The EnCap project, taken over by Trump in November, has been a touchy subject in Rutherford and Hipp opposes the landfills-to-golf courses and housing project as it stands.

Trump asked Hipp to allow the development to go forward, or lose the financial benefits associated with the development. In addition, Trump would seek reimbursement of $6 million in impact fees it claims it already gave to the borough.

In the letter, Trump said he remains committed to the cleanup. Trump pointed to positive reactions to his progress on the troubled site and said his company’s involvement in the project would be a great benefit to Rutherford, financially and environmentally.

The letter continued to call Hipp’s actions "false and foolish" and said he would hold the borough responsible for damage caused by Hipp’s comments and actions. He added he was considering abandoning all work in Rutherford other than remediation, claiming the tax revenue would "be felt by all of your taxpayers."

For the full story, see the May 7 issue of the South Bergenite.