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Residents press Brick Council on snow removal, traffic safety and a pending plant during public comment
Summary
During public comment residents criticized post‑storm snow and ice clearing, raised safety concerns about Wawa delivery traffic and red‑light violations, and urged attention to a pending industrial plant application; officials urged commenters to bring evidence to the zoning board or call municipal offices for targeted follow‑up.
Residents used the public‑comment period to press the council on winter‑storm management, traffic safety around the Wawa site and a pending industrial facility application.
Sam Foster opened the discussion during the resolutions‑only Q&A by asking whether the proposed motor‑fuel tax funds the state's transportation trust fund and what would happen to local road and bridge maintenance if the tax were not raised. A staff member responded that fuels taxes contribute to the state transportation trust fund and pay for roads and bridges, and council members said the resolution opposing the tax reflects concern that Brick’s commuter population would bear a disproportionate share of any increase.
Resident Mike Calderice asked for specifics about the snow‑removal transfer: “How much is being transferred and then how much do we have left in the dedicated account?” Administration responded that $187,000 is being transferred and that the current snow fund balance is “just shy of $500,000.”
Charlie Bacon described traffic safety incidents near the Wawa site, including an observed tractor‑trailer making an illegal left turn, and asked the administration to provide delivery‑time restrictions that may be associated with the Wawa approval and the number of summons issued for no‑left‑turn violations. He also asked about red‑light enforcement data at major intersections.
Multiple residents criticized the township’s post‑storm snow‑clearing, saying streets remained icy or blocked weeks after storms and that some neighborhoods saw only one plow pass. The mayor and other officials responded that crews worked daily to clear corners and lines of sight across 1,500 roads, that salt deliveries had been received, and that the administration would investigate specific reports if residents provided photos or calls to the office. Council members acknowledged residents’ frustration while noting resource and timing constraints for large storm events.
Bob Maliano urged attention to a pending application before the Board of Adjustment for a longtime asphalt/industrial plant, raising concerns about runoff and emissions and recommending community outreach; municipal counsel advised that the zoning board is the appropriate forum while the application is pending and encouraged public comment there.
Residents were directed to the township’s public channels for follow‑up (including a web upload function for photos) and to the zoning board’s public hearings for comments on pending land‑use applications. The council closed public comment and adjourned the meeting.
