Public Works
Description of Department:
The Public Works Department maintains the public infrastructure of the Township. This department manages programs including snow removal, leaf collection, registration of landscaping businesses, recycling, bulk pick up, shade tree division, road and park maintenance, jitney service and more.
The general hours for the Public Works Department Office are Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except for designated Township holidays.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Maplewood Department of Public Works is to maintain, repair, and wherever possible, improve the infrastructure of our community. This would include the municipal roads, sidewalks, parking lots, parks, trees, buildings, sewers and also maintain the municipal fleet and to do this in the most efficient manner as possible. This department will strive to continue to provide the high level of service Maplewood residents expect and deserve from their Public Works Department.
2010 Department Goals
1) Reorganize the Department-this will make the department more efficient.
2) Continue to reduce the amount of overtime.
3) Put out bid specifications for Custodial work, street sweeping, and
catch basin cleaning.
4) Reduce the number of bulk drop off days from 6 to 4. The days to be eliminated would be in August and October.
5) Increase recycling numbers through increased education.
6) Continue to investigate and evaluate shared service opportunities with other agencies. South Orange DPW and I are currently setting up a meeting with West Orange DPW to discuss possible opportunities.
7) Continue current shared service agreements with South Orange DPW, and the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education. These programs include: South Orange - The Spring Rake Out Program, Electronics Recycling, Auto repair, and assistance when needed. Bd. of Ed. – Purchasing of Diesel fuel and Rock Salt, and Auto Repair for all trucks and cars.
8) Reduce the use of seasonal workers and use these funds to hire outside contractors to support the work performed by the DPW staff.
9) Hire outside contractors to perform when more cost efficient.
Services Provided:
2010 Electronics Recycling Schedule
Spring Rake Out & Bulk Refuse Pickup Area Map
Divisions of Public Works:
Sewer Division
The Sewer Division’s responsibilities are to maintain both the Sanitary and Storm Sewer Systems throughout the Township. The Storm Sewer System is maintained by cleaning the catch basins located at the curb line along the roadway. The Sanitary Sewer System is maintained by jet rodding the Township’s sanitary sewer lines. Routing maintenance of Sanitary Sewer lines is required in order to avoid backups in homeowner’s basements.
Recycling Division
The Recycling Division is responsible for operating the Recycling Center located at 359 Boyden Avenue. Operation of the center includes delivering all recycled material to market, collection of recyclables from Township schools, and the scheduling and pick-up of scrap metal from Township residences.
Road Division
The Road Division is responsible for the maintenance of our municipal roadways. Their operations are varied from season to season. In the fall collecting leaves from our municipal roadways is the top priority. Going into the winter months maintaining our roads free of ice and snow takes priority over other winter operations such as collection of Christmas trees and filling potholes throughout the Township. In the spring six weeks are devoted to the collection of garden debris from Township residences. At the conclusion of this program Road Division members will begin preparing approximately thirty Municipal roads for a process known as Micro-Paving. Preparation of the roads consists of removing and replacing sections of the pavement that have failed and also filling in low spots or “birdbaths” with asphalt. Micro-Paving of the roads is performed by a contractor. Municipal road maintenance and maintenance of the publicly owned curbs and sidewalks completes summer operations.
Shade Tree Division
Trees located in parks, public right-of-ways, and in most cases within ten feet of the curb, are maintained by the Shade Tree Division. Division members prune trees in accordance with ANSI A-300 Pruning Standards; Tree Care Industry’s guideline. Hazardous trees and dead trees are also removed by the Shade Tree Division. The Township typically plants 200 trees per year to help reforest Maplewood’s parks and streets.
Parks Division
Maplewood’s six municipal parks are maintained by the Parks Division. Division members maintain turf, prune shrubbery, and cultivate beds within the parks. The Park Division is also responsible for the maintenance of all the benches and trash receptacles in various locations around town. In addition, the Parks Division maintains municipal parking lots, the grounds of Town Hall and all Municipal buildings. The Park Division manages the Municipal greenhouse facility behind Town Hall. Most of the annual plants that you see in the parks are grown here.
Department Contacts:
Call 973-762-1175 for the Department of Public Works.
Or via email you may reach the Public Works Director as follows:
Eric Burbank, Public Works Director
dpwdirector@twp.maplewood.nj.us
Location:
The Public Works Department general office is located at 359 Boyden Avenue in Maplewood.