To the editor: After reading Frank Hannan’s column entitled “Break out the Chamber Pots” may I suggest he follow his own advice and keep one handy whenever he writes future articles. His weekly political column, in the AIM News, as usual, omitted pertinent facts, and twisted and distorted the truth. Mr. Hannon uses his writings in an attempt to defend the indefensible, and he continues to perpetrate misinformation and political hoaxes on the residents and taxpayers of West Milford. Normally I find “Speaking Frankly” nothing more than political dribble, but in an effort to be “fair and balanced,” I’d like to help Frank set the record straight. Fact: The West Milford MUA has been polluting Belchers Creek and Greenwood Lake for decades. A simple check of NJ DEP records show 160 major violations between Dec 31 2003 and Dec 31 2004. Those violation show a staggering total of $130,000.00 in fines. God knows what has gone on since then. That doesn’t include the famous test of the Old Milford plant I tested with Dr. Doris Aronson last summer, or the test that just came back to the council with high phosphorus counts at four other plants. Another fact: phosphorus is the main reason water-weeds grow like gangbusters especially in Belchers Creek and in the southern end of Greenwood Lake. For those keeping score, here’s another fact: The MUA held some stealth meetings with TCR Inc. the developers of Valley Ridge that wants to build 100 or so town homes off Union Valley Road. They are the same guys the township has spent thousands fighting. I would be curious to know if Mr. Hannan, was aware of the plan by the MUA to condemn private property in order to pump poop over the mountain to a different sewer service area. It seems the West Milford Council knew nothing of this ill-conceived plan, in fact, it seems no one from the MUA wants to take responsibility for it either. But how about this for a fact: The MUA has been withholding information from the public and the Government Records Council. In fact, the GRC is in the process of bringing the MUA to Superior Court in order to pry the minutes of a few important meetings from the MUA’s clutches. My guess is, we will get a lot of facts concerning the MUA and their relationship with Valley Ridge from those records. Another interesting fact: In an effort to get DEP approval for a water allocation permit for Eagle Ridge’s 288 town homes, the MUA decided to support the developers water testing plan rather than supporting the report of the townships hired expert hydro geologist. In other words the MUA is working with the developer and working against the township. In light of all the facts I just mentioned, Mr. Hannan forgot to include this fact in his article. Councilman Nolan and I did ask for a council discussion concerning the MUA. It should be noted though, that we would like all options explored. If it includes new management of the MUA, changing out some of the board members, terminating the attorney or engineer, dissolving it, or keeping it the same for business as usual, what we asked for was a discussion, we asked for nothing more, nothing less. We as the minority councilman are tired of watching taxpayer dollars being wasted from an organization that Mr. Hannon and his allies want to protect. No doubt, without the MUA, Eagle Ridge and Valley Ridge would most likely cease to exist. Councilman Nolan and I refuse to ignore the facts of this problem and believe that the MUA needs to be held accountable for its actions or lack there of. Especially, being held accountable for the alleged pollution the MUA may be dumping into Belchers Creek. As councilman we have a fiduciary responsibility to ask questions and explore all options, Anything less would be selling out the taxpayers and residents of West Milford. And finally, for Mr. Hannan to say that his political group attacks problems and not people, well, that is just absurd. Those facts are for another column. James Warden West Milford Councilman