Mendham Twp. Cancels Curbside Brush Removal

At the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Mendham Township Committee, the Mayor and the committee discussed the issue of removing all of the brush generated in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. At the time, the committee said it might be too much to take on financially due to the sheer volume of lumber created by the storm.

They scheduled a special session to discuss the issue on Nov. 10, and Mayor Sam Tolley relayed the decision made via letter:

Dear Mendham Township Residents:

The Township continues to clean up from the historic impacts caused by Hurricane Sandy. Now that power has been restored by Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), the Township Committee has turned its attention to the tremendous task of tree and brush removal.
After an extensive discussion of the matter at a special meeting on Saturday, November 10, the Committee has decided on the following action plan for tree and brush clean up in the Township:

• Township Public Works crews will continue to clean trees and natural debris from Township roads, right of ways (trees and brush fallen within the right of ways, not placed by residents) and public propelties. Weather forecasters, who correctly predicted the early November storm, predict our area will receive significant snowfall this winter. As a result our first priority is clear passage and snow removal. In that regard, please remove any branches you may have placed into the street and are protruding into the street prior to the on-set of winter.

• The Township will open two drop off areas for residents to bring brush from their private property on the east and west side of town - Township Road Garage at 40 Mount Pleasant and Meadowood Park at 73 Old Mill Road. The brush must be 2 inches in diameter or smaller. No brush in excess of this diameter or logs will be accepted. Brush may be dropped off by residents and/or contractors utilizing vehicles no larger than a 14 foot Mason Dump or a 20 Foot Trailer. Proof of residency will be requested at the time of drop off, so please be sure to have some form of property ownership record available to present (Utility Bill, Tax Bill, Driver's License, etc.)

• The Township will not be in position this fall to undertake a town-wide curbside collection of brush. The magnitude of debris, combined with the winter weather forecast and lack of available financial resources to expedite collection is the basis for this decision. The Township will resume regular brush collection in the spring.

Drop-Off locations for residents to dispose of brush will open starting the weekend of Nov. 24. These areas will be open Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the weekend of Dec. 29. In addition, the DPW Road Garage will offer weekday access for brush drop-off, Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 3 :00 p.m. from Nov. 19 to Dec. 28.
The Township Committee appreciates residents understanding and cooperation as we move forward on this massive clean-up effort. Residents with questions about the arrangements described in this letter may contact any Committee member via the contact information available on the Township website or by calling Town Hall at 973-543-4555.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Samuel V. Tolley
Mayor