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Residents press Englewood Cliffs council on sewer study, $2.1M repair estimate and development connections
Summary
Residents and commenters urged the council to act on a January sewer study (Boswell) that identified infiltration problems and proposed at least $2.1 million in wastewater-collection improvements, warning that new developments may not be able to connect until upgrades are complete.
Residents pressed the Borough of Englewood Cliffs on March 12 for clearer action after a January sewer study identified infiltration issues and proposed substantial upgrades.
Dan Sterling and other commentors said the Boswell study reviewed the borough’s sanitary sewers, found stormwater infiltration and illegal connections, and recommended proposed improvements that the council’s public record says should be completed before new developments connect. "The study which concludes that the B needs to spend at least $2.1 million does not even address the conditions of the sewers that affect the new construction," one commenter said, urging the council to identify timing, responsibilities and possible legal or financial ramifications if developers cannot connect.
Speakers warned that without completing the recommended work the borough could face complications when projects already planned—mentioned in public comment as "800 Silven" and other affordable housing projects—seek to connect to the sanitary sewer system. Commenters said the study flagged several streets with infiltration and that state and county storm mapping provided to the consultant may be incomplete, complicating design and permitting.
Council members and staff said they have asked multiple engineers for design specifications and construction-management cost estimates and intend to go out to bid; they also said they would encourage awarding to the lowest responsible bidder but might create an in-house crew if bids are not reasonable. The council’s planning and administration representatives said they would continue reviewing the planning-board material and the sewer report.
No vote to fund the $2.1 million in work was recorded at the meeting; council members described obtaining quotes and preparing bid documents as next steps. The finance committee said it will continue budget work and expects to present elements of the 2025 budget next month.
Next steps noted at the meeting: engineers are preparing specifications and cost estimates; CCTV inspection and cleaning work is ongoing; staff said some inspection data would be available within days and that the council would consider bids, possible in-house construction options, and the timing of required work before future development connections.
