Clam,
After last years disaster, I am sure they are not taking any chances!
Have a good day.

I'm sure this committee headed by Thuelen is made up of the same circle, that's on every advisory committee.... and they will be telling the public their new plan is ..... when ? If after all these years Acropolis had to form a committee to figure out how to remove snow....it's no wonder this town is in the shape that it finds itself in !

I would like to reply to Mickey. My ad hoc committee reported out to a council meeting 2 weeks after the big snow storm last year. If you going to the council meeting archives you can watch my report. We formed the committee to find out what good things happened during the storm as well as the the bad, so that a better job could be done in the future. Please remember that NJ State highways were closed in our town for three days, as well as county roads from that storm.
To answer Mommyof3 all contractors are brought in at minimum staff to start and are ramped as the need continues.

.......sad

COMMITEE??????? are you kidding me????? More tax dollars to the trash bin....It's very simple, just stay ahead of the storm, dont wait til 5-6 inches are down before you start plowing <shaking head> and you might want to look to the past to see the correct way to stay on a storm, not form a commitee and discuss the future. DO THE RIGHT THING!! THE PEOPLE OF BRICK DESERVE IT!!!

Sorry Mike, that statement is not true. rts 70 and 88 were drivable in less then 24 hours. County roads were drivable with in 24 hrs and cleared to the pavement in 36.

I know I live on a county road in Brick and had to drive rt 70 to go to work. It was not 100% cleared BUT there was 1 lane down to the pavement. 88 was also down to the pavement (not shoulders) within 36 hours. I know because I had to pick my nephew up at walmart and take him home from work because his parents who live off bay bridge had not had 1 plow down their street and could not get out. I had to leave him at dunkin donuts on 88 because the streets going in had not been touched and he had to walk into his neighborhood and 6 blocks to his house.

Mike you are no longer a council person, it would be nice if we heard the truth now, instead of the spin drilled into your head.

Me, sorry, but you're wrong on this one. I distinctly remember Route 70 near the Herbertsville Road intersection being practically impassable days after the storm last year. Route 35, another state road, was another disaster.

Billy -- The automated garbage trucks that we have now cannot be fitted with plows. The old fashioned garbage trucks that we had years ago could.

I remember back in the day, it would start snowing in November! There is less equipment than we had years ago, and less streets. Unfortunately, the Town made many changes with equipment and did not keep up with development. Sad..

I wonder why?? They are built on a standard Peterbilt Chassis, hmmmmm....... I could be mistaken but this link shows it can be done http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarajs/4396856970/

Dan, I wonder why the town doesn't use the old garbage trucks they still have. I see one of these old style trucks pass by my house at least once or twice a week. Lack of employees maybe?

Brick Peterbuilts garbage trucks that plow mounts on the bumper, they can be used to plow, but I dn't know why they don't Here is an example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36574833@N04/4812458769/

Believe it or not, you dont need many plows to keep up. 1 truck per district will keep up with storm. As "Concerned Brick Citizen" said,
"I see one of these old style trucks pass by my house at least once or twice a week". People just want to see action, and some sat for 3-4 days before any sign of help.

Billy and Mike thanks for sharing those photos. It appears that we can use our new trucks. Just have to purchase the plows... I wonder how much they cost.

Township roads should be done by the township trucks, as it has always been done. Private contractors were never in the equation. The problem is NOBODY wants to shell out major $$$$ for these trucks to be fitted with plows for the POSSIBILITY of the "big one". If a politician sticks their neck out and buys this equipment and no snow, he/she is a fool, It.s a roll of the dice.

That's not true, JHill. As it says in the article, the township has an agreement with contractors to provide a certain number of pieces of equipment. The contractor from last season never went below the minimum and did not break the contract. They actually had extra pieces of equipment in Brick, but moved the extra equipment out to another town, however they never went below the number of pieces of equipment they were required to keep here.

I'd like to know how the hours submitted by the contractors were verified.
It's easy to say "my guy is out plowing" when he is really spending 2 hours clearing a parking lot for 1000 bucks.

Drivers were put on "stand down" sent home and when it was time for them to return to work, they were snowed in their homes and had to wait for help to get to work. I know this as a fact, because my husband was one of the people from the 4 fire departments helping to get to people stuck in their homes that needed help. Also there was equipment that was not working and equipment that broke down during the plowing. Mr. Thulen or any other member of the council or the Mayor would ever acknowledge what the volunteers of this Town did to help the DPW, Brick PD or the paid EMS.

I have lived here for 30 years. Even the back to back blizzards in 96, the roads i town were cleared (at least once pass) within 24 hours.

As far as conditions the state and county continued to plow. At the hight of the storm we saw county plows going down the road plowing and sanding. Sorry Mike, but I have a hard time believing anything the Acropolis (or his puppets) say. By monday noon I was out and the county roads and 88 and 70 were clear. As far as 35 goes, the report from Christies off said it was open and passable by Tuesday.

