Committee split over sewer project Fink argues project has negative impact on the environment BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer HOLMDEL - The debate surrounding the Country Woods sewer project continued at the March 6 Township Committee meeting. At the Feb. 21 meeting, the committee voted to authorize interim Township Administrator Joseph Annecharico to prepare a bond ordinance for the proposed $4.1 million sewer installation project at Country Woods. Committeeman Larry Fink remained opposed to the project, maintaining that the sewer project would be detrimental to the environment in the CountryWoods development. "This is an environmentally sensitive area," Fink said. "Replacing the septic systems with the sewers could jeopardize the critical aquifers that are running beneath that development." Fink referenced the location of waterways according to documents such as the 2002 Wastewater Management Plan and opposed the removal of large trees in that area. Not all of the committee members were swayed by Fink's environmental concerns. "I don't buy into this as much as you do, Larry," said Committeeman Rocco Pascucci. "If I am not hurting the environment, I don't see why not with the sewers." DeputyMayorAlan Bateman, who also lives in the Country Woods development, also disagreed with Fink. "This is a quality-of-life issue," said Bateman. "I'll put the people over a few trees any day." Fink countered that he felt it was unfair to impose sewers on people in the development who are satisfied with their septic systems. "But the septic systems are failing in that area," Mayor Serena DiMaso said. "People want to do their laundry and not worry about backup problems. We have been told by the state that [Country Woods] does not drain well." Country Woods residents in attendance for the public comment portion cited saturated sidewalks and sewerage backups in their homes. Committeewoman Janet Berk raised a question regarding the financing of the project, saying that approving this bond project would open the flood gates to other bond projects. "How much is this really going to cost us?" Berk asked. "What happens when the next group comes in and wants sewers? We can't bond the whole town." Bateman responded, "Would you give up your sewer for a septic system?" The committee closed the discussion with residents of Country Woods asking for the committee's consideration on the matter. Should the sewer replacement project be approved, the project would be under construction for just under two years while workers remove old septic systems and lay sewer pipe and connect the houses to sewer.