Impact of Halloween Storm Likely to be Felt in 2012 Budget

The Borough Council will begin discussions on the 2012 municipal budget Dec. 9 at 6 p.m., Mayor-Elect Bob Conley announced at the Borough Council meeting Monday night at .

That budget likely will include contingency funding for the Department of Public Works, which continues to struggle with brush collection following the Halloween snowstorm.

The borough has hired seven private contractors to bolster municipal clean-up crews, many of the latter collecting overtime. But Borough Administrator Ray Codey and Public Works head honcho David Maines told the meeting that more private loaders, backhoes, skid steers, trucks — and personnel — are needed to get Madison’s streets cleared before another storm makes that all but impossible.

”We still have challenges on our streets,” said Codey. “Woodland, Sherwood still have a lot of work to do and we have to get it done before it snows. Working overtime is not going to get it done.”
 
Councilman Rob Catalanello called for cost estimates, budgeting and approval to prevent a similar situation in the future. While the borough, as with past storms, will submit for reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it still must have the funds up front to hire contractors.

Catalanello also said that some residents are complicating the process and creating a dangerous situation for children walking to and from school. “Debris gets cleared and residents rush to pile more of it from their backyards on the sidewalk,” he said.

Maines confidently told the meeting that all streets would be cleared of brush by Friday, or next Wednesday at the latest. He couldn’t, however, offer a date for leaf collection. When asked by Councilman Don Links what he needs to get leaves collected by Dec. 15 Maines replied, “Trucks and drivers.”