Politics & Government
Hillsdale Mayor Calls For Brook De-Snagging
The project could help reduce some flooding along the Pascack Brook, according to Hillsdale Mayor Max Arnowitz.
Hillsdale Mayor Max Arnowitz said during the last borough council meeting that he hoped to undergo a de-snagging project in the Pascack Brook to help reduce flooding, possibly as soon as next year.
"We need to clear some of the blockage in the stream," Arnowitz said.
An "island" that has formed in the brook near the library is a particular concern, he said.
The process to get a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection, which has comprehensive regulations, may take some time. If they do get a permit, the town won't be allowed to make the brook any larger, just clear debris from it.
Getting a permit from the state is "not the easiest thing to do," Arnowitz said.
The project could also be expensive, and work in the Pascack Brook apparently won't qualify for funding from the $3 million in grants recently announced by state officials for waterway clearing in the Passaic River Basin, officials said.
By working with another town, like Westwood, local officials might be able to make the process go faster and save some money, Arnowitz said.
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