Byram council adopts ordinance allowing Veolia to extend service to homes near Mansfield site

Byram Township voters heard a final reading and public hearing on Ordinance No. 015-2025 on Nov. 5, when the Township Council approved municipal consent for Veolia Water New Jersey, Inc. to provide water service to properties identified in the ordinance, including the Mansfield dump site. Veolia representatives said the 20 homes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified as affected may connect optionally and that any home choosing to connect will receive a minimum 60 pounds per square inch (psi) of water pressure.

The adoption matters because the EPA’s scope requires that 20 affected homes be included in the franchise area; Veolia’s attorney, Craig Bossong, said the company is not soliciting connections but added 34 additional homes to the franchise area now to avoid the greater cost of adding them later. "They will maintain at minimum 60psi level of service for anyone willing to connect," Bossong said during the hearing. Director of Engineering Tom Vicente described pumping and a skid system upgrade that, he said, will limit pressure loss to about 5–6 psi at peak flow even if all properties connect, and he agreed to provide an engineering memorandum confirming those calculations.

Councilman Roseff pressed for documentation. He made a motion to table until the promised engineering memo or letter was submitted; Township Attorney Tom Collins responded that the testimony given at the hearing is binding and that a separate memo was not required for adoption. Mayor Rubenstein and Councilman Roseff said they nevertheless would like a written letter or memo from Veolia confirming the pressure and system details.

Residents at the hearing raised concerns about pressure at particular homes. Mary Schneider, who lives among the homes identified as affected, said she wanted assurance her pressure would not decline; Bossong repeated the 60 psi guarantee and said he would put it in writing. Kevin Moulton asked about elevation-related pressure at 74 Brookwood Road; Vicente referenced a DEP report indicating a predicated static level of about 68 psi at that location.

The ordinance passed on final reading; the published notice of final passage will appear in the municipality’s designated newspaper as required by law. The council asked Veolia for the promised written engineering memo or letter and for confirmation about hydrant placement and fire flows; Veolia said a hydrant will be installed and painted consistent with other township hydrants.

Action taken: Ordinance No. 015-2025 was adopted on final reading. The transcript does not specify a roll-call vote tally in the record provided; the council requested a written engineering memorandum and a confirming letter from Veolia.