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Council agrees to save Heater's Pond

| 12 Aug 2015 | 11:39
    Photos by Vera Olinski Mayor Steve Ciasullo said that the council would receive more public feedback regarding the pond at the next meeting.
    Photos by Vera Olinski Mayor Steve Ciasullo said that the council would receive more public feedback regarding the pond at the next meeting.
    Councilman Robert McGuire warns the council to be ready to do what it takes financially to improve Heater's Pond — even the potential cost of dredging it.
    Councilman Robert McGuire warns the council to be ready to do what it takes financially to improve Heater's Pond — even the potential cost of dredging it.
    Councilwoman Regina Rizzo asked why people didn't get up and say something at the Special Meeting on July 27 if they are against keeping the pond.
    Councilwoman Regina Rizzo asked why people didn't get up and say something at the Special Meeting on July 27 if they are against keeping the pond.
    Mike Nardini thanked the council for making the decision to keep the pond and improve it.
    Mike Nardini thanked the council for making the decision to keep the pond and improve it.
    Resident Tom Ricalde disagrees with the decision to rescind the public referendum regarding the fate of Heater's Pond.
    Resident Tom Ricalde disagrees with the decision to rescind the public referendum regarding the fate of Heater's Pond.

OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg Council unanimously rescinded the November public referendum regarding Heater's Pond Dam at their meeting, Aug. 10.

Currently, Ogdensburg is being forced by the NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) to choose between armoring the dam, thus, saving the pond, or removing it entirely.

The Council decided to rescind the November referendum in light of more than two and a half hours of public comment asking for the pond to be saved at the July 27 Special Meeting. Residents spoke not only in favor of keeping the pond, but also improving it.

During the Aug. 10 meeting, officials mentioned their surprise at how lopsided the support for keeping the dam had been.

Before rescinding the referendum, Councilman Robert McGuire warned the Council that they better be ready to do what it takes financially to improve the pond — even including the potential cost of dredging it.

The Council also unanimously voted to form the new Heater's Pond Action Committee of two Council members and five town residents in order to present ideas and options, including finances, for improvements to Heater's Pond and the surrounding area.

During public comment, Tom Ricalde explained that the original notice for a public referendum was a promise to the Ogdensburg residents; and people who were against keeping the pond did not need to come to the meeting because of the future referendum. Still others remained silent at the meeting.

“Everybody should have a say since everybody is going to be paying for this," Ricalde concluded.

Councilwoman Regina Rizzo asked, “Why didn't they get up and speak? [at the Special Meeting on July 27]"

Ricalde answered that they were already promised the voice, and also many may wait to speak when the DEP attends a special meeting.

Although invited, the DEP did not come to the meeting on July 27, but agreed to come to another meeting. Around 200 residents attended the initial meeting.

Mike Nardini thanked the Council for the decision to save and improve the pond.

Mayor Steve Ciasullo said that if the public is against armoring the dam, he expected people to come to the next meeting, Aug. 24, to voice their concerns. He also added that when residents come to meetings, it helps the Council make decisions.

In the meantime, the Council voted unanimously to spend $250 for a cost estimate of dredging Heater's Pond.