Region digs out after blizzard wreaks havoc
Few accidents reported, but snow has impact on roads, schools, budgets
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

DAWNMARIE SANNWALDT With snow still falling on them after nearly 2 feet blanketed the region, John Thomas and Sam Shariff help to dig out the Brookview Volunteer Fire Co. in East Brunswick on Monday.

Snowplows were mobilized and emergency personnel stood at the ready Sunday and Monday as nearly 2 feet of snow fell on Middlesex County, but few problems were reported as residents stayed off the roads and slowly dug themselves out.

In East Brunswick, police reported only minor car accidents on the roads as a result of the slippery conditions. Some vehicles had to be pulled out after getting stuck in the snow during their travels, according to police Lt. Joseph Ur.

"Everything went extremely smoothly," Mary Kerslake, a second lieutenant with the East Brunswick Rescue Squad, said on Wednesday. "We had ambulances at strategic points throughout the township so that we could respond much more quickly if called, but there weren’t any major problems."

The squad assisted a man who caught his hand in a snowblower on Monday, but the man was not seriously injured. There were minor accidents on the roads, but most calls to emergency services were for false fire alarms. A fire was reported on Lonczak Lane on Tuesday, but it was contained to a bedroom and only minimal damage was reported.

The storm left a lasting impact on the roads, however.

On Route 18, only two lanes remained open in each direction in the days following the storm, as snow pile-ups resulted in the closing of the remaining lane on each side of the highway. This caused traffic to back up more so than usual during rush hour.

Police in other southern Middlesex County jurisdictions also reported that there were no major accidents during or immediately following the storm.

While many school districts reopened by Wednesday, East Brunswick remained closed through Thursday as the township’s director of public safety, Thomas Finn, declared the roads "unsafe for student travel."

Finn said he was called by Jo Ann Magistro, incoming superintendent of schools, who asked his opinion on the road conditions. Finn said he believed school buses would have a difficult time on the township’s more narrow roads, whose width has been shortened even more by the snow.

He also said the fact that many sidewalks had not been cleared made it dangerous for children walking to school.

Board of Education Vice President Charles King added that crosswalks and bus stops had snow piled up so high it also created hazardous conditions. Further plowing and clearing was expected to take place on Thursday so that schools could reopen today, he said.

The accumulation created unusual situations at places such as the Residence at Forsgate in Monroe, where 25 staff members remained at the facility for the duration of the storm, keeping operations functioning as usual despite road closings and other problems.

"We work in shifts, so we rotated sleeping in shifts, with a couple of mattresses on apartment floors to supplement available beds and quick linen changes in between," said Carolann Koerner, director of the Residence at Forsgate.

Clean-up costs related to the storm may leave a mark on local municipal budgets.

Already under tight budget constraints, Spotswood will now take another lump in paying for the massive cleanup and the many related costs, while East Brunswick has seen recent political debate focus on just that issue.

East Brunswick Councilwoman Christi Calvano said she is very concerned about the effect the storm will have on the municipal budget. In addition to the accumulation of snow, the township had to pay double time to employees who worked on Presidents Day.

Calvano noted a debate that began late last year when then Democratic council members Jeffrey Simon and Meryle Asaro asked why the administration was planning to buy more police vehicles when not much money was being set aside for snow removal.

At a recent council meeting, Calvano suggested buying only three or four police vehicles as opposed to the seven sought by the administration. She felt the savings could be better used to prepare for a winter of heavy snow.

"I was right," Calvano said. "We had snow around Christmas, too. It’s expensive to clean up snowstorms."

Calvano said many residents were angered by the steep tax increase that resulted from clearing the heavy snowfalls of 1996.

"Let’s learn from the past and not make the same mistake again," she said.

Calvano wound up voting in favor of purchasing all seven police vehicles, as did the rest of the council. She said she had "no choice" but to vote for it because the purchase had enough votes to pass anyway.

East Brunswick used private contractors in addition to its own employees to clear the roads this week. It was not known how much the snow removal will cost or if funds allocated for it in the township budget would be enough to cover the cost.

Mayor William Neary was out of town and Township Administrator James White was unavailable for comment earlier this week.

In addition to the snow removal, municipalities must pay for the damage to roads caused by the ice and by the salt that is spread to make driving safer. The salt causes the snow to melt and then goes into existing road cracks along with the water. Because the water then expands, the cracks become larger, often requiring maintenance, he said.

"It’s disastrous for all towns," Spotswood Mayor Barry Zagnit said of the storm’s financial repercussions. "Our equipment has really taken a beating. And our road crews have been working around the clock keeping the majority of roads open.

"I would say the budget is in trouble with regard to the snow removal," he said.

Zagnit said he was not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the storm.

"Some foolhardy people insisted on driving and got stuck and had to be removed, though," said Zagnit, who accompanied Police Chief Karl Martin around town.

"As mayor, you really should be out and know what’s going on," he said. "Our people know what to do though, so we’re just there in a supporting role."

The mayor said the storm wreaked havoc on some of the borough’s equipment — at least one borough snowplow became disabled, a large dump truck lost its transmission and a sander was damaged.

"That’s the type of equipment we need to repair right away," he said, adding that the repairs will add to the cost of the storm.

Zagnit noted that there may be more bad weather soon in the form of rain, flooding and a deep freeze.

He said the borough’s first priority was to get its major roads cleared, even though they could not be cleared their full width. Sidewalks and crosswalks still had to be cleared on Tuesday.

"We would greatly appreciate from residents that, if they have a fire hydrant near their home, they would dig that out," he said.

Zagnit also suggested that residents clear storm sewers in front of their homes to minimize the potential for flooding, he said.

The Public Works Department in Spotswood has about nine employees, who were being assisted by members of the Sanitation Department.

Like most towns, Spotswood will apply for federal aid to help with the costs related to the storm, Zagnit said.