Lakewood's picture perfect snow removal program

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/25/06
WHAT'S THE ISSUE? Snow plowing. A resident complained at last week's Township Committee meeting that the Public Works Department could do a better job plowing streets after winter storms. Officials defended the township, citing the difficulties of snow removal and the housing boom in Lakewood over the past decade that has added to the department's workload.

WHAT DOES THE TOWN SAY? John Franklin, Lakewood's public works director, said his workers do as much as they can to plow every street quickly. The township, though, has to focus first on main thoroughfares — such as Clifton Avenue, Pine Street and portions of Squankum Road — to clear the downtown and help traffic move."Nobody is ever happy when there's snow on the ground," Franklin said.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Committeeman Charles Cunliffe said residents could help themselves by removing vehicles, garbage cans and other obstacles from the street so plows can go "curb to curb." When residents leave obstacles, plows can not clear the entire street."There are streets you can clean up real well," Cunliffe said. "There are some streets you cannot.

"WHAT'S NEXT? Although this winter has been light on snow to date, Mayor Meir Lichtenstein commended Franklin for the job he does in keeping up with snowstorms, even as new housing developments continually add new streets each year."The town is growing very quickly," Lichtenstein said. "John is doing his best to keep up.
End of APP article:

Yehuda Shain's take on the snow removal:
Lakewood's snow removal system is picture perfect "in the summer".They love to get it down to the blacktop of the pavement, as long as it is on a time & half or double pay weekend day.I have observed Lakewood plows with the blade up going over streets that need plowing etc.I have also observed the Lakewood plows just last Sunday's snow after the sun prety much melted down they tried to scrape the living daylights out of the pavement.Don't complain, they have it down to the dollar exactly hom much it cost lakewwod per mile to clean the snow.

Why the Lakewood Public Works is constantly in need of NEW equipment, is mind bongling. How much mileage is put on to their equipment when it's used only locally? Sure, New equipment is beautiful impresive, but we are talking about tax-payer's dollars.

While we are on tax payer's dollars, why doesn't the Police department have the Public Works or their own set up for repairs & maintence of the Police vehicles and other Township vehicles. I don't know the exact count.