Hurricane Irene Scorecard

The Township Committee during Wednesday’s workshop session thrashed the response of Jersey Central Power & Light in the days following Hurricane Irene, saying the company was “disappointing’’ and “unresponsive.’’

Conversely, each committee member praised the efforts of volunteer fire, first aid, office of emergency management, the police and Public Works Department in preparation, during and following the storm.

The committee agreed to put a resolution on the agenda for next week’s public meeting calling for an investigation into the power company’s actions following the storm, which knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties last month. Some residents in town were in the dark for six days following the storm.

The resolution calls on the state Board of Public Utilities – the regulating authority for utility companies -- to investigate JCP&L’s response to the storm. If the committee passes it next week, Wall Township would join a growing list of communities clamoring for an investigation of the power company.

Committee members took turns criticizing the company, saying information was non-existent about the extent of power outages or timelines on when or how power would be restored, fomenting already palpable frustration and stymieing efforts to restore calm in affected areas.

“JCP&L, I believe, was extremely unresponsive,’’ Committeeman Todd Luttman said. “I understand that people would be without power, but they should at least be able to allow us to have time frames that we could work with that were not eight to 10 days.’’

Committeeman George Newberry, who singled out the fire and first aid squads for special thanks, had harsh words for JCP&L, saying he supported the resolution calling for a BPU investigation, while openly doubting that anything would come from it.

“If I sound frustrated, it’s because I truly am,” Newberry said. “It’s happening over and over again where they’re offering less and less and charging more and nobody seems to care. The changes there in the last nine years have been atrocious.’’

Newberry said he would like to see an independent panel run an investigation to prevent a similar, or worse, fate in the future.

“I would encourage someone to look into it because it could be worse in the next storm,’’ he said.

Committeeman Clinton Hoffman, who lauded the efforts of the township’s Office of Emergency Management, said that he shared the frustration of residents.

“Like the residents, we are customers of JCP&L,’’ Hoffman said. “And they weren’t answering our calls either.’’

Deputy Mayor Jeff Foster ran down a list of accolades for township workers, employees and volunteers who he said worked tirelessly through the storm in a variety of capacities. He also praised Sandra Brower, assistant schools superintendent, for her stewardship of the emergency shelter set up at Wall High School.

He was less enthused with the utility company.

“I’m very upset,’’  Foster said. “They (JCP&L) knew a week ahead that this was going to be at least a Category 2. It was (Category) 1 and thank God it was because we’d still be in the dark right now if it was a Category 2.’’

Foster also said he’d support an independent investigation.

“I think there is definitely a problem,’’ Foster said. “It’s not the same JCP&L we knew 30 years ago.’’

Mayor Ann Marie Conte -- who thanked township employees and volunteers for both the effort during and the planning leading up to the hurricane -- said JCP&L’s lack of communication left township officials with little or nothing to tell residents about the power outages or how long it would be before it was restored.

“It was very disappointing and frustrating for us,’’ Conte said. “It was very upsetting. Certainly it was a disservice for our residents here.’’