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Booker Asks Court to Shut Down Newark Water Agency

Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. delivers water for Newark, Bloomfield and other nearby communities.

The administration of Mayor Cory Booker last week filed a complaint in Superior Court  seeking the dissolution of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. and permission to audit the troubled agencies books, Nj.com reported.

The move comes as the city prepares to fold the agency’s functions into the city’s water department. The agency oversees the delivery of water to Newark, Bloomfield, Belleville and other communities and manages 35,000 acres of watershed property in Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties.

The Newark Municipal Council and a group of outside activists, the Newark Water Group, have long been pushing for the dissolution of the agency, where officials previously have complained of possible improper financial mismanagement.

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"We applaud the city for finally taking these steps to join us in our efforts to dissolve Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation responsibly, protect the water supply and prevent the further loss and deterioration of public assets,” the water group’s Bill Chappel said in a statement.


Chappel, however, also expressed concern Booker would attempt to unilaterally replace the current board during the agency’s dissolution. In the court paperwok, Booker seeks permission to appoint members without council approval.

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