For Atlantic Highlands residents who have seen a sanitation worker pick up an overloaded garbage can and toss it in the back of the truck in the middle of a torrential downpour. Or watched him walk up and down the street picking up empty boxes that had blown away because they weren’t broken down and flattened when put to the curb for pickup, Or a borough road employee working with hot materials patching a hole in the street in the middle of a record high summer temperature day, or dozens of other jobs they take in their stride, they already know that “People, Purpose, Presence” are the cornerstone ideals they practice every day.
The borough’s Public Works Department is that unique part of municipal government where its employees serve the borough every day in every way with a sense of purpose, a willingness to do the job right, and a dedication to keeping the residents happy.
The Mayor and Council issued a proclamation at this week’s council meeting honoring the men who serve in public work honoring National Public Works Week.
But residents in Atlantic Highlands know their Public Works Department works tirelessly to provide the kind of service they believe their residents deserve.
Jim Phillips is the official Department of Public Works Director after serving about a year and a half as Acting Director. He has worked for the borough since 1990 and has taken numerous classes at Rutgers University concerning managerial work of the public works department and is certified by the state in the position.
Serving as head of the department since 2018, he oversees a total of 32 full-time and 6 part-time employees who all work together to maintain the borough’s infrastructure and public spaces, which means everywhere from the roads parks and public buildings to the municipal harbor.
They handle all the activities for winter maintenance, snow removal, trash and debris removal, grass mowing, leaf collection, to name a few of their chores, while at the same time managing the recycling yard and ensuring storm water regulations are met. And under Phillips high standards, they also maintain and keep in condition all the borough trucks and vehicles, including the sanitation trucks.
While all public works employees, including Harbor Manager Lou Fligor come under Phillips in the Public Works Department members list, nine of them, in addition to the harbor manager, are assigned to the harbor and confine their duties to harbor maintenance.
There are five employees assigned to the street department, and four to sanitation with one other employee assigned to split his time between streets and sanitation, One full time and one part time employee are assigned to buildings and grounds and one part time employee assigned to sanitation. With two others assigned to vehicle maintenance and another three in the water and sewer department, Phillips maintains schedules for each of them that enables him to provide personnel for emergencies, 24-hour days and seven-day weeks throughout the year.
As cited in the reasons given for recognizing public service workers in the municipality, it is noted that in most instances public works professionals will never meet those whose lives have been impacted. That is because when things are going right, no one knows that public works is there. Yet, with or without fanfare, public works is ever present, working in the background to advance quality of life for all.
In Atlantic Highlands, Director Phillips and his department take their jobs seriously, meet high standards, and get the job done.
Thank that worker who’s picking up your trash or maintaining the cleanliness of the Public Works recycling bins or keeping those sewage lines running clean. He keeps the town looking neat, clean and inviting.
