Residents press Metuchen council for more DPW resources for bulk pickup and tree maintenance

Residents at the Aug. 17 meeting urged the Borough of Metuchen to prioritize funding for the Department of Public Works to address a backlog of hazardous trees and to consider options for additional or paid bulk pickups.

Resident Kunhan Lee described neighbors waiting months for hazardous‑tree trimming after storms and urged the council to consider options such as charging for additional pickups (he cited nearby towns' $50 third‑pickup fees) to improve responsiveness. "We need to provide the DPW with more assistance in order for them to get to these hazards in a timely manner," Lee said.

Mayor Jonathan Bush and finance staff explained operational constraints: tree work that involves power lines requires PSE&G response and DPW has limited trucks and staff. The administration noted a prior state grant (about $100,000, with some uncertainty in the transcript) that helped tree work and said capitalizing tree maintenance would require state law changes; the mayor said a proposed bill in past years did not pass. Council members reiterated the borough's tight appropriation cap and the need to balance expectations against costs and statutory obligations.

No formal action was taken at the Aug. 17 meeting; council members encouraged residents to provide detailed requests and said the issue will factor into budget and capital planning discussions.