it is based upon), what is it about the flood gates that make you contend that they contribute to Wayne flooding. I think that perhaps a stronger case could be made for contribution to Pompton Lakes Flooding across the river from the Colfax House and across from Mc Cobbs Restaurant given the topography, I am still not convinced regarding Wayne, but I would be interested in hearing. The study on this issue is supposed to be out early 2012.

Why is it that you did not disagree with Lonnie Miller Ryan on October 19, 2010 when she said that the flood gates caused flooding for Wayne? Answer: I have multiple times stated that the Flood Gates did not cause the flooding post Irene. You haven't been reading.
Now My question: I am wondering if you are the same Bill Brennan I met a few years ago who lived on Balsam Road in Wayne ?

@BILLY THE PUPPET BOY, What's the next forum for you to take your circus to?

@eyes: You will have to point out to me where I have self proclaimed myself an expert on flooding in Wayne, I have not said that. But be assured I know a fair bit about it, and I have taken a fair amount of interest in it, and I have not hestitated to send my suggestions to the Governor's Commission trying to stop it. Have you ?

@eyes No one has disagreed with anything that I have said. I have said the flood gates did not cause the flooding. I know that to be the case. The flooding was caused by the extreme weather, would have flooded regardless. I have taken pains to not put anyone down and you can not point to any place where I have , with the possible exception of you and that is only after you have chosen to personally attack me. So if you want to point out where I have belittled anyone, I would be most interested in seeing it. But I know I am making a lot of noise as the so called empty barrel--your words.

Bob Burke- Leandream and other's. If the fact that the town carries life insurance policy's on debtor's to the town, then why don't thet extend the courtesy to those that owe "over due" property taxes. Rather than recoup this money, they sell the tax lien to LLC company's at a low rate, then allow these companys to charge higher interest on the lien ( something like 18% ).
If Cavaliere owes 185,000 then the town is holding a lien on this amount...but the town doesn't hold liens- it sells them to collection agencies ( LLC'S).
What seems fishy is why they would sell a tax lien at say 3% interest, and decide to hold a 185K insurance policy without a specific CLOSING date.
Cavaliere's lien should also have been sold, and the collection company should be recouping the lien in a form of payments from Cavaliere- not the town.
Try not paying a simple parking ticket and watch eventually happens.

I would like to see that Life Insurance Policy and Proof that it is still in effect. As far as I am concerned, the underwriter of that policy, if it exists, was probably given misinformation. Furthermore, why should my tax money go to paying a life insurance policy for a criminal that there is a judgement against? The judgement should be collected..it is ridiculous to be spending more money on this..Why not pay for a life insurance policy on all citizens

Any life insurance policy purchased and paid for by the Township of Wayne on someone convicted of a crime can be INSURANCE FRAUD, especially if it was never disclosed to the underwriter. Imagine that, more Fraud..

@Sandy, I don't know what episodes you are speaking of, but the 2010, 2011 spring and 2011 Irene were all caused by historic weather episodes. Again , I repeat I await the study in 2/12 regarding the gates. I prefer to trust to a thorough test rather than anecdotes .

My comments on the 5th amendment have to do with the difficulty in not allowing people the use of their land. You can't tell some landowner that he can't build on his land because it might flood...it surely isn't wise but it is his land protected by 5th.

I also realize that it is hard to follow the thread with all the political intrigue going on, which is unfortunate as flooding will worsen as climate change accelerates

Like I have said many times before I can not speak for other towns within the Passaic Basin, only the community I live in Riverview. Again I'm asking if you cam tell me what dates the river went as far up as Black Oak Ridge Road and South Road on the dates you have mentioned. 

@Elyse 
The following is a partial listing of flooding in the Pompton, Pequannock ,Ramapo confluence. Noting that the confluence of the Passaic does not begin until Two Bridges. 
1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1993, January 1996, September 1999, April 2005, October 2005, April 2007 and March 2010 , Spring 2011, Summer 2011. The Dam did not cause the flooding, get beyond that and realize there is a flood plain. 