Other towns the size of ours Howell, TR, were ALL done in 48 hours. Mike what we are looking at is mismanagement and incompitence on the part of the admin. We told you then we would remember this come election time.

so what good things happened ???? (other than you getting voted out )

This storm pinpointed Brick, N.J., and we were caught with our pants down. A storm of this magnitude may never hit again, but I can tell you this: I saw some of our township garbage trucks plowless (lack of plow), I saw one sitting at herbertsville firehouse for hours with a flat tire, unexcuseable. Mike, I dont know much about politics Sir, but I know a bit about snowplowing. You have to keep up with the snowfall, waiting for a set amount of accumulation is putting yourself behind the eightball. The reason the state, and county roads are kept up is they are sitting there at first flake, they are scraping. (another great subject Dan) :)))))

Me, I do know that Township equipment stopped plowing overnight when the storm was at its peak because of the visibility and trying to plow roads in residential neighborhoods was hampered by cars parked on the street. It was hard for them to see what was in front of them while trying to plow. Not trying to make excuses, but that was the reasoning used.

we realize Brick got pounded by a tremendous storm, DPW got sent home the night before and were unable to get out of their homes, as were the rest of us...but then came the accusations of a sick out as well as other excuses. you've never come on here before to weigh in on any other discussion... be it appointing council members children to the Housing Authority, offensive raises handed out, TC salaries or benefits, ect.....now, voted off the TC we hear from you....interesting.

Mr. Thulen, The best thing the Township can do to try to avoid something like this from happening again is to service all the equipment and make sure it is working and able to operate. There were Many pieces of equipment that either was not able to operate because of lack of needed repairs or it broke down.

HUH????????

I believe he's referring to keeping the streets as clear as possible of cars during a storm.

You are correct, it did cause issues with many neighborhoods.

Police need to fine people who keep their cars on the street. There were no excuses for anyone to be driving around in this storm. The storm was extremely bad. It was an emergency situation. No one should have been driving even if they were not at home. Stay at your work! Have any of you ever been stranded at an airport or another place due to weather. I have. It is a big inconvenience, but you are safe and not blocking the streets for work crews. Remain safe and don't be a marter trying to return home or go to work when you know conditions are going to be grave.

Agreed. How many homeowners get the robo call asking you to remove ANYTHING AND I MEAN ANYTHING from the streets, cars, trailers, basketball hoops, etc. and they just DON'T DO IT. How many folks leave their robo cans in the street 7 days a week and never take them in. Come on folks, cooperate and when you do know a storm is coming get your sh---- off the streets so our public works guys can do their job!!!!!!!!!!

they sent them home to avoid paying OT. then the storm bogged down over Brick dumping 34 inches. I could understand their initial plan. trying to save money, but the next morning I can't imagine how any township worker could get down their street when mine was impassable for 3 days. but someone else had to be blamed... so out came the "sick out" story. we all read it, saw it on u-tube and amazed that a public apology was never given to those workers. people remember, that's just another reason those 4 got booted from office.

Did you call the police and complain?

I have a relative that works in Howell. They said during the storms if there was a car on the street, they plowed up to the car and called police headquarters and the police sent out a tow truck.

. I was elected three times over a eighteen years, I received a salary and benefits during that time. This program was set up long before I was elected, I never asked for a raise or gave a raise to anyone during my stay on the Council. I voted on what I believe were fair contracts for the taxpayers and the employees of the Township. Lastly people have spoken today as if the position of Councilman could have any effect during the storm. The reason for the ad hoc committee was that we can only review and make recommendation to Administration. During the storm the Office of Emergency Management is in charge, the Chief of Police reported back to the committee as well as the Department of Public Works and the Mayors Administration. Changes have been made and hopefully for the better.

if all the driveway newspapers, APP, the Patch, channel 20, and TC meetings stated the importance and reason for not allowing cars to be parked on the streets during snowfall & the penalties...there would be no excuse for anyone not following the oridance. I'm sure township code enforcement could drive about in 4 wheel vehicles monitoring the streets.. a quick snap shot of the plate & the ticket could be mailed the next day or two. I don't think the cops would have that much time during a storm to devote to this enforcement. once word spread that there was a cost factor for parking in the street, things would improve.

Reality, you're right. There's an ordinance on the books and the cops don't enforce it when called. The problem exists on my dead end street as well and the same people, time and time again won't move their stuff, cars or whatever from the street. None have ever received a summons and probably never will. Ps they all have large driveways!!!!!

Reality, There was a problem with plowing on my street because of cars parked in the street. One homeowner had two unregistered vehicles on the road along with his SUV. I talked to Dan Toth, and give the devil his due, he did respond to my concerns and the vehicles were removed.
Mr. Rappoccio, Taxpayers may not want to pay more in property taxes, but other than the school taxes and the referendum that took place AFTER the snow season, we have no choice. I do hope that the 2012 council makes sure that public works has the funds necessary to take care of the equipment, not like last year.