[UPDATED- Response From DPW Superintendent] I would like to share my story with your readers in hope that those in position to effect change can help.
I moved into my new home on August 29, 2012, that is almost 2 weeks ago.In order to receive garbage cans from the Public Works dept one has to fax a copy of the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) to their Dept, which is exactly what my builder did.
Since then I have left multiple messages on the voicemail of (moderated) who is responsible for the distribution of cans, and I have yet to get any response. I will leave it to your readers imagination what two weeks of garbage (plus waste from the move) must be like.
This past Friday I decided I will try getting hold of a human being at Public Works, and I was able to to reach Lisa. Lisa was very helpful and assured me that my order is being processed.
Today Monday afternoon, my order is still on the “To Due” list.
The problem here is that ordering garbage cans can not be done before a CO, so I can not order it earlier, like I did with other services.
So readers be aware that after buying a home you may be left with a pile up of garbage for many weeks, and ALL extensions at the the Sanitation Dept are voice mails.
Maybe property tax should not start when you get CO but rather when the Township is able to begin providing services.
UPDATE: The author has advised TLS that his cans were delivered today.
UPDATE: The following is a response sent to TLS by DPW’s Superintendent Toni Arrechi:
I have been informed the resident received the cans, If we received the CO on the 8/29 and the cans were delivered today 9/11 that is 8 business days (we were closed for the FEDERAL hoilday 9/4). We tell all it takes 7-10 days to process the order for cans.
We cannot deliver to a new residence till it is occupied. Someone has to be home to sign for receipt of the can(s) as we have had cans stolen from empty homes prior to the arrival of the owner. We offer the option to drop of your deposit check at DPW, but u assume the responsibilty if the can is delivered to an empty home and it disappears.
As far as voicemail being the only way to communicate with DPW this is totally incorrect. Our phone system is manned by two receptionists 8am to 3:30pm M-F. The system offers u the option to call an extension first, then hold for the operator. If you left several voicemails on a DPW employee’s phone extension and they didn’t respond to you, call me at my number and I will address the employee. Also based on the time of your posting 10:01am, we still work to 3:30pm so your comment that you still haven’t received your cans by this afternoon is not accurate.
When anonymous posting are made with inaccurate information, it leads to rumors and unfair opinions to be formed by the readers.
Since Director John Franklin and now Director Al Burdge, we have worked hard to improve the service to the citizens of Lakewood. We are not perfect, we are human.
To all those who posted supportive messages, Thank you. It is greatly appreciated.
Tony Arecchi, Assistant Public Works Director 732.905.3405 x6007
this is strange as i only have godo things to say about the public works dept .
i ordered an extra can and got it the next day deleivered by a friendly guy . when the wheels fell of a can they came the next day and fixed/replaced them ..
i was really immpressed and sounds like thier is another portion of your story which is missing
I agree with #1. also made a call and got a new can the very next morning. perhaps the builder didnt fax it or maybe to the wrong #.
We also have had nothing but positive things to say about the Lakewood Department of Public Works. They go out of their way to please all residents.
Something sounds wrong with your description.
Government.
Can you just imagine what the doctors office will look like, when ObamaCare is fully implemented in 2014 and the federal government takes over the entire healthcare industry?
+1 . I’ve found them to be helpful and efficient. Besides the ugly yellow cans of course 🙂
What was wrong with the old days when you bought your own cans?
Remember the in-the-ground ones that popped up whe you stepped on a pedal? i used to have fun with those on the way to the Cheder (in the Legion building).
go to the Dept. of Public Works office in person. Don’t wait for someone else to do your work.
I had same problem when we moved last year. took them two weeks to bring a can meanwhile the garbage just piled up. i dont get why the PWD is involved in the CO. I hear that they are now busy giving parking tickets though. .
We’ve had nothing but good come from them. Garbage can cover broke, they came right away and fixed it. I was always able to get a human being on the phone to talk to. Never had a problem. When I needed bulk pick up, it was never an issue or problem. They came when they said they would come. Maybe this guy was calling the wrong town’s Sanitation Dept.
its actually from the more organized departments in lakewood try getting some help from the board of ed they will keep telling you to come back in the hope that you bug off of them
To # 4, what does that have to do with garbarge cans?
i called a few times to come fix a can that the garbage truck broke and still nothing!!!!!!!
Please call me @ 905.3405 extension 6007.
Just take all your garbage,boxes, recycles to the Public Works Dept on American Way near Blue Claws Stadium.
Go to Walmart and get your own can.You have piles of garbage cause you want to,take it to DPW.The yard is open 6 days a week.Stop complaining,DPW is 100% better than a private company that don’t care about the town and only care about getting your $$$$.
once forgot to take my cans to the curb. called up and they made a special pick up for me
I had a similar issue I left a message and it wasn’t returned, so I went onto township website and downloaded a can order form and faxed it over and sure enough they came the next day
http://twp.lakewood.nj.us/images/db/duvys-can-ORDER-FORM.pdf
please keep in mind also that at the time you moved was close to a holiday weekend (labor day) so they probably did not hear your message tilll the middle of the next week when their workload was heavier than usual due to the holiday
in general they do a pretty good job
I am very excited to see when people don’t have to decide not to buy their life-sustaining drugs because they need food. Obamacare( romneycares?) is the answer!