Again pleas do not include Lahe and Waterway Roads as the are a very small part of the neighborhood and I would have to agree they do get water more often then the rest of the community because the land does drop down about 3 feet at the intersection of Lake and North Road. If you can please keep your comments to the intersection of Black Oak Ridge Road and South Road. Thank you

@Sandy : You make the following statement:Why do you keep blaming the flood victims when all decisions being made concerning building or buyouts are done for them? I just don't get it.
Who makes the decision in the first instance to buy and or live in the flood plain ? I don't blame flood victims for anything more than lacking the foresight to anticipate the certainty that they will become flooded. I would wish that those properties where flood claims have been paid could be bought out as expeditiously as possible to avoid future calamity and that funds could buy up vacant lands before they get developed.

The township could have been using "Green Acres" money all along to purchase these land parcels if they really intended to "ease the burden" on the thousands of homeowners that are affected by the constant flooding, either directly or indirectly.
The flood plain is ratable's on the tax map.
The beginning of the solution to the problem begins on election day.

I was informed that I was on the buyout list.....I am now being told that under the FEMA rules I do not qualify for a buyout.??????

http://www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres/

Or you don't even have to google is, you can use the link provided, but please know the difference between Blue Acres and Green Acres. BTW, you can even link to the buyout application on line. Go for it.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres/pdf/blue_acres_app.pdf

To make it even simpler, so simple, even Eyes can find it with his eyes shut.

Hey look who is here?? Its the self proclaimed expert Scondo. What brings you here?? Working the day shift at Shop Rite now? Now the Village knows where its idiot is..If brains were dynamite, you couldn't even blow your own nose..

I added a photo of a "real floodgate".

Good job Joe. This will surely help Scondo; Pictures are very good for him. It text he struggles with..Even with his glasses on...NOW just explain to him what is actually in the picture..

There are simole calculations to building a floodgate. For your convienance, or if you happen to decide to build your own floodgate you can use the folling equation:

F=pA. I know Wayne Public School Graduates ( like myself ) will struggle with this one, so let's break it down:

F= force measured
p=pressure=pgh measured in N/m2. called "pascal"
p-is the density of water
g- is the acceleration due to gravity
h-is the height of the water column in meters

A=area=rectangle: length x height measured in m2
where:
length= the horizontal length of the floodgate in meters
height= the height of the floodgate from the bottom of the water
column.
These figures were compiled using "Phyics" not "Politics".

@Scondo: Please read my posts more carefully. I am not blaming the flood victims for the decisions made. People that decisions to buy in a flood plan have clear and concise foresight as to why the to so. Don't condescend on the people, for example, in the Riverview Community. This section of Wayne flooded only when there was a major event, aka; Hurricane Irene. Riverview Community did just fine prior to 2007. Please remember the other reasons, for which you have amnesia, why people buy in certain communities. For instance, the neighborhood, it's people, the park, the schools, ect. Ect.. There are people who chose to live in the Riverview Community for reasons mentioned above, who can well afford to live any where else in Wayne or for that matter Franklin Lakes. Once again, please, stay on point and be more specific as to the areas you relate to. My concern is Riverview Community and the people who live there.

Thanks Sandy. Now all we need is a building permit and cement. I kinda remember the flood coming right up to the back of the tea house sometime in the mid 70's-like 77-78 or somewhere around then. Still, I personally think that the floodgate "did" disrupt the flow of water, the soil depot "played a part" in the silt building up at the feederdam, and the "many years of neglect" have reduced the river channel.
The problem is worse because the towns along the river have no authority to change, alter, or reinforce the walls or lining in/around the channel. You know as well as I do that just the way the river "meanders" is a problem. But the problems are bigger. Concerned residents don't just have to battle the obvious, they have to contend with town politics, county politics and state politics- all of which stands in the way of getting the Federal support needed to make the corrections. We need people who truely care about flooding, people who want to build their political career from resoving the flooding issues, not using them to advance their political future.
If Wayne Township had any intention of correcting the flooding, they never would have built Willowbrook, NJTransit Bus Depot, or allowed Rt.23 to be reconstructed at ground level. And here we are again, waiting for yet another report on what is causing the flooding. Eventually this too, will pass.

@sandy, There have been 3 major events since 1/1/10. There is currently no way of predicting when the next major event will take place. major events have historically been about every 2.5 years, but have gone as long as 5. the magic date of 2007 means nothing to the weather pattern. see the new house on Armstrong built 2 to 3 years ago, the modular, they didn't put it on a 10 foot foundation for nothing. They used the historical elevation.

