PARK RIDGE, N.J. — Mayor Keith Misciagna said at the July 8 council meeting that efforts are underway to investigate dredging options for Mill Pond, gather cost estimates, and develop a non-binding referendum question that clearly states what can be done and at what cost to taxpayers.
Misciagna said council members are committed to placing the question on the Nov. 4 ballot, though a special meeting might be required for the council to approve the final wording. Borough Clerk Maggie Giandomenico previously advised that the question must be submitted by Aug. 8 to appear on the ballot.
“This [referendum], if it passes, will put it on our table,” Misciagna said, referring to the council. He said it was clear that the governing body wanted to gauge the level of public support for a potential dredging project.
The mayor emphasized that he is most concerned this year’s referendum question be “clear and easily understood by voters,” saying the last referendum question on dredging Mill Pond was deceptive and somewhat misleading.
Misciagna said he would soon appoint two groups: a mayor’s committee and a citizens committee to assist in developing the question and its accompanying “Interpretive Statement,” which explains the public question in plain language.
He said the mayor’s committee would include himself, council members Mintz and Hoffman, along with the borough administrator and borough attorney. He named resident Kari Shelby and others who had spoken at past meetings as possible members of the citizens committee.
“This is in an effort to get the [referendum] Interpretive Statement very clear and understandable for the average person,” he said.
Misciagna noted that Borough Engineer John Dunlea has been examining dredging options “for weeks” in light of the borough’s budget, and that referendum planning is proceeding separately. “So that all has to happen very, very soon,” he told a resident concerned about the pond’s condition.
Councilman William Fenwick said the dredging project would likely cost “in the millions of dollars,” and that oxygen levels in the pond have decreased due to a lack of maintenance. He said no fish stocking has occurred since 2022, but that state officials would resume stocking if 80% of the shoreline were publicly accessible.
Fenwick added that Dunlea presented “a lot of information” to council members, outlining “a wide range of options regarding potential dredging depths and cost scenarios.”
Misciagna said he would soon form a committee “to move this thing along.”
In late May, the council approved additional sediment testing to assess for contaminants in the pond.
Duke Street resident Lori Fredrics said she would prefer that the council take action itself to dredge the pond, rather than leaving the decision to a referendum. Citing the recent severe flooding in Texas, she urged action before conditions worsen locally.
Misciagna said that even if the referendum did not pass, the council could still act independently. However, he said, council members preferred to gauge public support due to the cost involved.
Councilman Robert Metzdorf said “every councilman up here” would vote to dredge the pond immediately if there were a safety issue or if dam failure were imminent, which he emphasized is not the case.
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