LETTER TO THE ADVERTISER

from Bob Holowach a Republican candidate for Sussex Borough Council, and supporter of the sale of the water and sewer authority.  My response follows it.

Sussex Borough Dems looking to open your wallets

Published Oct 24, 2014 at 1:59 pm (Updated Oct 24, 2014

As a council candidate I would never be pretentious enough tell you how to vote. I believe you should have the facts to make your educated decision on your own. Selling the water system while not in the optimal situation is a serious decision.

Fact #1: Sussex Borough Council quoted a $400 per homeowner increase by 2019.

Fact #2: Sussex Borough once again provided us unhealthy water which required them to send a notice out.

Fact #3: 30 percnet of Sussex Borough residents are either behind or not paying for water at all.

Fact #4: Aqua will hold our rates flat through 2019, then potentially move us into the NJ rates whey use, which would be cheaper than what we pay today.

Fact #5: Aqua has said they will NOT sell our water or use it for fracking purposes.

The borough cannot, and does not have the financial means to continue to operate the system without raising your rates substantially. If elected, and this system is retained, I will NEVER vote for a rate increase. Those that are representing that we should keep it should find different ways to fund their wants rather than dipping into our wallets once again.

You decide what you can afford.

Maybe it is time they focus on the drug problems in our town.

Robert Holowach
Candidate for Sussex Borough Council

- See more at: http://advertisernewsnorth.com/article/20141024/OPINION02/141029936/0/SEARCH#sthash.WKoySay5.dpuf

MY RESPONSE

Interesting how Mr. Holowach list lies as facts. I will try to address them one at a time.

His so called Fact #1 states that the Sussex Borough Council quoted a $400 per household increase by 2019. That was not the Sussex Council's quote. That was Councilman Sal Lagattuta's extrapolation of numbers. Mr. Lagattuta is for the sale, and as I understand he is moving from Sussex Borough.

Lets move on to Fact #2 Sussex Borough once again provided us unhealthy water which required them to send out a notice. He implies that the water is unhealthy today, which is incorrect. It is not unhealthy.

Fact #3 he is about right on the percentage of unpaid bills, but he fails to mention that if Sussex sells the system that these unpaid bill remain the responsibility of the Borough and not of Aqua. The Borough will not be able to turn off the water so there is no incentive for those who owe to pay.

Fact #4 Aqua will hold our rates flat through 2019 is misleading. At a September meeting Mr. Asselta stated that "the basic rate will remain the same for five years." Mr. Hildebrand of Aqua clarified that the DSIC charge would be added to the bill within six months. He then went on the tell what it would be for, repair of sewer line to Scuma, replace thehydrants, all new water meters.  In fact any and all charges of DSIC (Delivery Service Improvement Charge) would be added as a sur charge every six months.  This is NOT subject to the BPU approval.

Fact #5 Aqua has said that they will not sell our water for fracking. Is that going to be in the contract?

There are other issues that he chooses not to go into, such as there were grants available from the DEP, and the USDA, Yet Krynicky, LaBar, and Lagattuta did not pusue them. Why didn't they? The DEP grants are not available now. Linda Masson has been in touch with the USDA and Sussex would qualify. She has submitted the grant applications to the town, yet Lagattuta has spoken out against the pursuit of the grants.  Why?

The other issue is that there are Federal Grants that have been awarded to Sussex have to be repaid if the Utility is sold. These grants amount to $4,480,000, and they amount would to be repaid would be determined by the Federal Government. It could be in part, or it could be entirely and with possible interest. This in and of itself would negate the reason to sell which was to reduce the debt, and have money in the bank. If the entire amount had to be repaid it would not even wipe out the debt.

The grants should be explored first.

Mr. Holowach's house was in foreclosure in July, but it was postponed until November 12th. Now I do not wish foreclosure on anyone, and I hope that he can keep his house. It raises to me a question though of will he still be living in Sussex after the 12th of November.

No, I do not live in Sussex, but I have assisted Kathy Little in her elections of 2007 and 2011, and it was not for profit for me, but for principle that I am working with Kathy and Al Decker. You cannot say that about outsider Aqua who are in it for profits, and you will pay for those profits. You see whatever money that the town received it will pay back with interest, taxes and profits added in. So the one picking your pocket is Aqua, and Krynicky, LeBar, Lagattuta, and Holowach will aid and abet.