Ramapo River at Oakland, New Jersey, Flood Damage Reduction Project

Located within Bergen and Passaic Counties, the project provides a 40-year level of flood protection to approximately 300 homes along the Ramapo River within the Borough of Oakland (Project Map). The project consisted of installing two floodgates at Pompton Lake Dam, as well as, widening and deepening approximately one-mile of the Ramapo River upstream of Pompton Lake. Mitigation for the environmental impacts of the project included the creation of an eight-acre wetland within Potash Lake in addition to restoring flow to the north and south channels that ring Potash Lake.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Department, permitted and managed construction of the project. On August 1, 2007, under the terms of the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the Department assumed all responsibility for maintaining and operating the completed floodgate facility. The North Jersey District Water Supply Commission (NJDWSC) performs operation and maintenance tasks at the floodgate facility on behalf and expense of the Department.
How the Pompton Lake Dam Floodgate Facility Works:
One of the primary causes of flooding within the project area was due to water backing up behind Pompton Lake Dam during high river flow.
continued

This caused developed areas at the upper end of the lake to be flooded on a frequent basis. During the design phase of the project, it was determined that that the most efficient way to correct this problem was to replace a 90-foot section of the existing Pompton Lake Dam with a structure containing two 18-foot high by 35-foot long steel floodgates.

The floodgates are designed to regulate water releases from the dam to provide flood damage reduction benefits to structures upstream of the dam, as well as, maintain the existing water supply capabilities of the lake. Regulation of water releases to prevent upstream damages is unique in that the majority of flood damage reduction dams are used to prevent downstream damages. Because of this, the operational requirements for the Pompton Lake Dam floodgates are quite different from conventional flood control structures.
continued

To provide the maximum flood reduction benefits to upstream residences, at the same time not increasing downstream flooding, a customized computer system automatically operates the floodgates in strict accordance with operating procedures developed by the Army Corps of Engineers. These operating procedures were developed to maintain the lake below an elevation that would have caused flooding within the Borough of Oakland before the project was constructed.

The automated system works primarily by reading the lake level on 15-minute intervals. When the lake rises to approximately 1.5 feet above its normal level, the floodgates open 3 inches. Depending upon how quickly the lake level is rising, the floodgates will rise in concert on 3-, 6-, or 12-inch intervals. The computer will continue to read the lake level every 15-minutes and raise, lower, or maintain the gate height accordingly. After the initial floodwave has passed, the system will begin to close the gates. The length of time the gates will remain open will vary from a few hours to several days, depending upon the size of the particular flood event.
continued

During gate operations, the facility will be monitored to verify the floodgates are operating properly. If an emergency or gate malfunction arises, personnel will be available to readily respond. Should such an event occur, the gates (if no danger exists in doing do so) will be operated in a manual mode until such time that automatic gate operations can be re-initiated.

The floodgates are designed to be operated in a manner that will release water from the dam at the same rate water enters the lake. In doing so, near normal pool elevations can be maintained to reduce upstream damage while not increasing flooding downstream.
Limitation of the Project:
The project has been designed to provide flood reduction benefits within the project area against a 40-year design flood. During this event, no damages are expected to occur to the majority of the structures within the floodplain area. However, flooding within the project area will still occur along the banks and in yards near the river, albeit at lower levels than under pre-existing conditions. Flood stages during larger events will be reduced in comparison to pre-existing conditions but some damage may occur to structures.

Im liking the idea of "Occupy Wayne" Lets DO IT. Im sure we can ALL muster a bunch of people, Voters would be nice, but the more the better. Im in as well.

Who will get the permits to assemble? It is our constitutional right..I just want to make certain all bases will be covered.

Tuesday evenings are fine for me. I suggest that anyone who cannot make it by 6pm, please voice your dates and times as Rob is flexible.

We need this to work for ourselves and our children.
We MUST stop burdening our children with these problems
It should not be a legacy of corruption that they will remember Wayne with.

Remember how the town council overturned our vote to the BOE budget....

It is TYRANNY, plain and simple

The money doesn't go to the students, it is going in some unholy deal.

