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Sayreville council probes JCP&L streetlight billing after resident questions $38,000 charge
Summary
Council members and a resident raised questions about a $67,000 utility bill that included about $38,000 for streetlights; borough staff say a 1985 agreement allows withholding payment for nonworking lamps and the borough has invited a JCP&L representative to a future meeting.
A Sayreville resident and council members pressed borough officials on higher-than-usual utility bills, particularly a bill the resident said listed $67,000 for electricity this month with about $38,000 charged for streetlights.
The issue surfaced during the council’s public comment period when resident Jim Robinson asked whether the borough had received “$38,000 worth of street lights this month,” and whether the administrator could certify that services billed were actually received.
The question matters because the municipal voucher the council approves includes a certification that materials or services have been received. Public safety presenter Mike, speaking during the council’s reports, said the borough attorney confirmed today that an agreement from 1985 — the most recent contract on file — allows the borough to withhold payment for street lights that are not in operation. Mike said the borough will monitor the situation and can withhold payments for lamps not in service going forward.
Robinson told the council some outages had persisted for months and urged the borough to give the utility 30 days to remedy long-term outages before resuming payment. “Are we getting $38,000 worth of street lights this month?” Robinson asked during public comment.
Council members said the immediate priority is Main Street and Washington Road and that the borough has been tracking and replacing malfunctioning lamps. The public safety report listed several related items: JCP&L has been replacing malfunctioning streetlights, a temporary substation at Main Street is still in use while parts for permanent repairs are on back order, and some replacement parts have been cited as taking more than a year to arrive.
Next steps recorded in the meeting included inviting a JCP&L representative to a future council meeting to provide updates and to answer residents’ questions about outages and high municipal bills. The council also discussed investigating whether billing errors or unusual usage patterns contributed to recent high charges for municipal buildings including firehouses and first-aid stations.
Robinson and council members asked for a more detailed accounting of lights replaced and of any outages older than 30 days, and the borough attorney will continue to advise on withholding payments under the 1985 agreement. No formal policy change or withholding motion was adopted during the meeting; the council said it would continue to monitor the issue and expects a JCP&L representative at a future meeting.
