At Thursday's budget meeting, the topic of utility pole replacement came up and Public Works Director gave some insight into the process.
Residents were alerted to the upcoming PSE&G work by this notice on the city web site. Someone asked when the "double poles" would be removed, referring to the practice of installing a new pole next to an old one. Jackson explained that the process can take two or three months. First the new pole is installed, then the utilities are changed over. The last utility company to complete work on a pole, which he said was usually Verizon, then takes the old pole out and does restoration of the site.
Jackson said normally the hole is filled with stone and topped with straw, but he said the city doesn't want straw blowing around, so another method will be requested. Hearing of this meticulous approach, Plaintalker wished all our problems were so easy to solve.
Council President Adrian Mapp mentioned one location where a road was realigned some time ago, but a utility pole was left standing about five feet into the new roadway. Jackson promised to look into it.
It was interesting to see both City Administrator Eric Berry and David Kochel, current budget consultant and formerly acting city administrator, nodding in agreement as Jackson gave various explanations to the governing body. It seemed to signify a shared knowledge of municipal government and how it should work optimally, which was encouraging after the cabinet vagaries of 2011.
Kochel mentioned that he served as acting Public Works Director while also being acting city administrator for part of last year. Now all three departments mandated in the city's special charter have permanent directors. If the city can get a full-time chief finance officer to round out the cabinet, maybe the city can regain stability.
--Bernice
Fill it with dirt and grass seed or corrupt politicians LOL
ReplyDeleteThe pole that is five feet out in the roadway is at Park Avenue and Park Drive, the entrance to Cedar Brook Park. If I am not mistaken, Verizon's lines (and possibly Comcast) are still on it.
ReplyDeletePlease lets us know what the Public Work is going to do with all that paving equipments they bought years ago!!
ReplyDeleteVerizon is typically very slow with rectifying the the double would issue. May have to call the BPU to yet them moving.
ReplyDeleteWith everything going on in the city, are we really worrying about poles and straw? Seriously?
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