Residents at the Oct. 6 council meeting urged quicker repair of a stream bank that township officials say is eroding near exposed sanitary manholes. The township has appropriated money in a past budget to stabilize the bank, but work has been delayed while the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) completes its permit review.

A resident who identified himself as the Lake Association president noted the problem and asked when the bank work would begin. Township Administrator Mark DeCarlo said the permanent application was submitted to DEP about a year ago, DEP identified deficiencies, the plans were revised and resubmitted, and today DEP sent another request for additional information. DeCarlo explained that DEP approval is required for any work involving machinery in the stream and called the permitting process “lengthy” and “cumbersome.”

DeCarlo said the township appropriated funds for the project in the 2024 budget and that the engineering firm revised plans and is pursuing state reimbursement through a grant application (the township applied again after an earlier federal/congressional funding source was not approved). He said DPW continues weekly visual inspections of the exposed sanitary infrastructure and has removed large floating debris when it was identified.

Why it matters: Erosion near sanitary manholes poses potential public-health and infrastructure risks. Residents expressed frustration that money has been set aside but on-the-ground repairs are waiting on regulatory approvals.

What’s next: Administrator DeCarlo said the township will continue coordinating with the engineering firm and DEP; no definitive start date was available because of the outstanding DEP information request and the need for permits allowing machinery in the water.