PARK RIDGE, N.J.—The Borough Council authorized slightly more than $2.5 million in bonds July 14 for various public improvements, including electric utility capital improvements, a bucket truck and emergency generators at two public water wells.
In addition, the council introduced a $6.75 million bonding ordinance for water treatment systems to be installed at two local Water Utility wells. The water treatment and filtration systems will remove PFOA compounds, also called “forever chemicals,” from the water supply.
The $6.75 million bonding ordinance will authorize the construction phase for the installation of water treatment systems at wells 12 and 18, according to Ordinance 2026-026.
The bonds will be reimbursed through a loan from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program. The $6.75 million in water treatment funds will be reimbursed through the state loan program at a low interest rate, officials told us. The loan will be repaid through user fees over a 20-year period, officials said.
Mayor Keith Misciagna told us, “The Borough has been pursuing financing for this project through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (now known as the NJ Water Bank) since 2022. While the final application documents were submitted in early 2025, the process began earlier as the Borough worked with the State to meet its requirements.”
Misciagna noted, “The main benefit of the NJ Water Bank is access to lower-cost financing compared with traditional borrowing, which can save money over the life of the loan. The program is designed to help communities fund critical water infrastructure improvements while reducing the financial impact on residents.”
He added, “We can’t avoid the need to address PFAS (chemicals), but we can control how responsibly we invest in the solution. Our goal is safe water at the lowest possible cost to our residents. The goal is to use every available resource, including grants, potential financial assistance, and reduced-interest financing, to complete this required project in the most responsible and cost-effective manner possible,” said the mayor.
The public hearing on the bond ordinance is Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m. If Ordinance 2026-026 is approved Aug. 11, the council will have authorized slightly more than $9.2 million in bonds for the projects.
The $2.5 million in bonds approved July 14 included $1.12 million for various public improvements, $965,000 for a vehicle and original apparatus and equipment for the Electric Utility, and $425,000 for the installation of emergency generators at Park Ridge Water Utility wells 4 and 13.
The $1.12 million for various public improvements includes $407,400 for a DPW pickup truck; an all-terrain vehicle with a plow and salter; police department SUVs, body cameras and body armor; and fire department turnout gear, a light tower, rescue tools and fire hose.
It also includes $313,000 for new communications and signal equipment and a new vehicle for use by borough departments, offices and agencies; a new DPW dump truck; and a PKRG-TV television camera system.
Other upgrades include $230,000 for HVAC improvements at Borough Hall and a new roof at the public library; $105,000 for installing security cameras at various public buildings; and $64,600 for installing security cameras and upgrading the security system at the police station.
Ordinance 2026-024 authorizes a total of $965,000 in bonds for Electric Utility capital improvements and a vehicle. The ordinance provides $406,000 for a new bucket truck for use by the Electric Utility, with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 15,000 pounds.
It also provides $254,000 for the installation of meters and transformers at the new Landmark A.R. Park Ridge development. The development, bordering Woodcliff Lake, includes 448 units, including 68 affordable units.
An additional $305,000 will fund the engineering phase for the replacement of transformers at the Mill Road substation.
Ordinance 2026-025 authorizes $425,000 in supplemental funding for engineering services related to the installation of water treatment systems at wells 11, 12, 14 and 18. The added engineering services total $220,000. An additional $205,000 was bonded for the installation of emergency generators at wells 4 and 13.
Large electric loads addressed
Council also approved Ordinance 2026-022 to help ensure that developments with substantial electric demand “bear a fair and proportionate share of the costs of infrastructure required to serve such electrical load,” according to the ordinance.
Although the developer of the former Sony property is not directly mentioned in the ordinance, project delays have occurred as the borough and developer Landmark A.R. Park Ridge LLC have gone to court over related utility connections, capacity and costs.
The developer is constructing a 448-unit development with 68 affordable units on the 30-acre former Sony property as the result of a court settlement reached in November 2020.
When necessary, the ordinance requires an “energy impact statement” from developers where “any service expected to require a peak electrical demand of 1,000 (kilowatt hours) or greater or annual consumption of 3.000.000 kWh or greater, as determined by the Utility.”
The ordinance notes, “the governing body finds that it is in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare to establish clear requirements for energy impact analysis, infrastructure planning, and cost responsibility for (a) large electric load.”
The ordinance addresses electric infrastructure cost responsibility; a developer-Utility agreement; performance guarantees; and phasing and certificates of occupancy.