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Fire chief says Russell Avenue paving left department short-notice; asks for better preconstruction coordination
Summary
Old Tappan Fire Chief Brian Morgan told the borough council the department learned about curb-and-paving work on Russell Avenue the day before crews arrived and said better advance notice and inclusion in preconstruction meetings are needed to avoid limiting emergency response capabilities.
Brian Morgan, who identified himself as Old Tappan Fire Chief, told the council he learned only a day before crews arrived that curbing and paving work would affect Russell Avenue.
"I was unaware of this until the day before the work was scheduled to happen," Morgan said, describing piles of material left in front of the firehouse that made apparatus bays partly unusable. He asked that the Department of Public Works and contractors include emergency services in preconstruction meetings and share scheduling well in advance so the fire department can arrange apparatus and maintain response capacity.
Council members acknowledged contractor communication problems and noted weather and contractor sequencing can change plans rapidly. Staff said DPW and the contractor had held a preconstruction meeting but that some affected parties had not been invited; Morgan thanked DPW staff who provided temporary space for equipment when needed.
Council members asked staff to improve notification procedures and said they would follow up to ensure ambulance and fire personnel are included in future scheduling communications. No formal action was taken at the meeting; the council directed staff to coordinate and report back.
