“I spent my 43-year career as a Consulting Engineer designing water and wastewater systems and I understand the challenges of owning and investing in these systems. I am a 27-year resident of South Orange, and I was honored to participate in the Water Task Force to help my town sort through the complicated issues surrounding the future of our water system. As we met and worked through the issues, it became apparent to me that the challenges ahead are complex and encompass all phases of a system – aging infrastructure, unfunded mandates for the State, financial pressures and long-term staffing issues. Retaining ownership by the village will result in either a large increase in village staff or contracting with a new firm to operate our system. Either option requires that the village recruit new water system leadership in a tightening and highly competitive labor market. Either choice presents unknowns and risks to the Citizens of South Orange. I believe that the sale of the system reduces our risks and will provide the best long-term security for our drinking water supply. 
 
I am voting YES on the water system referendum because of the infrastructure needs of South Orange’s water system and for the reasons noted above. The proposed buyer, New Jersey American Water, is a regulated by the state, has been serving the Citizens of New Jersey for decades and has been providing Clean Water and O&M services to the village since 2016. They have demonstrated that they can meet the water needs of our town. Their proposal includes commitments to invest in our system as well as keeping our water rates unchanged for several years.  I believe it is in the best interest of our town to hand that responsibility over to an organization that has demonstrated reliable, quality water service at a fair price.”
 
Cliff Pomerantz, South Orange Water Utility Task 
Force Member and Engineer