Robert Digirolamo, 49, and David Leech, 26, both of Hamilton were arrested yesterday after allegedly firing a handgun in a wild spree beginning in a backyard. While no one was injured, a house and Porforio’s Market in Hamilton were damaged, with the last shot being fired near Town Center on Route 33 near Route 526.

After being arrested, Digirolamo was charged with being the gunman who shot up the Robbinsville High Scool sign last month. Digirolamo was previously an employee in the state’s division of criminal justice.

Source: nj.com

Robbinsville and Hamilton townships scored a victory against a proposed increase in water rates by Aqua New Jersey Friday when a settlement was reached that will allow the water company to only increase rates by 16.4% versus the original plan’s proposed 28%. Under the original rate increase proposal, the average consumer’s bill would have increased from a yearly $394 to $519, however under the new terms the exact rate was not established.

Robbinsville used a $7500 “contribution” from Matrix Development Corp to hire a lawyer to battle the water company. Matrix Development is the owner of several large warehouses in Robbinsville near the Turnpike, and has a large sprinkler system which would have been greatly impacted by any rate increases.

The settlement also eliminated a proposed distribution system improvement charge that would have permitted the water company to increase rates by up to 5% without having to first get state approval. The offical approval for the rate change was supposed to go before the NJ Board of Public Utilities yesterday.

Source: nj.com

Aqua New Jersey has proposed a rate hike which would cost residents an extra $116.60 per year on average. Both Mayor David Fried of Robbinsville and Mayor John Bencivengo of Hamilton have publicly opposed the 28% hike saying it places an unfair burden on about 45,000 residents. Mayor Fried said water rates lead to tax increases because municipalities and taxpayer-funded fire departments must also pay to use the water. Both mayors said they have contacted an administrative law judge who is reviewing the rate case before the Board of Public Utilities makes a final determination.

Aqua New Jersey, which filed the $7 million rate increase request with the Board of Public Utilities in December, does not serve any other municipalities in Mercer County. Aqua claims that it needs the extra revenue in order to keep up the costs of improving aging infrastructure and treating drinking water to comply with tighter federal health regulations.

See related articles in the Times and the Trentonian.