Hillsborough Joins Raritan-Millstone Flood Control Commission

The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution to join the Raritan and Millstone Rivers Flood Control Commission, in the hopes of mitigating flooding issues in town.

By approving the resolution, the town joins Manville, Millstone, Rocky Hill, Montgomery, Franklin, Bridgewater and South Bound Brook in addressing flooding from the Raritan and Millstone Rivers. The commission aims to prevent future floods and alleviate flooding and flood-related hazards, according to the resolution.

Each municipality has two representatives on the commission, and may appoint two alternate representatives who represent the municipality if a regular representative is unable to attend a meeting. In Hillsborough, regular representatives can be a member of the Township Committee, or hold another elective or appointed office in the township. The regular representatives will serve five-year terms, while alternates will serve one-year terms. Vacancies caused by the death, resignation or other inabilities to serve of a regular representative will be filled for the balance of the representative’s term. Alternative representatives will not automatically succeed a regular representative if a vacancy occurs, however.

The Township Committee has not yet appointed its representatives, however.

The commission will draw flood data from each participating town, studying and analyzing past floods and flood causes. In addition to sharing the data with towns in the commission, the data will also be sent to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, local and county planning boards and officials handling subdivisions and development of properties within flood and drainage areas.

In addition, the commission intends to research state and federal funds and grants that would help the towns with flood control efforts.

The commission is funded using $2,500 from Somerset County and $250 from each participating municipality.

The participating municipalities will also fund projects undertaken by the commission. In cases where a project benefits certain municipalities while excluding others, the municipalities who benefit from the project will split the project cost.

Joining the commission preceded a residents’ request for flood mitigation following the flooding from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Residents in Millstone Borough, and on Kimberly Drive and Dukes Parkway in Hillsborough saw floodwaters that reached the second floor of their houses—or completely covered the homes.

At least 45 homes needed to be condemned as a result of the floods.