Stafford Township Council members last night authorized $21 million in post-Sandy emergency appropriations.

The bulk of the funds will go toward debris removal, and some of the funds - about $1 million - will go toward personnel payments, including overtime for Public Works employees and Township Police, according to Township Administrator Jim Moran.

This was the first meeting for the Council since Sandy and the election - where many incumbents, including Mayor John Spodofora, were reelected into office. Spodofora said he expects that the bulk of the debris in the township will be removed by Dec. 31.

Many Council members addressed the outpouring of support following Sandy.

"I want to thank you for another chance to serve this community," Spodofora said during remarks to the audience. "It swells my heart to see people working together. There is no storm that can take away the character of Stafford Township."

Joanne B. Sitek, an incumbent who ran for reelection as an independent and was defeated in the election, said: "We need to look to help people who have been so badly impacted by this storm. I was elected  to help people, and that's what I am going to continue to do, even after my term is up. I will continue to help the people that live here." 

Like many residents of the township, Sitek lost much of her belongings to Sandy, but she said, "we need to stay strong and stay together."