Sandy Recovery, JCP&L Review Top Council Agenda

In their first meeting since Tropical Storm Sandy hit the area, the Chatham Borough Council will review emergency management and JCP&L's performance during the storm when they meet Monday.

Much of Chatham Borough lost power as a result of Tropical Storm Sandy, including all schools, and police said trees or wires came down on almost every street.

According to the First Energy website, all of Chatham Borough has had power restored as of 11 p.m. Sunday.

In 2011, borough residents and officials criticized JCP&L's slow response to restoring power after both Tropical Storm Irene and the late October snow storm that hit exactly one year before Sandy.

Borough Administrator Robert Falzarano will address the borough's emergency management during the storm and JCP&L's response in the discussion items at Monday's meeting.

TriCare Lawsuit

The council will also vote on a resolution appropriating $150,000 for the council's ongoing lawsuit with Tricare Treatment Services.

The borough's original 2012 budget allowed for $50,000 in legal fees for the lawsuit. Fees within this year have risen to an estimated $200,000, and the borough needs an emergency appropriation of $150,000 to cover the cost.

If approved, an emergency note will be sold and the funds will be provided for in the 2013 budget.

The Chatham Borough Council meets at the Chatham Borough Municipal Building at 7:30 p.m. Monday. A full copy of the agenda can be found in the Photos & Documents section of this article.