Two measures to help to flood-ravaged communities make emergency repairs and buy out homeowners were advanced by an important Senate committee Thursday at the urging of mayors whose towns are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Irene
TRENTON — Two measures to help flood-ravaged communities make emergency repairs and buy out homeowners were advanced by an important Senate committee yesterday at the urging of mayors whose towns are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Irene.
The most controversial of the measures (S-3099) would allow the state to seek $100 million in bonds for emergency infrastructure repairs in flooded towns. Half of the allotment would go to counties and the other half to municipalities for emergency transportation and water infrastructure projects. Authorization for the bonds would come from a little-used provision of the state Constitution allowing legislators to bypass voter approval in the event of natural disasters or an "act of God."
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Bob Gordon (D-Bergen), was released from the Senate Budget Appropriations Committee along party lines.
Republicans on the panel said they did not want to saddle residents with debt they did not approve, particularly when additional repair projects, which will also be more costly, are expected in the next few years.
The second bill (S-3078), which passed with bipartisan support, would allow counties and municipalities to use Blue Acres funds to acquire properties in flood-prone areas. Similar to a local Green Acres program, municipalities and counties would be able to impose a tax to buy land damaged by storms or storm-related flooding. The acquired property would have to be used for recreation or conservation and would serve as a buffer against flooding of nearby properties.
Gordon said the bond bill he sponsored would pay for emergency repairs not covered by insurance or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It would supplement $7.5 million the state has dedicated for storm damage repairs. He said the departments of transportation and environmental protection would have to develop a list of priority projects that meet the criteria.
But state Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Passaic) said the bond amount would not provide nearly enough, and that it would incorrectly lead communities to believe that help is on the way although the Legislature is not expected to meet until after the Nov. 8 election.
State Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren) agreed with O’Toole’s call for a special committee to address a wide range of flooding issues.
But Mayor Karen Chamberlain of Saddle Brook said residents who have had to deal with raw sewage in the floodwaters need all the help they can get.
"As small as it appears to you ... we’re living in sewers," she said. "We need this help and we need it now."
State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), chairman of the budget committee, said he was "puzzled by the bond bill’s lack of Republican support."
"These funds would have gone a long way toward helping New Jersey communities," he said, "especially ones located in their districts."
Related coverage:
• N.J. Senate committee advances plan to use open space funding to buy out flooded homeowners
• Manville homeowners in flood-prone areas to get opportunity to sell homes