It’s time to start paying the bill for Superstorm Sandy.
The Township Committee approved an emergency appropriation of $150,000 on Tuesday night to offset costs incurred during the storm. One-third of the amount will be included in the next three year’s municipal budgets.
The storm’s high winds leveled hundreds of trees across the township, disrupting electrical service for days. The township’s Auten Road debris yard remains open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week to accept cut up trees, branches and limbs brought down by the storm.
Township Administrator Anthony Ferrera invited senior citizens 65 and older, as well as disabled residents, to call the Public Works Department at 908-369-3950 to be put on a list of candidates for township curbside pickup of such items. The township does not offer the service generally, although it will take the debris at the Auten Road yard.
Mr. Ferrera said he hoped to be able to hire 14 temporary workers as soon as next week. Twelve would work with the DPW and two with the recreation department. A maximum of $12,000 per worker would be paid through a federal grant.
In the first meeting since the Oct. 29-30 storm, Township Committee members lent many expressions of gratitude and thanks to emergency responders, school administration and municipal staffers for immediate, caring, thorough, cooperative and effective work and communication.
Gene Robbins

