E-MAIL BETWEEN RICHARD MARSDEN -TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, MAYOR PUHAK, &

A RESIDENT AT 104 ARLINGTON ROAD

October 1 & November 4, 2008
Email addresses & phone numbers removed
-------- Original Message -------From: "Marsden, Richard"
Date: Nov 4, 2008 12:05:13 PM
Subject: RE: Arlington Rd.
To: "Robert Puhak" ,
Cc: , "Mark Smith" , "Schmid, Marlena" , "Rozman, Wayne" , "Zielenbach, Bill"
We looked at this area of Arlington a few weeks ago. We wanted to respond after we shot
some grades in the roadway. However, we have not had that opportunity yet. It does
appear that the Arlington roadway has settled in the middle of the block between
Hamilton and North Avenue. The easiest solution is to put street
inlets at these low points and pipe the water to the Arlington/Hamilton intersection.
However, the storm water piping system at this intersection is very shallow, and we may
not be able to make a pipe connection from this settled area. That's why we need to
survey the area.
There are few stormwater inlets and collection systems in this area of Town. The two
existing inlets on the northern side of the intersection of Arlington and Hamilton are not
designed to take all the rainwater runoff that gets to them. Approximately one standard
inlet would take 2 acres of runoff. However,
these inlets are taking over 8.2 acres and 11.6 acres each. So, this system is severely
under designed, and this results in large gutter flow runoff.
In fact, to confirm this, we do have a design for the lower portion of this piping system. It
was done as part of the design improvements for the Forest Road Hamilton Avenue (117
Forest Road yard flooding) intersection. This design called for a 36" pipe. Presently there
is only a 15" pipe that collects all this water along Hamilton, starting at Elizabeth Avenue,
between North Avenue and Madison Avenue.
So,placing two inlets at this low point will help in minor rainfalls, but will not help in
larger storm events. In fact, it may make things worse, because it will allow for the
backwater to back up the pipes and fill the low points on Arlington.
Conclusion: Temporarily we may be able to fill in the low points, and try to allow a
smooth transition along the gutters to get the runoff to the Hamilton intersection. (The
overall pitch of the roadway is 15%. It will depend on the results of our survey work.) But
that will not solve the flooding and stormwater backup problems coming from Hamilton.
We will need to upgrade the existing piping system on Hamilton. I have added this
project to my list of stormwater projects to be designed and built.
Side Note: In addition, This section of Arlington is in major need of roadway repair and
reconstruction. The asphalt is all broken up. Part of this deterioration may be due to the
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slow movement of water across this low area, allowing freezing and thawing. Also, the
aerial topographic maps indicate that this area of settlement may occur across a
ground water flow tract. In some cases ground water flows draw out the finer sub-surface
soils and allow the surface to settle. This would occur in areas where the water table is
temporarily lowered in sub-surface organic material, and later, these open organic voids
are filled with with these fine soils. The solution is to reconstruct the roadway. Through
time, this type of settlement would become less frequent.
Hope this has been helpful.
Rick
-----Original Message----From: Robert Puhak
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008
10:47 PM
To: l.labrutto; Marsden, Richard
Cc:
Mark Smith; Schmid, Marlena; Rozman,
Wayne
Subject: Re: Arlington Rd.
Lou -Based on your e-mail below and the discussion at tonight's Planning Board meeting,
I understand that the two storm sewers located at the intersection of Arlington Road and
Hamilton Avenue (meant to accommodate storm drainage for the portion of Arlington
Road between North Avenue and Hamilton Avenue) do
not adequately serve the area due to two separate issues as follows:
1. Water flowing down Arlington Road from North Avenue towards Hamilton Avenue,
does not make it to the storm drains because of an adverse pitch in the road around the
middle of the block. The water subsequently stops and pools in front of your home and
those of your neighbors (even in a lighter rain), actually coming across your neighbor's
front lawn and up to her front steps.
2. The storm drains, located at the intersection, back up on a regular basis due to
inadequate capacity and/or clogging, which you sometimes have cleared yourself. You
have also noted that they do not appear to be maintained and that you were told they
only operate to 50% capacity even when cleaned. In heavy rains the water pools to the
extent that additional water is sent back towards your home and those of your
neighbors.
I am forwarding these two issues along to the Township Engineer Rick Marsden (copied
here) who can investigate both issues and let us know what can be done to alleviate
these problems. I am also copying the
Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works Mark Smith, the Township Administrator
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Marlena Schmid, and the Director of Public Works Wayne Rozman.

I hope to have a response to you by the end of this week.
-- Bob
Bob Puhak
----- Original Message ----From:
l.labrutto
To: robert.puhak
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 10:15
PM
Subject: Arlington Rd.
Bob,
As per our conversation this evening.
When it rains the water that flows from North Ave. towards Hamilton Ave. does not drain
properly. The water basically pools up in front of 104, 102, and 37 Arlington Rd. If the
rain is not heavy enough the flow does not even reach the basin on the corner of
Arlington amd Hamilton. When it does reach the basin, the basin fills up and the water
actually starts coming back out of the basin and backs up onto our properties. I don't
know if this is because the basin is under sized or clogged. I've never seen any work
performed on the basin in the 22 years I'm living here. Fact of the matter is the former
engineer met with me and told me that that basin is only working at 50 percent capacity.
I cannot substantiate that. The other basin o across from the one on Hamilton and
Arlington is on an incline, so basically it is of no use to the properties on our block. As the
water would have to climb a hill before it reaches the basin. I have personally gone out
many times to clear the grates of these basins to improve the flow rate. As I typing there
is a pool of water in front of Anthony's, Dita's, and my house and it didn't even rain that
hard today. The south side of Arlington still has no curbing. When the rain is heavy
the water backs up through the sewer plate.All of these issues have a negative impact
on our properties not to mention the damage it creates. Hopefully the township can
come up with a solution that will eliminate this problem.
Thanks
Lou

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