The Montclair Town Council held a special meeting today at 8 am, officially blessing a project to improve sewer lines for Montclair State. But the odd timing of the meeting and the lack of a public input had some residents concerned.
Resident and MSU neighbor Cyd Caillerac told Baristanet after the meeting, “I’m not comfortable with this. It’s too rushed, and I’m not sure the public has all the information on the benefits and risks. There’s been no public hearing.”
This morning’s special 8 am council meeting was called to discuss Montclair township’s budget, which apparently is getting leaner and leaner. Last Friday, a discussion of Montclair State University’s proposal to improve a section of the municipal sewer system in the first ward was added as the first agenda item. Last week, MSU formally reached out for a confirmation that the work would be done, Mayor Fried said.
The project, which will replace 100-year-old pipes, described by town utility engineer Gary Obszarny as “leaking, root and groundwater infiltrated” is prompted by the university’s construction of campus residences that will house 2,000 students. The expanded on-campus population is anticipated to produce an extra 211,000 gallons per day of sewage waste.
Mayor Jerry Fried began by stating that the project is not under council jurisdiction. “The work itself is the purview of the head of the Montclair Sewer Utility, which responds to all requests for sewer hookups. It is essentially the same as if a new business or single family residence were to need new service,” said Mayor Fried. “I feel it’s important for residents to understand the position of the council on this.”

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