Staff Writer

Improvements to New Milford’s Hardcastle Pond are finally complete.

During her report at last week’s meeting of the mayor and council, Borough Administrator Christine Demiris announced that the improvements to the pond, located off River Road behind the Brookchester Shopping Plaza, were inished.

"We had discussed improving the pond for a few years now," she said, "but the prior bid specifications we received for the project came in to high."

"We then received a successful bid last fall, and the work on the pond began in January," she said.

The scope of the work included a new walking path, lighting, aerators for the pond and the cleanup of brush.

Demiris said the price tag for the project was $175,565 with an $83,000 grant coming from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund.

The pond was recently showcased for borough residents at the annual fishing derby on June 14.

In another development, borough officials were notified that the Federal Emergency Management Agency federal (FEMA) rejected, for the third year in a row, a proposal to buy two properties located in the borough’s flood plain.

The properties, one at 154 Washington Ave. and the other at 1041 Steuben Road, are considered to be in harm’s way due to persistent flooding.

Demiris said the borough received a letter last week notifying them that they were again turned down.

"They (FEMA) indicated to us that we are good candidates for the buyouts," she said, "but we have never been successful."

When asked if the borough would try again next year, Demiris said borough officials would consult Marlene Casey and Capital Alternatives, the borough’s grants writers, "to see whether it would be worthwhile to apply again in the future."