Snow Job Part Three

Committeeman Michael Fiure Says He And Mayor Russo Are Meeting With Emergency Units: Public Works, Rescue, Fire,  Emergency Management To Rate Performance In Snow Emergency, Determine Where Improvements Are Needed

Responding To Numerous Complaints, Mayor Russo And Committeeman Fiure Pledge Searching Inquiry, Public Hearing To Develop Effective Plan So Gaping Flaws In Botched Snow Removal Process Don’t Repeat

Inteso Says Some Problems Could Have Been Avoided If Loaders And Other Needed Equipment Were Purchased For Public Works Back In October

Dover Township - Committeeman Michael Fiure says he and Mayor Russo are meeting with emergency units: Fire, Rescue, Police, Public Works and Emergency Management to evaluate performance, effectiveness and coordination in the wake of the big snow last week, to see what can be done to improve the job that was done in the snow removal operation which residents rate as less than stellar.

“Should we have had these meetings before? Of course; but we are doing it now”, Fiure said.

Russo said they had about thirty people in the room for the first meeting. Russo said the township “has to do better”, but claimed Public Works Director Fredd Clayton did a good job.

“We give him the employees he has; we give him the equipment he has: he was up thirty eight hours straight without any sleep”, Russo said.

Mayor Russo: “We Need A Comprehensive Plan”

“We have to do a better job with the phone system; the communications system”, Russo said.

“There is no structure about who’s in charge - we need to know who’s in charge.”

He acknowledged “there is no coherent plan for responding to a big snow emergency. But he also said “We don’t have enough equipment; we don’t have enough manpower.”

He thanked Dover Municipal Utilities Authority Executive Director John Broome and Freeholder Joe Vicari who volunteered equipment and operators from the DMUA and the county road department.

Residents Couldn’t Get To Work, But Empty Riverwood Park
Was Plowed Out Completely

One lady told the committee, “We had to dig ourselves out of Weatherly two days after the snow stopped; but Riverwood Park (big township park off Rt 9 where nothing happens in the winter) was completely plowed out, both sides of the roads, and the complete parking lot where nobody parks cars in the winter time.”

“What A Waste Of Time And Money”

“What a waste of time and money when we were stuck in our homes and couldn’t get to work for nearly three days because the township never got around to helping us”, she complained.

“Mayor” Russo agreed and said “it won’t happen again”.

Russo said he would put the snow complaints on the agenda for next Tuesday’s policy caucus meeting, and suggested the committee should have a public hearing on the snow emergency “so all of the comments and complaints can be aired.”

Public Works Promotions Based On Political Connections

Appointments Left A Trail Of Resentment And Cynicism

Promotions in the Public Works Department have been based on political connections.

It has been noted that the executive appointments have “left a trail of resentment and cynicism” among Public Works employees.

This has created serious problems with efficiency in the department leading to excessive costs for taxpayers because they pay extra for the political costs from which they receive no benefit.

The good news is that none of the current township committee members were responsible for the most egregious political decisions in the recent history of the public works department, so they would have some freedom to correct them on a fair and equitable basis as the process goes forward.

Whether or not this happens, of course, depends on the exercise of good judgement on the part of current township officials as time goes forward.
(For 2/27/03)

Click Here For Snow Job Part One

Click Here For Snow Job Part Two

Part 4 of the public works saga in Dover Township coming soon on OceanCountyPolitics•Com

© Copyright 2003-2007 Ocean County Politics .com. All Rights Reserved.
Questions & Comments: gvgeditor@aol.com