Community Corner
Storms Add Up to Big Expenses for Barnegat
Township Administrator Vows to Pursue Insurance Reimbursement Where Possible
The recent wave of severe weather will cost the township in excess of $100,000 in water and sewer repairs alone, according to a presentation by the Township Administrator at the regular Township Committee meeting last night.
In his regular report to Mayor Al Cirulli and other committee members, David Breeden noted that the June 22 line of thunderstorms was characterized by hail and lightening, which led to flooding on Route 9 and prompted quick responses from police, fire, public works and emergency medical personnel.
Breeden noted that one of the thunderstorms knocked out water wells west of the Garden State Parkway, and one of the wells remained out for a week, which contributed to a great deal of the water and sewer repairs. In a report to township residents, Breeden likened the cleanup effort by Public Works to that of Hurricane Irene, “with significant amounts of tree and vegetative waste to remove.” He added that the township will seek “maximum” reimbursement of the costs through insurance.
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“I can’t begin to describe how well our employees handled the emergency response to the recent storms,” Cirulli said to Breeden. “On behalf of the Committee, I hope you’d convey to everybody what a tremendous job everyone did.”
Cirulli and other committee members’ praise for the emergency response prompted a round of applause from the 25 meeting attendees.
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In public comments, Charles J. Giles, a Barnegat Township resident and Patch blogger, echoed some of the sentiments from the township committee, noting: “In reading the phenomenal report prepared by Administrator Breeden, it is a comfort to know that our town was ready in what was a moment’s notice to respond to Mother Nature’s wrath.”
In related news, the Township Committee added several volunteer emergency personnel to their ranks, approving George F. Ruby and Mark C. Griffin for Pinewood Estates Fire Department, Andrew J. Kantenwein, Scott Sircovitch and Christopher Bye for Barnegat Volunteer Fire Department, Mauro D’Angelo for the Barnegat First Aid Squad, and appointing Mariah Rosemary McGetrick as a junior volunteer firefighter for Barnegat.
