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Metuchen residents press borough after large Rose Street tree falls; PSE&G says it will remove remaining hazard
Summary
Residents told the council a massive tree fell on Rose Street after prior complaints; borough staff said PSE&G (the utility) and its contractor inspected the trees and will remove the remaining leaning tree, and the mayor pledged a follow-up review with DPW and the utility.
A Metuchen resident urged borough leaders to explain why a large tree that fell on Rose Street last week was not removed sooner, saying repeated calls to municipal staff went unanswered and that the borough failed to prevent what she called a near catastrophe.
"I have been ... very concerned about this tree. I had spoken with Bridal, right before Thanksgiving. He was going to the League of Municipalities conference, he told me. He would address it when he came back," said Diane Glancy of 127 Rose Street, who said she and neighbors saw the tree leaning and "I feel like the borough did not address our concerns." She told the council she did not get a callback after leaving messages in January.
The council and borough staff said they would investigate the circumstances and work with the utility. Borough board administrator Melissa said the trees near the fallen one are subject to PSE&G review because some are in or near utility wires: "We cannot touch those trees until we get PSE and G to come out and evaluate ... We're at their mercy in terms of what they think is a priority." Melissa said PSE&G had sent a contracted tree crew and the borough has asked them to prioritize the site after the fall.
Mayor Bush said the borough would review the case and press the utility if needed. "We will take a closer look at it ... We will speak to DPW. We will make sure that it was properly evaluated," the mayor said, and acknowledged the town's many large, aging trees increase storm risks.
Another resident, Carl Loveland of 117 Rose Street, told the council the remaining leaning tree "is in direct line when it falls to my house" and urged quick removal. Borough staff said PSE&G's contractor may come out as soon as Friday or early next week to take the other tree down.
The council did not produce a formal written arborist report at the meeting; Melissa said the borough does not generate a written report for every tree inspection, and that the utility's contracted crew provides the operational assessment. Residents asked to see any documentation of the assessment; the borough said it would review what records exist and follow up.
The mayor and council said they would continue to press PSE&G and coordinate with DPW to reduce the chance of similar incidents.
The borough did not announce an exact timeline for producing records or for removal beyond staff statements that the utility’s contractor was scheduled to inspect and likely remove the remaining leaning tree in the coming days.
