BY GINNY RAUE
West Milford residents, at least the seasoned veterans, know that as autumn turns to winter, daily living can become more difficult. Snow and ice on driveways and walks and navigating the town’s roads to get to work, school or shopping is sometimes a challenge.
Now envision that you are in charge of the care and maintenance of 160 miles of West Milford’s streets and roads as well as public property, sewers and drains. Add recycling to that list, as well. It adds up to a rather arduous job.
Enter Joseph Clementi, the recently appointed director of the Department of Public Works (DPW) for West Milford Township. On the job since April, Clementi is about to experience his first West Milford winter, although the job in this 80 square mile town is eventful year round.
Clementi, 58, is a Ridgewood resident and a seasoned veteran in his own right, having been employed in similar public works positions in Hawthorne and Teaneck for the past 10 years.
He and his wife, Jane, have been married for 31 years and are the parents of three adult children. Close to their hearts, they run the “Tyler Clementi Foundation” in memory of their beloved son, a victim of cyber-bullying, lost to his family and friends in 2010.
A visit to the web site (http://www.tylerclementi.org/) will provide information about the efforts of the family and the foundation to promote a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for all members of society.
Born in Manhattan and raised in Fair Lawn, Clementi studied civil engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In the past he has worked as the director of operations at several utility companies. After completing studies at Rutgers University, he became a state sanctioned Certified Public Works Manager.
Operating in West Milford, a more “countrified” area, Clementi has a sizable work force under his umbrella.
“The job is very active, changing daily. It’s very diversified and interesting work. On a daily basis you’ll see something you haven’t seen before,” he said.
West Milford’s DPW manages the maintenance of township roadways, including plowing and salting, pot holes, wash-outs, downed trees and the upkeep of storm drain systems. They are responsible for public buildings and to some extent public grounds. The town’s recycling center and its works are also on the job list as well as the educating the public about the benefits of recycling.
Within the township and under the watch of the DPW are 205 vehicles, trailers and other mobile equipment. Out of that fleet 120 are considered rolling stock, including police cars, township trucks and to some degree fire apparatus.
As the cold weather approaches the DPW is gearing up, making their lists and checking them twice.
“We make sure the sanders and plows are operational. It’s only October but one truck is set up, just in case,” he said. October snow storms are not unheard of in recent years.
Clementi relies on a real-time weather service and confers with other township officials as to when the sanders and plows will roll out.
The winter of 2014-2015 will see the testing of salt brine, a mixture applied to the roads ahead of a storm. Other towns claim success with this product but it can be wasteful, Clementi said, if the forecast predicts snow and it rains instead.
“It’s an anti-icing pilot program. It’s one more tool the municipality can use to fight winter weather,” Clementi said. Where it will be tested is under consideration.
Clementi reported that the DPW is consistently kept busy supporting road work projects. There’s a list of work to be done including storm drains, inlets and piping issues. The most difficult part of the job is managing the work load.
“No matter where you are, there’s always more work than resources,” he said.
Clementi was more than complimentary about the DPW employees and said he enjoys interacting with them.
“They are a very skilled and qualified work force, capable of doing every job we give them, and that’s a pleasure,” he said
He declined to make any winter weather predictions, as he has little faith in long-range forecasts.
“I’ve been fooled too many times.”
His free time is predominantly spent on the “Tyler Clementi Foundation,” but when the opportunity arises he likes to swim and scuba dive.
When it comes to eating and cooking, his preference is to find a good restaurant. But it’s clear by his recipe submission that he knows how to enjoy a home cooked meal and, more significantly, some down time with those who matter to him.