VIDEO: Late Public Works Employee Honored by Township

Public Works employee Peter "Petey" Zarestky, 52, died on Jan. 25

A veteran Toms River Public Works employee who died while on the job last month was honored by the township. Peter "Petey" Zarestky, who worked for the township for 24-years, died on Jan. 25 of an apparent heart attack. Officials invited Zarestky's family and coworkers to remember the 52-year-old during the Township Council meeting this week. "There wasn't anyone in Public Works who didn't like Petey," said Public Works Director Lou Amoruso. "He was a decent guy, a guy who came and did his job and loved NASCAR." Zarestky was born in Kearny, lived in Middletown and moved to Toms River in 1969, according to his obituary on Legacy.com. In addition to following NASCAR -- especially driver Rusty Wallace -- Zarestky was a New York Giants fan. …

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Council Approves Public Works Purchases

Garage doors and spray patcher approved for purchase last week for a total of $241,880

Toms River Township Council members last week approved the purchase of a spray patcher and garage doors that total over $240,000.  The 2012 model spray patcher — a truck that is used to repair roadway conditions such as pot holes — will be bought from U.S. Municipal Supply, Inc., for a maximum amount of $209,880, according to the resolution authorizing its purchase. The eight replacement garage doors for public works facilities will be bought and installed for no more than $32,000, according to a purchase resolution.  One resident at the meeting questioned why all of the garage doors had to be replaced now, rather than staggered, so that the township would not have to pay all at once.  "They were all installed at the same time and they're …

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Hurricane Sandy

Dealing with the Debris of Hurricane Sandy: Toms River's Garbage, Leaf Pick-up

New schedule, rules for clean-up and leaf collection in Toms River

The large piles of cut-up trees and leaves sitting curbside in front of countless homes in Toms River now have a new schedule for pick-up. Addressing Hurricane Sandy debris, Toms River is using a county contract to aid in the widespread pick-up of storm-damaged household items and branches and leaves. Ocean County's contractor, AshBritt, will pick-up leaves under Toms River's new leaf collection schedule. The township has pared with the county, who is assuming most of the cost Toms River would have incurred, said Township Administrator Paul Shives. The township so far has passed an emergency bond ordinance for $35 million in Hurricane Sandy expenses. "We've signed on to the county's contract, and that stopped the bleeding for us," Shives …

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Council Approves Up To $35 Million Emergency Spending After Sandy

Toms River Township Council approved up to $35 million in spending to cover Hurricane Sandy costs, including debris removal and township employee overtime.

Toms River Township Council approved spending up to $35 million to cover emergency costs associated with Hurricane Sandy, including debris removal and overtime for police and public works employees. The township can repay the costs – many of which can be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- over a five-year period, Mayor Thomas Kelaher said at a press conference earlier Friday, Nov. 16.  Township Administrator Paul Shives said before the Township Council emergency meeting on Friday that any borrowing to cover the costs would be conducted as the township needed it.  FEMA normally reimburses municipalities between nine months and a year after emergency costs are incurred, Shives said.   Shives noted that the landfill bill…

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About Town

Document Shredding Available Nov. 9 in Toms River

Township to hold shredding event at public works

If you have giant boxes of sensitive information to get rid of, the county is again offering to take it off your hands and shred it into tiny strips. Ocean County's Residential Document Shredding program continues, when on Friday, Nov. 9, county residents can lug their documents to Toms River Public Works for shredding. You'll have to show proof of an Ocean County address, but that's the only requirement of the free service. Document shredding will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. The Toms River Public Works Department, Recycling Convenience Center, is at 1672 Church Road, Toms River, 08753. Please call 732-506-5047 for more information.

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Hurricane Sandy

Free Water and Ice Distribution at Toms River Public Works

FEMA distributing water and ice

Free bottles of water and bags of ice are available at the Toms River Public Works Department for residents. Toms River Office of Emergency Management Director Paul Daley said the water and ice are now available. FEMA is bringing the water and ice to Toms River as part of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The Public Works Department is located at 1672 Church Road, Toms River, NJ 08753. The office phone number is 732-255-1000 and police and hurricane non-emergency phone number is 732-349-0150.

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Phones Down at Toms River Public Works

Crews today trying to have phones back up. Callers must dial direct extension to reach the department.

If you are trying to call the Toms River Public Works Department, an issue with the phones is preventing calls from going through. Instead, callers should use direct extensions for particular public works desks and staffers, in order to have their calls go through, but callers can leave a message only. The issue may be solved for tomorrow, but there's no guarantee, said Township Administrator Paul Shives. The phones are down, just in the public works department, he said. The issue is with a malfunctioning microwave system that carries calls. "The DPW phone/internet connection is via a microwave system that is down," Shives said. "We are hopeful of having it repaired today, but cannot promise that." While the phone and internet use at the …

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