Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Giving Credit

There’s a lot of criticism about public employees lately; some of which, I think, is due to the scandalous financial condition of the State of New Jersey and its Rube Goldberg efforts to fix it. Because of that, many public employees who go through their day just trying to get the job done often don’t get much credit for what they do.

Some of those jobs are not so easy or pleasant. Take, for example, the crew that has to pick up deer from the edge of your property after being struck by a vehicle. It’s annoying to you, and it’s not the best duty for the Bridgewater Public Works employees dispatched to remove the remains.

That’s why, yesterday, upon returning from Thanksgiving with our family, I was grateful to see the quick response by employees of Bridgewater’s Public Works Department. One of my neighbors had called the Township as I was driving home. He was assured that someone would be there at 3:00 pm to pick up and dispose of the deer. A two-man crew arrived promptly and, bingo, problem gone!

Despite all of the issues, some things really do work in public service; and this, albeit a modest one, is a good example of that.

Note: Somerset County assumes responsibility for this job if the animal is on its own roadways, while Bridgewater Township will step up if the animal is on your property.

2 comments:

Pat F said...

Dick,
I truly appreciate your acknowledgement of the good work done by our township employees. The Public Works staff are involved in every aspect of the township, from deer removal to pothole repair, picking up leaves, mowing grass and maintaining fields and parks, to plowing snow, clearing culverts, storm sewers, the halloween festival and maintaining our Town Hall, Police building, senior center and library facilities, to name a few of their functions.
Your column is always thoughful and/or uplifting, a nice alternative to most of the news. Thanks.
Pat Flannery

Dick Bergeron said...

I try to call things as I see them. Even the good stuff!