PHOTO: Senator Bob Singer, Assemblyman Sean Kean, and Assemblyman Dave Rible (Monmouth, Ocean) hosted a meetingthis past Thursday for the mayors of Legislative District 30 to discuss recovery and rebuilding efforts after Superstorm Sandy. The legislators invited speakers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal Small Business Administration (SBA), New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI), New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and Governor Christie’s Office.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide local mayors and their municipal staff members with the opportunity to speak with key representatives in person and discuss the challenges that they face moving forward.
“This was an event of such magnitude that it requires our coming together on a one to one basis in order to guide our municipalities through the recovery process. There is much confusion regarding the process and I believe it is always good to have the experts on hand to provide advice,” said Senator Bob Singer.
The topics of the evening ranged from FEMA reimbursements to municipalities, municipal budgets going forward, water debris management, rebuilding the boardwalk, and JCP&L’s response to the storm and how to improve response in the future.
“I believe this was a positive discussion and all of the speakers from the federal government and state government affirmed their agency’s commitment to helping municipalities and homeowners move forward after this devastating event,” said Assemblyman Sean Kean. “It was also very important for me to hear from the towns what concerns them and how state government can help them in the rebuilding process.”
In addition, Senator Singer and Assemblyman Kean talked about their three bill package that helps to improve response by public utility companies in natural disasters and facilitate power. This package of bills is sponsored by Singer, Kean and Rible.
Mayors or municipal employees from the following towns attended the meeting: Avon-by-the-Sea, Bradley Beach, Farmingdale, Howell, Lakewood, Sea Girt and Wall.
The legislators voiced their commitment to rebuilding Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
“We remain committed to the task of making our district whole once again,” said Senator Singer.
Assemblyman Kean concluded, “As we move forward after Sandy, I want the towns and residents of Legislative District 30 to know that their legislative team is here to help in any way that we can. I know that we will rebuild so that New Jersey remains a wonderful place to live and do business.” TLS.
Ok, listen, step number one: Hire an outside company with 20 trucks to come in here and once and for all get rid ofll the downed trees and mountains of leaves. They are dangerous, obstructing traffic, parking and driving lanes. If they can bill every other thing to FEMA, they can bill this too. Does the township not find this embarrassing a month after the storm? We have the same crew that takes forever on a normal year to clean up the leaves, trying to clean the storm of the century. Enough already.