Watchung Mayor Vows Sandy Response 'Assessment Critique'

Mayor Jerry Mobus, along with the Borough Council and Emergency Management Coordinator Gary Greves, will conduct an assessment critique of the borough response to Sandy.

The purpose of this review will be to measure and determine the effectiveness of this massive borough effort and most importantly to identify methods and procedures that could improve the borough response in possible future events. Some of the departments and borough service agencies that will participate were those fully engaged over the past few weeks such as Emergency Management, the Police Department, Volunteer Fire Department, Public Works Department, and the Volunteer Rescue Squad.

"I am very proud of our emergency service responders and borough professional staff that tirelessly worked and continued to do so for weeks," Mayor Mobus said. "But for some of our residents and taxpayers to be without electrical power for a minimum of eight (8) days and many much longer is extremely problematic and most troubling to me and the Borough Council."

Mobus continued that he and Council members were especially sensitive about the elderly and young children who did not have heat. It is one thing to lack lights in the house but living without heat was our most serious concern.

Mayor Mobus and the Council were very receptive to many of the suggestions and comments that were made by residents at the regular council meeting of Nov. 8th held in the municipal court on Somerset Street. The mayor was pleased with most of the public comment on Sandy, getting the feeling that everyone wanted to help their neighbors and the borough government in addition to making constructive suggestions for potential improvement.

The Mayor went on to say that although everyone is frustrated by the storm circumstances there is a strong resolve to pull together as a community and help each other out. Many volunteered to assist in the future which was most positive.

Residents are encouraged to send their concerns to PSE&G, JCP&L, the Board of Public Utilities, and Governor Christie.