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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

(Nov. 12, 2009) — The bank is closed.

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission recently passed a resolution stating that no more assistance related to the EnCap project will be given to Rutherford or North Arlington.

“In Rutherford, their taxes have since been purchased by American Home Assurance,” NJMC Communications Director Lilo H. Stainton said. “And in North Arlington, there has been a lot of effort to bring them back to be as whole as possible regarding the baler and tax situation.”

This resolution comes after the commission’s recent offering of an additional $200,000 to each borough.

Rutherford and North Arlington have also received additional funds in the past to offset tax liens and the closure of the garbage transfer facility.

Since 2003, the NJMC has reportedly awarded Carlstadt, $6,529,000; East Rutherford, $4,472,563; Lyndhurst, $774,055; Rutherford, $4,407,689; and North Arlington, $16,307,890.

Stainton confirmed that North Arlington’s aid is higher (by more than $12 million) than the other four municipalities because of host fees for the garbage transfer facility.

“The $12 million is the money Waste Management paid to North Arlington from 2003 to 2008,” Stainton said. “What is not included is the value North Arlington also got in free dumping, which is $3.9 million between the same time period.”

Rutherford Mayor John Hipp was not upset about the commission’s decision.

“We believe the aid we received from the Meadowlands Commission was very helpful,” Hipp said. “The Meadowlands has given Rutherford millions of dollars over five or six years and continues to do so. It’s not as if they will not be giving us any aid. … So I am not upset with it.”

North Arlington had a different attitude to the commission’s recent resolution.

“Our position has always been that we are entitled to more aid and our position has been that (the NJMC) has put us behind the eight ball,” said spokesman Thom Ammirato. “We haven’t been able to develop for six or seven years because of their mishandling. That’s six or seven years we could of been moving forward with our own development plan. To wash their hands and say they are done with it now, strikes me as cavilear.”