It's good to see that Mayor Barberio and the Town Council have finally acknowledged the need to begin to plan and prepare for the possibity that more "megastorms" may hit Parsippany. Unlike our elected leaders' past unwillingness and failure to learn from Irene (which they concluded was a once in a hundred year storm requiring them to do nothing ) and unlike the Mayor's declaration that anyone questioning his preparation for and response to Irene was doing so for "political reasons", it sounds as though there has been a change in thinking in Town Hall. That can olny be for the better because the next storm could bring both Sandy's winds and Irene's water. Hopefully at the public meeting on December 11, we will not only hear about the havoc wreaked by Sandy but we will also learn about what the Mayor and Town Council plan to do differently. As the old saying goes three strikes and you are out and given the Administration's storm managment response to date the count is 0 and 2 and the next pitch could come with the next weather pattern. Parsippany can't afford a third strike so it's time for the Mayor and the Town Council to hit one out of the park. Batter up !!

Bob please stop criticizing everything. During times like this we need to work together and help support each other. Your negativity is just draining. This storm was terrible for all of us who lost power for a week or more, but it's not the mayor, the governor, the president or anyone else's fault. We need to come together and just make sure we are as prepared as we can be for the next one.

I love the way the Mayor and police pat themselves on the back for "all their good work". Five days and two hours, a real record breaker there. The OEM didn't seem so stand out compared to the last years hurricane and for some reason it's all the Mayor talks about. I guess its because of the changes he made and well, someone has has to talk about how great it is. I have not seen much written about all the different volunteers, the hours they gave, unpaid, compared to the ever so great administration and DeZenzo and Storms. I guess volunteer who spend time away from their families, put their lives as risk, put others ahead of themselves really mean nothing to Parsippany. Of course, talking about how great the administration, Chief and Barney Fife are is to deflect the overtime paid from the mind of the tax paying, left to sit five days, two hour Puddingstone resident.

So, the truth over Puddingstone is finally discussed. This one is quite simple - the mayor has put newly minted Capt Jeffrey Storms is the the contact to JCPL and it was his responsibility to communicate issues.....that's a BIG failure in my judgement. Clearly leaving that many people with no way out for 5 days was compromising life & safety of residents that could have had enormous implications. You all got VERY lucky wi this round of poor judgement.....

"I'm not sticking up for JCP&L," said Mayor Barberio, "but after the fifth day, we called JCP&L and they came within two hours."

Was this the first time JCP&L was called by the town? On the 5th day? I'm glad they responded in two hours, but it seems like they should have been called MANY times before the 5th day since these residents could not leave their homes. The town should have stepped in right away.

Without knowing anything about that neighborhood, it sounds like there were serious risks that should have been addressed within the first few days. If someone died b/c they couldn't get to the hospital on day 2, 3 or 4, who would be responsible for that?

The town did some great things during this storm. But it sounds like Puddingstone may have been a ball that was dropped by BOTH the town and JCP&L. IF the town had been calling JCP&L repeatedly about this neighborhood, it didn't come through in the article.

I bet everyone is glad they put Capt. Storms in his new position this year, eh? He can't even do his job properly. 5 days. Shame on him.

Renee, if the town had been calling JCP&L repeatedly about Puddingstone—and I am not saying it did or didn't call—it didn't come through in what was said during the meeting. As the mayor has not responded to my requests for information, what's said during the meeting is what I'm left with.

Ange
I would have to disagree with your comment above. I don't think Mayor Barberio is a "seriously miserable person" I think he is overwhelmed and is perhaps better suited to be the Mayor of a one stop light town. Parsippany has a great deal of potential but faces a number of complex and serious economic and safety challenges that require a Mayor and a Town Council who welcome and encourage all points of view. The "my way or the highway" philosophy currently being espoused by the Mayor is a leadership path that will lead to nowhere which is a place Parsippany can ill afford to go.

Interesting comment, Ange. I am curious: Do you really think public servants should serve only those who claim to support them or keep their complaints to themselves? Do you want to live in the kind of town where people are afraid to speak out or say what they really believe or hold accountable town officials (who are citizens' employees, after all) for fear of reprisal?

"Fear of Reprisal" I think that can fit on the towns billboard at the corner of
Vail and 46

I think ange is just giving her opinion too just like Robyn always does. The problem is that way too many people give others a hard time for doing just that....expressing their opinion. There are certain people on patch that are simply bullies. They constantly give people a hard time for saying what they feel.

People should feel they can speak their mind, without being insulted. Comments like "you have nothing good to say..." have nothing to do with the article above them. They are about other posters. I was commenting on the article and agreeing with the essence of it - the Mayor often changes his tune, when confronted with facts/reality. And, as to what Natalie says - I immediately thought that, too. You do not pay your taxes to assist in running the town and expect the town to only assist those who compliment them.