Town Still Exploring Joint Flood Mitigation Opportunities

is continuing its flood mitigation efforts and is even working with surrounding communities to apply for grants that, if awarded, could help.

Township Administrator Victor Canning reported at the June 12 township committee meeting that the township officials had been invited to Denville Township Hall to "continue joint discussions to apply for [Department of Environmental Protection] grant money to continue desnagging efforts."

"We're all going to meet to, hopefully, put a grant application together to see if we can get more funding to continue that effort," he said.

Canning also said the township has been in discussions with Parsippany officials to team up on a desnagging grant application. Some money has been given to the township for creek area work, but Canning said more is needed and that by , the township has a better chance at receiving funding.

Additionally, Committeeman Scott Gallopo brought up a resolution the township has been working on with other municipalities, Morris Township and Parsippany specifically, which would be passed on to state legislators and essentially ask for changes in the way the Jersey City Reservoir is managed.

Gallopo said a conversation would need to be had with the DEP, United Water and Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority but that the conversation would need to be had with support from state legislators. Gallopo also noted that the joint resolution would not involve funding.

"This joint resolution is step one for us to tee up a meeting," he said.

Gallopo expressed concern that hurricane season is around the corner and that as of last week, a large amount of rainfall had already hit the township.

"It's getting too close to that August zone that makes us all nervous," he said.

And Gallopo is not the only one concerned. Jim Riter, a Pine Brook resident, also expressed his concerns at the meeting. Riter said his was one of 40 families that got flooded out of their home during Hurricane Irene.

"Every time it rains, we are afraid," he said.

Riter said he is appreciative of the joint resolutions the township is working on and curious what other actions can be taken by Montville to help with flood mitigation.