Emergency Workers Get Mayoral Praise With Surprise Breakfast

Madison, NJ— The borough's Department of Public Works employees, exhausted from working overnight to restore power and clear downed wires and trees, were treated to a breakfast by the Chatham-Madison Front Line Appreciation Group on Wednesday.

The group seeks to support "our front line health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic while also keeping our local restaurants in business." The concept is simple: Raise money, buy food from local establishments, and provide it free to essential workers like police, fire, utility, and medical personnel. Tropical Storm Isaias mobilized Madison's entire emergency team, which restored power and cleared blocked roads.

"Our Electric Department worked into the early hours of the morning," said mayor James Conley, "the Department of Public Works put in extended hours to clear the streets and our police and fire departments were responding to calls for safety issues."

Madison reported nearly 100 percent service restoration on Wednesday afternoon, and Conley said Maple Avenue and Hillside Avenue are expected to be restored Thursday "at the latest, with the possibility of this evening." The mayor credited the quick restoration to the town having its own electrical utility and to the borough's workers.

"I applaud the efforts of all of our employees as they tirelessly worked to serve our residents during the storm," Conley said, "and throughout the recovery process."