New Milford focuses on flood issues

BY STACI WILSON

Residents who live on the south side of New Milford are growing weary of flooding.

The area near Green Gables restaurant and Cobb St.took on nearly as much water during Hurricane Irene as it did during the June 2006 flood event.

Larry Cobb, who lives on Cobb St., told council members at the Thursday, Sept. 1 meeting that the culvert on Montrose St. cannot handle the amount of water coming from Mylert Creek during storm events.

Cobb took photographs of the culvert and other affected areas during the storm event.

Most of the water issues in that area of New Milford seem to come directly from Mylert Creek.

Council member Teri Gulick said the stream banks are so shallow in some areas that two to three inches of rain will cause the creek to overflow its banks.

Council members agreed the stream bed needed to be restored and want DEP to come look at the area during a storm event.

“These people have been flooded out three times in the past five years,” Gulick said. “If there was a stream channel, it would not flood so badly in that area.”

Joe Conigliaro said that when the water reaches the bridge that crosses Route 11 near Green Gables and begins to back up, “That’s when all hell breaks loose.”

Conigliaro also said that after the state worked on Route 706, water from that area is now coming into New Milford instead of going to Alfred Pond – where it used to flow he said.

“It’s not necessarily the problem but it is compounding it,” Conigliaro said.

Residents and council members voiced concerns alleging the state Dept. of Environmental Protection values streams and fish over people and property.

Council president Jim Carr said the project done on the Johnston St.culvert is an example of how well dredging works.

The street, which has often been flooded during storm events in the past, handled the surge in the creek flow delivered by Irene well, members reported at the meeting.

“Somehow we need to convince DEP,” Carr said. He asked borough secretary Amy Hine to contact the state agency.

“There’s no way we should be valuing fish more than homes,” Carr said.

Council received one bid to lease 16.85 acres of borough land for non-surface natural gas development.

Southwest Energy entered the bid of $4,000 per acre for a five-year lease with royalty amounts set at 18 percent.

If council accepts the offer, the borough would receive $67,400 for leasing the land.

The borough solicitor is reviewing the proposed brake retarder and fire escrow ordinances.

Council also commended Vicki Drake for her work on the park walking track and concession stand project which is currently underway.

Drake said one engraved bluestone paver, which will encircle a light post, has been delivered.

The pavers are being made by Endless Mountains Stone. The first marker delivered bears the name of the late Milt Darrow, who had been mayor of the town. Darrow’s memorial paver was sponsored by theNEPTelephone Co. – the company he worked for when alive.

Drake said pavers are still available for sale.