Nutley Mayor Tours Sewerage Commission

Nutley’s acting Mayor Mauro Tucci joined Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Executive Director Wayne Forrest for a briefing and tour of the commission’s Newark facility.

The briefing and tour was open to municipal officials from all 48 member municipalities served by the PVSC, officials said.

The commission operates one of the country's oldest and largest treatment plants for the wastewaters of northern New Jersey, serving more than 1.4 million people in 48 municipalities in five northeastern New Jersey counties.

The first of what will be a yearly report by the PVSC was released the same day for all the towns that use the agency.  The event was part of the agency’s recent reform and increase in transparency, Commission officials said.

Mayors, council members, business administrators, municipal engineers, department of public works superintendents and other municipal officials from many of the 48 municipalities the PVSC serves attended the event, officials said. 

Those who came were guided by bus on a tour of the more than140-acre facility located in Newark, learning first-hand the complex science involved in treating more than 330 million gallons per day of wastewater, according to officials. 

Commission Chief Financial Officer Joseph Kelly presented “Where Your Tax Dollars Go,” which showed how the local ratepayers’ user charges are determined and spent.

The forum allowed municipal officials to dialogue with Commission officials about the financial operations and long term management and vision of the agency, officials said.

Forrest welcomed the municipal officers, and talked about helping them learn about the Commission.

“We are pleased to provide an opportunity for everyone here to learn more about the crucial services the PVSC provides to protect not only the public health, but also our environment,” Forrest said.

Forrest said the Commission’s total operating budget for 2012 is reduced by about two percent, or $3.2 million, to $157,839,949 compared to the 2011 budget.

“As we continue to move the Commission in a new direction, it is my hope that we will be able to continue the dialogue that started today,” said Forrest. “To be successful, it is essential that PVSC has the trust and confidence of its member municipalities.”