I did call to personally pick up cans, but that wasn’t an available service. Alls well ends well, but was frustrating. Delivery this morning was friendly.
It took them almost a MONTH to fix my garbage cans. I was not able to get a hold of a human being, only was able to leave voice messages.
My tax dollars at work!
Dpw is the best
if you are closed on holidays why on labor day was the garbage on clifton ave by all the stores picked up yet residents did not have pickup was this overtime paid for by the taxpayers
The voice mail at DPW is a big problem there is no denying that, i have left multiple messages about a open sewer cover on firnwood ave and its still open, maybe someone has to get hurt first
It took me 3 VM messages till s/o finally came to fix the wheels on my broken can.
Just a couple of rebuttal points to Superintendent Toni Arrechi’s response.
1. I would not be proud of an 8 day response time. Even though you say 7-10 days. How many new can deliveries are you making that it takes 8 days. Yes, if it were in middle of the winter and the Public Works staff were multitasking garbage removal + snow removal + leaf removal, I would see why you leave that large window of 7-10 business days. Otherwise, you should be more sensitive to the taxpayers needs (garbage piling up inside the house) and not take the extra time just because you can.
2. “Also based on the time of your posting 10:01am, we still work to 3:30pm so your comment that you still haven’t received your cans by this afternoon is not accurate”.
The author never said ‘this’ afternoon, The author said Monday afternoon, so it was accurate.
sounds like a whiner, I bet her builder hears from her every day about some non existent problems in her house too. people take the word “punchlist” too literally 🙂
The Lakewood Township public works is a very organized entity. If you were promised 7-10 days, why do you have to post your grievance on a public forum?
Tony Arrechi is the man in charge and does phenomenal work. The EGERT twins and Leibel Shameinko work hard. Maybe a thank you to all the workers is in order.
If they decided not to pick up the town garbage for even 2 days, the whole town will be up in arms. Be thankful!!
RESPONSE TO TONI
Thank you for responding I am happy that we residents have a way to address issues, even if it is on a public forum.
Your service is appreciated and room for correction is due in any department.
There are two main points in my posting that need to be addressed. Why messages were not returned and if homeowner keeps calling then he will be available to sign.
#18 Romney = anti-semitism
I have had many very positive experiences with the DPW. And anytime I called, I spoke to a receptionist (obviously during their working hours) who was happy to help me out. When I left a message, I received a return phone call within a few hours. Sometimes even the best of agencies can have a mishap, but that’s no reason to bash the agency. Overall I am VERY impressed with teh DPW. Thank you!
The Eggert twins and Leibel Shameinko are not the only employees who work, or work hard at public works, this post reminds me about all the fire department posts, how all the thanks goes to members of the community and not the entier department, sorry but thats just sad…
just move to tent city, we get by every rule-we have plenty of bins at our residence without any CO, joke’s on you the heavy taxpayers.
I once had a issue and called and got a operator live. They transfered me to tony’s extension. He called me back within a hour and promised to take care of the problem and he did. In addition on 2 occasions I ordered more garbage cans and both times they came in a timely manner. I have always found their workers to be efficient wether it is leaf or garbage pickup.
As far as saying you can not reach a person I have called numerous times to schedule a bulk pickup and have always gotten a receptionist right away without being put on hold. (obviously I called during business hours.
from all the departments in this town in my personal experience dpw is the most well run and responsive to the publics needs. Instead of publicly complaining why didn’t you privately call the manager. That;s what I did -he took care of my issue and there was no need to publicly bash a well run dept.
You make it sound like the only thing the dpw does is garbage/snow/leaf removal and otherwise they sit around waiting for a phone call to deliver your garbage can. They have a large number of varied jobs that they do. In addition the town is growing and their department is shrinking slightly and yet they do a excellent job. I for one appreciate what they do and would like to say thank you.
You say they should be responsive to the taxpayer they are. Would you like them to have multiple employees sitting with trucks of garbage cans strategically placed throughout town ready to race to your address the second you call. Of course not- that would cost a fortune . They do a exceptional job with the resources thay have. They operate in a professional efficient manner and should be commended. ( I am a regular homeowner -I have nothing to do with the dpw I just appreciate the job they do)
Shames me to know that on 9-11 a post of garbage pails is a hot topic! I would have preferred to wait for garbage cans then to never see my family member again. Let’s face it, pick and choose your battles…..
was this really the only choice to dispose of garbage? I doubt it. You might have asked a neighbor, place of worship, have brought it to the recycle center open 24 hours (specific items), DPW 6 days a week. I guess placing blame onto others is faster service .
No co??? No garbage cans!!!!
keep up the great job in
keeping this town beautiful as possibe