N.B. council working to upgrade emergency notification procedure
Fowler wants on-street
parking restrictions
during snowstorms
NORTH BRUNSWICK — In view of communications problems during the recent snowstorm and an earlier water boil alert, the Township Council is trying to find better ways to communicate with residents.
Public Works Director Dick Fowler has recommended that the council adopt an ordinance restricting on-street parking during snowstorms.
The Dec. 30 snowstorm dumped an estimated 19-21 inches on the town.
On Dec. 26 residents were advised to boil their tap water after North Brunswick Water was forced to shut down the township’s treatment plant because of concerns about cloudy water.
During both emergency situations, some residents complained about poor communications.
In a discussion at Monday’s Township Council workshop, Fowler said that during the snowstorm some streets could not be plowed because there were too many cars parked there.
Despite a snow emergency declaration by the county at 1:15 p.m. the day of the storm, residents still had cars on the street, preventing the plows from clearing the road.
One of the biggest problems he encountered was on Riverbend Drive, he said.
Fowler recommended that the township start using calcium chloride instead of salt to melt snow and ice because salt does not work as well in temperatures below 20 degrees, and calcium chloride lasts longer.
Fowler also recommended that residents be required to shovel out fire hydrants during snowstorms so they do not become frozen over and hidden from firefighters.
Fowler, who put the cost of the Dec. 30 storm at $68,000, including labor and materials, also plans to look into the current vehicle situation and said the township needs to find a better way to reach out to private contractors during snowstorms.
Following the Dec. 30 storm, Mayor Spaulding said the township did not have a contract with a private firm and did not have enough equipment to deal with the storm.
One of the council’s main concerns during the snowstorm was that residents could not reach the emergency management office because the main phone line to the township did not work.
Residents calling that number just heard the phone ring and ring.
"They couldn’t get through," Emergency Management Director Walter Endler said during the meeting.
Endler explained that although the direct lines were working, the automated system did not.
Council President Peggy Scarillo, who ran Monday’s meeting in Mayor David Spaulding’s absence, said the heavy volume of phone calls she and other council members received indicated there was a serious problem communicating with residents.
"If there are that many calls, we are not reaching the people we need to reach," she said.
Council Vice President Leo Ryan pointed out that there is no perfect system for emergencies.
"There is no proper failsafe system or backup," he said.
Scarillo suggested that the police should notify every resident in town during such an emergency situation. She said that although local cable access Channel 71 and radio station WCTC are currently considered the best way to reach the public during an emergency, not enough people listen to the station or consistently watch the TV.
Endler said two people in the police department’s communications division are supposed to make residents aware of emergency situations. He suggested expanding the cable alert to residents by having the cable company run a "crawler" alert across the bottom of the television screen. This would reach everyone except those who have satellite or antenna reception.
"It is a can-do thing," Endler said.
Scarillo said that even though measures were taken during the storm, and the recent boil alert by U.S. Water on Christmas Day, the effort fell short.
"It is not enough," Scarillo said.
Scarillo echoed other council members, asking Endler for a list of who should be contacted during an emergency.
"We need to know who is next if you are not available," Scarillo said.