Nicholas Katzban, Staff Writer, @NicholasKatzban
Three towns are pursuing a $13.4 million refund for customers of Ridgewood Water through the courts.
Wyckoff, Glen Rock and Midland Park have filed a joint appeal seeking new terms of restitution from the village of Ridgewood following a ruling in a water-rate lawsuit involving the village-owned utility. In addition to the refund, the towns are seeking $3.6 million in damages.
The four municipalities have been enmeshed in a lengthy legal dispute over whether Ridgewood Water overcharged customers and improperly used utility funds to supplement Ridgewood’s municipal budget. Ridgewood Water, which is owned by the village, also serves Glen Rock, Wyckoff and Midland Park.
It’s not “weather” Ridgewood overcharged…they did. And that has been proven in a court of law. The real question is once the water company is bankrupt and sold off for pennies on the dollar how will the municapilaty continue to pad the payroll without the residual income of the now defunct utility had provided? Where will the cash come from to pay the mayors sons their salaries? How will we pay for all the booted pensions and absured salaries?