Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Urging/Supporting/Opposing
Purpose: Urging the dissolving of the Newark Watershed Conservation Development Corporation
Additional Information:
Baraka
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark has a long standing relationship with the management of the Newark Watershed properties in Northern New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, the relationship between the City of Newark and NWCDC has been expanded to include the management of the City's water treatment plant; and
WHEREAS, NWCDC has for several years provided water systems manager to oversee the Newark Water Sewer Utilities Department; and
WHEREAS, a group of concerned citizens has brought to the attention of the Municipal Council many questions about the operation of the NWCDC and its management of municipal funds provided to it; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to investigate the issues raised by the citizens group the Municipal Council established an Investigative Committee to hear testimony from all interested parties; and
WHEREAS, the NWCDC refused to cooperate with this committee and appear before it to answer questions by the Council Members; and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council has asked the New Jersey Attorney General to investigate the operation of the NWCDC.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
The Municipal Council calls upon the Administration of Mayor Cory A. Booker to begin a search to select a qualified individual to appoint as the Director of the City of Newark's Water Sewer Utilities Department
Urges the Administration of Mayor Cory A. Booker to immediately begin a study to develop a plan for the management of the Newark watershed properties and the water treatment plant using City of Newark employees.
In the event that the Administrations study determines that the City of Newark cannot at this time assume the management of the watershed properties and the treatment plant at this time the plan should identify other qualified vendors with which to contract for the management of the Newark facilities.
Calls upon the Board of Directors of the NWCDC to vote to dissolve the corporation and transfers all files and records to the control of the Office of the Newark City Clerk as official custodian of records for the City of Newark
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the City of Newark to assume management control of its water assets from the watershed properties in Northern New Jersey and water treatment plant to the Water Sewer Utilities Department and the dissolving of the Newark Watershed Conservation Development Corporation.