Behind the $60 Million Berkeley Heights Sewage Plant Price Tag…. What’s Documented, What’s Not
When Berkeley Heights talk about $60 million in needed sewer system upgrades, it can sound like there’s a detailed engineering report sitting in the Municipal Building that lists every pipe, pump, and repair. That’s not what’s actually happening. The story is more complicated. The $30 Million, 15-Year Baseline When the township put the wastewater system up for potential sale, the...
No-Bid Contracts, DEP Fines, and the Sewage Bid: What the Council Didn’t Explain
Laura’s Notes on the 07/15/2025 Berkeley Heights Town Council Meeting Following the storm that rocked our world, the Berkeley Heights Town Council met virtually on Tuesday, July 15. The meeting featured the usual theatrical monologues, with Councilwoman Poage and Town Administrator Liza Viana noting they were on vacation and a cruise, respectively. Viana remarked that she always seems to be...
Deals Light on Details- Berkeley Heights Council Set to Approve Another Round of Quiet Spending
The Berkeley Heights Township Council is expected to vote on more than $180,000 in new spending, reject a utility privatization bid, and authorize a slew of contracts and resolutions that light up more question marks on transparency, oversight and infrastructure planning.. Sewer Sale Bid Rejected — But Future Contracting Continues The Township is set to formally reject the only bid...
Sewer Sale Stalls in Berkeley Heights – Lone Bid Rejected?
Berkeley Heights appears likely to turn down the only bid it received to buy its wastewater treatment plant—and yes, it was from New Jersey American Water, just as many expected. According to a resolution up for approval at the next Township Council meeting, the bid didn’t meet the commitment to the level of capital improvements the town had asked for....
From Public Utility to Private Monopoly? Berkeley Heights Community Members Seek Answers
Since May, NJ21st has provided comprehensive, in-depth coverage of the question residents will likely be asked to answer this November: Should Berkeley Heights sell its sewage plant? The last two articles offered a deep dive into the Request for Bids and the series of addenda issued in June and July. Since their publication, we’ve received emails from Berkeley Heights community...
Berkeley Heights Sewer Sale Deadline Nears As Worker Protections Shrink and Public Oversight Fades
With less than a week before bids are due, Berkeley Heights has issued its final update on the proposed sale of the Township’s public sewer system. Addendum #5—released just days before the July 1 deadline—confirms several long-awaited details. But instead of strengthening protections for workers and residents, the final version actually pulls some key safeguards back. At a time when...
Berkeley Heights Sewer Sale – Everything We Know So Far
The Township of Berkeley Heights is moving forward with a plan to sell its entire public sewer system to a private company—a deal that would shift ownership, operations, and long-term risk away from the municipality. But with final bids due July 1 and a fifth (and final) addendum still pending, several key terms remain unresolved. One especially glaring omission: the...
The Sewage Sale Debate: Lessons from Power Outages and Lost Accountability
If it feels like the power’s been going out more often in Berkeley Heights, you’re not imagining things. From schools to homes, businesses to traffic lights, outages have become a part of life here. And the most frustrating part? No one ever seems to explain why. Just this month, over 1,000 residents lost electricity — including Mary Kay McMillin...
No Debate, Bad Audio, and Dead Ducks: A Night at the Berkeley Heights Council Meeting
Laura’s Notes of the 05/20/2025 Town Council Meeting It’s been a while since I watched a Town Council meeting. Maybe I was still feeling the good vibes from the CMS musical, but for a second, it felt like I’d landed in some cheerful Oz where everyone was smiling and getting along. Turns out, that vibe was all surface. The fake...
Beyond the Payout: Lessons New Jersey Residents Can Learn from the Berkeley Heights’ Sewer Referendum
Pay Attention, NJ. Berkeley Heights political leadership stands to gain a great deal from the sale of our sewage plant: An influx of cash. The ability to pass off years of neglect—and the responsibility for raising rates—onto residents through a private entity. The ability to shift accountability for plant operations to another oversight body. Despite relieving themselves of the responsibility...
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