Burke, You and Brennan are like the three stoogies minus one. You could hold your meeting in a phone booth. If you looking for all your friends to come? I have to hand it to you. What a way to sell car wash's. Three more weeks and your puppet can dry the cars.

Declaration of Independence Celebrated in Song - UNIQUE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYlKPK48cjk

Rob im also reaching out to the UFCW Local 464a Meat cutters union in Little Falls. Perhaps we should reach out to some other unions in the area that also have had enough..

Occupy Wayne, A Conversation, tomorrow night, October 18, 2011, 6 pm at 2122 Hamburg Turnpike. All are welcome to attend.

Note that I have now been contacted by three news outlets wanting to know what's up with this. I told them I wasn't sure just yet.

Let's find out together.

Wayne Corruption Costs You Money

Occupy Wayne: We Won't Go Til Nadine Goes

CWA is a great union for this. maybe they can get into the workers at 475. It will certainly change the dynamics. They have had issues with the current governor who has backed Rumana. This current administration is definitely union-busting. Let's bust Rumana out of office before he does more damage.

The Unions were busted long before this administration. Private Sector employees as a percentage of work force who are subject to collective bargaining.In the private sector, union coverage fell to 7.7%
The Public Sector Union Membership somewhere between 40 to 50% of public employees.

A friend sends along the suggestion that we all remember the lyrics to “Look for the Union Label”. When the union thugs start harassing you and trying to make it look like you are disrupting the townhall, just start singing “look for the union label” and remind everyone who the real thugs are.

Look for the union label when you are buying that coat, dress or blouse.

Remember somewhere our union’s sewing, our wages going to feed the kids, and run the house.

We work hard, but who’s complaining? Thanks to the I.L.G. we’re paying our way!

So always look for the union label, it says we’re able to make it in the U.S.A.!

When the union thugs start harassing you and trying to make it look like you are disrupting the townhall, just start singing “look for the union label” and remind everyone who the real thugs are.

Ok we get it now leave us alone.
Fact this thread is about flooding.

Sorry it took so long
Historical Crests for Ramapo River at Pompton Lakes – National Weather Service
At 17 ft water is surrounding the house at 11 South Road, but has not come in to the living areas. At 16 ft the house on 16 Lake Road has water coming into the yard, but is not in the house. At 18.5 feet the water is starting to come into the road by North and Shore.

*Major Flood Stage (MFS): 14.5 ft *Moderate Flood Stage (mfs): 13.5 ft
*Flood Stage (FS): 11.5 ft *Action Stage (AS): 10 ft

2011
1. September 8, 2011 - 14.33 ft (mfs)
2. August 29, 2011 22.62 ft (MFS) South & Lake Road
3. April 17, 2011 - 14.80 ft (MFS)
4. March 11, 2011 - 16.72 ft (MFS) Lake Road
5. March 7, 2001 - 15.83 ft (MFS)
2010
1. March 31, 2010 - 11.12 ft (FS)
2. March 14, 2010 - 18.05 ft (MFS) South and lake Road
2008
1. December 12, 2008 - 11.03 ft (FS)
2007
1. December 24, 2007 - 13.02 ft (FS)
2. April 16, 2007 - 16.99 ft (MFS) Lake Road
2005
1. October 13, 2005 - 13.66 ft (mfs)
2. April 3, 2005 - 14.22 (mfs)
3. March 29, 2005 - 10.58 ft on (AS)
1984
1. April 5, 1984 - 21.60 ft (MFS) South and Lake Road

Terry, the sad fact is I believe all towns down stream from the Pompton Floodgates where asleep at the wheel. I have found Army Corps reports and township minutes from Oakland about the floodgates. The sad fact is when they where originally present to the townships the gates where designed to open up before a heavy storm. At some point the gates opening before a storm changed when Governor Whitman was in office.  Why the towns did not pick up on this during the planning stage is mystery to me. Having lived  in the Riverview Community from 1972, I feel the whole Passaic River Basin was sold out to the benefit of those who live above the dam. Governor Christie is supposed to be releasing a report on the effects of the Pompton Floods  on the lower river basin. It is my hope that this report will state what people in Riberview already know. The floodgates had a tremendous inpact on us.