Snow Removal Remarks Addressed

COURT HOUSE – What might have been a longer discussion on snow removal at the Middle Township Committee’s meeting Jan. 17 was side-stepped in part by Mayor Michael Clark making multiple references to a long discussion that had just happened in the work session. 
Still, a few wanted their voices heard even though all started by praising the work of the Public Works Department during and immediately following the snow event that left Middle Township with as much as 17 inches.
Questions were asked about why the township did not employ its standing contract with a private snow removal firm to assist the Public Works crews.
Deputy Mayor Jeffrey DeVico assured citizens that the contracts are in place, but he also reminded the public that the forecast kept changing and it was late in the process before Middle Township knew the accumulations could be so great. 
“We made the decision to go with the in-house resources,” he said. His shrug made clear that he was not convinced it was the right decision either way. “We did save thousands of dollars,” he added.
One resident of a private condominium complex wanted to clarify the municipality’s position on private roads. 
He was assured that the public works crews would make a path for emergency vehicles, but on a road that did not belong to the township, there would probably not be curb-to-curb plowing.
An Avalon Manor resident complained that the township does not require residents to remove cars from the street for more effective plowing.
Committee member Timothy Donohue pointed to the fact that many in the township do not have access to off-street parking. The township urged people to remove cars but did not require it.
Most at the meeting made sure their remarks carried comments of appreciation for the hard work of the public works crews who not only battled record snow but also winds that redistributed the snow almost as soon as it was plowed.