U.F. could offer more public water New school would tie into township's water franchise BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer UPPER FREEHOLD- The township is considering expanding the local water franchise area to service the new regional middle school. The Township Committee introduced an ordinance Jan. 17 to expand the franchise in order to provide public water to the school, which will be located off Breza Road. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held Feb. 7. The Upper Freehold Regional School District (UFRSD) requested that the governing body expand the water franchise area with the consent of Aqua Water Co., formerly Consumers New Jersey Water Company (CNJWC). The township had given consent by ordinance on Dec. 1, 1995, to CNJWC for a limited service area. Another ordinance adopted March 20, 2002, extended the water franchise to certain other residences along Ellisdale Road. While the rest of the township relies on the use of private wells, the Hovnanian housing developments on Ellisdale Road, which areHeritageGreen and the Four Seasons active adult community, are currently the only parts served by public water. According to the new ordinance, the Township Committee believes it is in the best interests of the residents and crucial to the health, safety and welfare of the students of the UFRSD's proposed middle school facility to provide water service to an additional area, which are those lots along Yardville-Allentown Road on the southerly side from Block 46, Lot 15 to Block 46, Lot 4.01, and those on the northerly side from Block 44, Lot 4.01 down to and including Block 44, Lot 13. The ordinance would permit Aqua Water Co. to construct, operate, manage and maintain a distribution system to provide water service to that area and to those residents, property owners and citizens within the franchise area.As service grantee, Aqua Water Co. would also have the privilege of laying connecting pipes from its mains to the subject lands along the public roadways. During the meeting, UFRSD Board of Education President Joseph Stampe also asked the Township Committee to appoint a new liaison to the school board. Former mayor Stephen Fleischacker previously held the position. Stampe said that he would be happy to set up a meeting between the new liaison and Superintendent of Schools Richard Fitzpatrick. He said the new liaison would need to be brought up to date on the school construction project and other school issues. Mayor Stephen Alexander said that the governing body would soon appoint a liaison.