BY SARAH KLEPNER
Staff Writer
SARAHKLEPNER DPW head Gary Watson speaks at the Westside Community Group meeting. RED BANK – Department of Public Works Chief Gary Watson outlined some changes to refuse collection procedures, during the Westside Community Group meeting May 9.
Watson talked about changes in borough trash-handling practices, explaining that he has traveled around the state to see how other DPWs function.
Watson handed out a five-page newsletter that contains the changes in refuse collection. One of the main changes is in bulk (furniture, mattresses) pickup. Rather than alongside household trash, bulk is now picked up once per month, April through October.
The recycling center at the foot of Sunset Avenue, on the west side of town, is open all year to receive bulk waste, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. People can call to arrange special pickup of brush or bulk waste.
Watson also introduced an orange hang tag, which will serve to show that a warning has been issued for violation of an ordinance. He emphasized that there is only one warning, after which comes a summons.
“When in doubt, just call. I encourage calls,” he said. “If you’re not satisfied with the answer from my staff, call me and leave a message.”
The DPW’s number is (732) 530-2770.
The meeting was held at River Street Commons with about 20 people in attendance, and the first half-hour was set aside for crime watch concerns.
The police have been given a platform at the start of the meeting in order to eliminate the need for a separate meeting, community group vice president Joyce Williams said.
Police Chief Mark Fitzgerald reported that three addresses that people had turned in complaints about at a prior meeting resulted in 48 summonses
being issued for offenses including
overcrowded housing and unsafe storage.
Watson also informed the group that a full-time animal control officer has been hired.
Watson referred to a Web site,
njstormwater.org, for information on stormwater management. The Navesink must be protected, he said. [It’s] “our prettiest natural gem. The water’s in great shape – we’ve got to keep it that way.”
He then took questions from the group.
Imogene Malloy expressed concern for the children on her block of West Westside Avenue, who, she said, are at risk from people driving too fast while cutting through from Newman Springs Road.
“If it’s bad now, can you imagine when June comes and all those kids are outside?” she said.
Watson told her to speak to the police chief, who decides when and where signs need to be installed.
Williams said afterward that the purview of the group is not restricted to the west side. For instance, the group holds a citywide political debate in local election years.
The borough arborist and the new code enforcement officer were present at the meeting, as were council members John Curley and Grace Cangemi.