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Resident urges overhaul of Brielle water utility after claiming 56% unaccounted-for water and calls for shared police services
Summary
A resident told the council he calculated 56% unaccounted-for water—well above NJDEP guidance—and estimated $200,000 in annual lost revenue; he urged better utility management and consideration of shared police services, prompting council to cite new meters and recent debt from a collapsed tank as complicating factors.
At the March 23 meeting, resident Daniel Burke questioned the management of Brielle’s water utility and urged the council to consider shared services for policing.
Burke said he calculated the borough’s unaccounted-for water at 56%, far higher than the NJDEP allowable standard of 20%, and estimated approximately $200,000 in annual lost revenue tied to unmetered usage and billing practices. He also took issue with residential and commercial properties sharing single meters and said the borough policy requiring individual metering for units was not being enforced in all cases.
Councilman Nolan responded that the borough has recently installed new meters and that the resulting data should provide a more accurate accounting and reduce losses. Nolan added the borough was carrying higher debt service after an unanticipated collapse of a water tank shortly after the borough borrowed from the I-Bank for a new tank on Union Lane, and that removing that debt service from minimum calculations would make rates more comparable to neighboring towns.
Burke also suggested shared police services as a cost-saving measure, citing comparisons to larger municipalities and noting Brielle’s staffing levels relative to population. The council did not take formal action at the meeting but discussed that further review and data would be needed.
