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VFW wants out of Vernon MUA fees

| 12 Aug 2015 | 11:43
    File photo Veterans of Foreign Wars Wallkill Valley post in Vernon are being asked to pay more than $46,000 to hook up to the town's sewer system. A charge, veterans say, they can't afford.
    File photo Veterans of Foreign Wars Wallkill Valley post in Vernon are being asked to pay more than $46,000 to hook up to the town's sewer system. A charge, veterans say, they can't afford.
    Photo by Chris Wyman Bob Constantine Past Commander and Chairman of the petition drive looks on as a resident signs the petition. A steady stream of residents sign the VFW petition on Wednesday, the first morning the group set up at the Vernon A&P.
    Photo by Chris Wyman Bob Constantine Past Commander and Chairman of the petition drive looks on as a resident signs the petition. A steady stream of residents sign the VFW petition on Wednesday, the first morning the group set up at the Vernon A&P.
    Photo by Chris Wyman Jean Mize, the Chaplin of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary speaks to Bob Constantine Past Commander and Chairman.
    Photo by Chris Wyman Jean Mize, the Chaplin of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary speaks to Bob Constantine Past Commander and Chairman.

By Nathan Mayberg
VERNON — Robert Constantine served his country in naval intelligence when Americans were taken hostage in Iran.

He and about 200 other members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Wallkill Valley post in Vernon are being asked to pay another price on top of their past service.

The Vernon Municipal Utilities Authority and Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) have sent them a bill for more than $46,000 to hook up to the town's sewer service.

It's a bill the veterans can't afford to pay, VFW Post 8441 past president Robert Constantine said.

"That will close us," he said. "We don't have deep pockets."

The group is circulating a petition to go on the ballot this November, which would give the veterans a waiver from the hook-up fee. The hook-up fees are part of the sewer infrastructure expansion the town's MUA built out in 2010.

The project was part of a $27 million bond issued by the Sussex County MUA for wastewater infrastructure projects in the county. Approximately $15 million of that was for Vernon's sewer expansion project.

There is $15.6 million still owed by the Vernon MUA to the county, Sussex County MUA Administrator John Hatzelis said.

Last year, the VFW hired an attorney who was able to get a one-year deferment on paying the hook-up fee to the Vernon MUA, Constantine said.

He said the group really wanted a waiver but was unsuccessful after the organization's attorney met with the MUA board.

MUA Chairman Vincent Zinno did not return a message seeking comment. Mayor Victor Marotta declined to comment on the issue on Wednesday though he acknowledged being made aware of the offer of a payment plant for the VFW. The mayor makes recommendations to the town council for appointments to the Vernon MUA.

THe MUA board is considering granting the VFW post an additional extension on paying the fee, Vernon MUA Executive Director John Scerbo said.

The MUA board could make a decision at its next meeting on Aug. 20, Scerbo said.

According to the group's petition, as well as letters exchanged between the VFW, the town MUA and the county MUA, the mandatory sewer connection fee from the town would cost $20,992. The VFW members would also have to pay $25,677 to the county MUA for the sewer connection fees. The charges to the VFW post are based on calculations from the square footage of the facility.

The VFW hall has been assessed at four and a half equivalent dwelling units (EDU's) which means it is getting charged for 1,125 gallons of sewerage per day, according to the group's petition.

According to letters from the county MUA, each EDU carries a charge of $5,706. The Vernon MUA charges $4,665 per EDU, bringing the VFW's total bill to $46,669.

The estimated sewerage used by the facility for a day actually takes two weeks to a month for the VFW to use up, Constantine said.

"Sometimes we only have three people in a day," Constantine said.

Twice a month, there will be a wedding or party renting the space, he said.

Scerbo said the organization's use of the facility has already been taken into account. He said there charges could have been higher.

Aside from being a gathering spot for veterans, the VFW members also cook turkey dinners for homeless veterans and help disabled veterans.

The basis for calculating the charges are from guidelines set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Hatzelis said that requests for waivers have been sent to the county MUA over the past two dozen years from organizations like churches and schools, but said he can't recall a waiver being granted. The VFW can request a harship plan, which would give them five years to pay it off.

Hatzelis said it is up to the Vernon MUA whether they want to make the sewer hook up fees mandatory for businesses in the Vernon Center.

"We base our connection fee pretty much based on what Vernon determines its EDU."

Asked whether he thought the charges to the VFW were reasonable, Scerbo answered "no comment."

Constantine said four realtors have come by the VFW hall over the last two years. No realtors ever used to visit, he said.

"It seems like they are trying to force us out," Constantine said, "and develop that area."