Sustainable Hillsborough presents 'water story,' committee approves Gold Star submission on consent agenda

Kelly Francisco, chair of the Sustainable Hillsborough Steering Committee, told the township committee on Dec. 9 that Hillsborough’s "water story" centers on two supply sources — public systems supplied largely via New Jersey American Water and private household wells — and growing threats from flooding and impaired waterways.

The presentation outlined priority problems and near-term actions: completing one to two green‑infrastructure retrofits within two years, targeted outreach to private well owners about testing for naturally occurring contaminants and emerging PFAS, and coordination across departments to protect stream buffers and reduce impervious cover. "Some of these streams are impaired," Francisco said, listing the Raritan and Millstone among local waterways the committee monitors.

The committee endorsed the steering committee’s plan administratively by approving consent agenda item 15, a resolution authorizing submission of a navigational path required to pursue a Sustainable Jersey Gold Star in water. Mayor John Ciccarelli and Committee members praised the volunteer committee’s work and pledged collaboration with the health department on well‑testing outreach. "If you’re going to do community outreach with respect to that issue, we get the tools are here," Ciccarelli said, referencing the health department’s readiness to assist with PFAS testing.

Committee members and residents questioned development impacts and ash‑tree loss on runoff and infiltration. Kelly Francisco said the approach includes restoring vegetative buffers and implementing detention or retention where infiltration is not feasible. Dr. Chris Abrupta, the steering committee vice chair, highlighted rain gardens and the town’s prior leadership in the Mayor’s Challenge for water conservation.

The Gold Star submission was handled through the consent agenda and therefore approved without separate roll‑call debate. The committee directed staff to fold public feedback into follow‑up outreach and to coordinate implementation across planning, health, public works and police. The presentation included requests for clearer timelines and public information; committee members asked staff to publish next steps and to use the mayor’s e‑news and the township website for updates.

The Sustainable Hillsborough committee’s recommended steps — testing outreach for private wells, targeted green infrastructure retrofits, and a natural resources inventory — are now formally endorsed; staff will return with implementation details and timelines as the township pursues the Sustainable Jersey water star.