Dissolution of Sewerage Authority
Warren Township
At the meeting of March 24, 2022, the Township Committee introduced ordinances to commence the process for the Dissolution of the Warren Township Sewerage Authority (WTSA). The WTSA was created by the Township Committee in September 1972 with the responsibility to operate and develop the sewerage treatment system within the Township of Warren.
At that time, Warren was a rural community and the Sewer Authority guided the construction of 3 sewer plants, 20 pump stations, and nearly 130 miles of sewer line throughout the Township. As Warren Township is a now developed community, the Township Committee has determined that it is in the best interest of the residents and sewer customers for the management of the Sewer Authority to be the responsibility of the Township Committee as the elected representatives and not through the management of an appointed board.
The Township Committee will be creating by ordinance a Sewer Department. The finances of the Authority will be managed by the Township’s Finance and Purchasing Departments, as are all other municipal funds.
Currently, the Sewerage Authority is staffed by an Executive Director, an Administrative Assistant, a part-time Bookkeeper, Auditor, legal, and engineers. As a Township Department, the sewer function will be managed by a Sewer Department Director, but the other responsibilities for record keeping, auditing, and governance will be performed by existing Township Departments and professionals retained by the Township.
The finances of the authority will be managed through a separate utility fund and will not be incorporated with other Township expenses. This is important, as not all residents are sewer customers as many maintain their own septic systems.
The Township will maintain the use of the outside service company to manage the sewer plants and pump stations and does not intend to expand Township employment to accomplish this mission.
The Township Tax Collector’s office has been collecting sewer fees since July of 2017 and will continue to do so in the new structure.
The Township will be filing its application with the New Jersey Local Finance Board for consideration at the May 11, 2022 meeting. Upon approval by the Local Finance Board, the Township Committee can consider the adoption of the ordinances. It is the goal to implement a new management structure on July 1, 2022.
The current Fee structure will remain unchanged in 2022. The Township Committee will conduct a review of the existing fee structure prior to establishing the 2023 structure.
The Township Committee believes that this approach will improve accountability, decrease costs, and eliminate duplication of services by professionals and employees by utilizing existing Township professionals and departments.
The Township Committee expresses its appreciation to the current and former commissioners for their dedication and stewardship of the Warren sewer systems over these 50 years.
