Park Ridge voters weigh pond dredging, water quality in Nov. 3 council race

Mill Pond restoration is the primary point of contention for four candidates seeking two three-year Borough Council seats in the Nov. 3 general election. The borough’s 2025 nonbinding referendum asked residents whether Park Ridge should borrow $5 million or $10 million to dredge the pond. Project estimates stand at $6.5 million and $11.5 million, respectively, with a previously awarded $1.5 million state grant covering the difference. The pond was last dredged in 1979, and the council cited sediment buildup and poor water quality as reasons for the work.

Democratic incumbents Robert Metzdorf and Michael Mintz argue the borough should move forward with the project. They stated they hope to secure additional grants to transform the site into a premier recreation area. The pair envisioned recreational fishing, kayaking, and protected wildlife habitat at the restored pond. Mintz noted that 15 of the borough’s 21 water wells currently supply water with PFAS concentrations well below state limits. He said the borough is working to install permanent treatment systems on up to five wells using federal and state funding.

Republican challengers Marc Weinberg and Sebastian Hennessy emphasize reducing the financial burden on taxpayers. They said they would pursue state funding, including loans from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, before committing additional local funds. The challengers also proposed pursuing legal action against parties responsible for polluting the pond. They suggested that sediment removed from the site could be sold to offset expenses, noting that testing indicated the material is usable in commercial applications. Dunlea, the borough engineer, said in June that the borough had applied to the Infrastructure Bank for loans to help finance the work.

The candidates also differ on the borough’s payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, agreement for The James apartment complex. The 240-unit building was named for the late actor James Gandolfini. Weinberg and Hennessy criticized the 2017 agreement as a tax benefit for developers. They pledged to push back against large-scale development and limit local zoning authority losses. The incumbents countered that The James generates approximately $897,000 in borough revenue for 2026. They noted the complex replaced a waste transfer station that had generated only $40,000 annually in property taxes.

Metzdorf has served nine years on the Borough Council, including as council president and police commissioner. Mintz has served six years and previously held seats on the library and utility boards. Weinberg serves on the Park Ridge Planning Board and has more than 35 years of business experience. Hennessy has more than a decade of experience in the insurance industry. Early in-person voting runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.