Package sewage treatment plants still not an option
Mayor puts to bed rumor that Luchento's will build a plant
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE - The township is still not planning to have any package sewage treatment plants.

Mayor Nancy Grbelja made that clear at the May 2 Township Committee meeting. All township residences and businesses currently rely on the use of septic systems and wells.

Grbelja made the comments about such plants near the end of the committee meeting, after Committeeman Elias Abilheira asked the committee to remove a resolution from the consent agenda that endorsed a treatment works application for Luchento's restaurant on Route 33.

Matters listed under the consent agenda are considered routine by the Township Committee and are enacted by one motion unless a committee person asks for an item to be removed from the agenda and discussed separately.

Abilheira said he wanted the item pulled from the consent agenda so the committee could discuss it at the next meeting, and residents next to Luchento's could comment on it as well.

When Grbelja first became mayor in 2004, she spent a great deal of time working with the Monmouth County Planning Board (MCPB) to develop a cross-acceptance plan for the township, she said.

"At that time, we stated that Millstone would not support a sewage treatment plant in the township," Grbelja said. "It has been the consistent opinion of the Township Committee."

Grbelja said that Wawa recently asked the township if it could put a sewage treatment plant on its Route 537 property because the convenience store is having problems with its septic system. The Township Committee passed two resolutions stating the municipality does not favor such plants because they go against its master plan.

Grbelja said she met with Wawa representatives and told them the township does not want them to put a sewage treatment plant on their property and that they should instead expand their septic field.

"In no way should anyone have the opinion or be misled that the township has not been diligent with any entity who would want to put a sewage treatment plant within our borders," she said. "We will not sacrifice our quality of life."

The mayor said she recently started receiving e-mails regarding Luchento's and the possibility of a package sewage treatment plant going there. She said the e-mails were based on misinformation, and the restaurant only plans to expand its septic system to serve legal, nonconforming uses.

"Rumors, insinuations or innuendoes" about a sewage treatment plant should be put to rest by the governing body, she said.

Grbelja said the septic system at Luchento's has had many problems over the years.

"In addition to the restaurant, there are several dwellings that provide 'rooms' for people working in the agricultural industry of the communities," she said. "They have applied for a permit to increase the size of the septic field to accommodate the flow. There has been no request for a sewage treatment plant."

Grbelja said the application is for a standard New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit.

Committeeman Steven Sico said he totally supported Grbelja's comments. He said the Township Committee has not changed its position and will gladly give the community the opportunity to speak their mind on the subject.

Grbelja recognized that the state could, at any time, overrule the township on the package treatment plant issue.

"But we will not go easily and we will put up a fight," she said.