Tree Branch Remains on Montclair Resident's Home 6 Months After Sandy

Montclair resident W.L. Bill Allen Jr. is reminded daily of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy every time he looks at his backyard. 

Six months after the superstorm ripped through Montclair, wreaking havoc along the East Coast, a large tree branch reaching as tall as the home's second-story windows still rests on the roof of a sun room in Allen's backyard. Littered around the large limb are myriad tree stumps — some weighing more than 100 pounds. 

Allen’s backyard is adjacent to the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve in Upper Montclair. Pointing to a jagged tree only a few steps away from his property line in the wildlife preserve last week, Allen said the tree limb on his home fell during Hurricane Sandy and is the township’s property. 

After months of talking with the township arborist to have the limb removed and getting nothing but missed deadlines, Allen said he is at a loss about what to do. 

“This house costs about $16,000 a year in property taxes,” said Allen, “... and the township hasn’t done anything. ... It is ridiculous to be paying this much in taxes and nobody cares.” 

Robert Bianco, superintendent of Montclair’s Department of Public Works and Parks, said he was not familiar with Allen’s specific situation but added he would inquire about it. 

Township Manager Marc Dashield did not return repeated calls for comment. 

Falling branches also destroyed a telephone pole in Allen's backyard during Hurricane Sandy and knocked out power to his home for nearly a month.  

Allen added that he is unable to begin repairs on his roof, gutters and backyard until the tree limbs and stumps are removed. 

Hurricane Sandy was not the first time branches have fallen from the wildlife preserve onto his property. Allen’s backyard is like a record of the storms that have rolled through Montclair during the past few years. In one corner, there are branches which fell and destroyed his backyard fence during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. In another area, there are destroyed shrubs and more branches from the October 2011 snowstorm. 

Since Sandy hit New Jersey on Oct. 22, Allen said there have been some repairs done in his backyard. 

About a month after the storm, the power provider PSE&G placed a new telephone pole in Allen's backyard and repaired the downed wires. When PSE&G crews did the repairs, they also cut up many of the tree limbs but left the stumps on his property. In addition, the splintered telephone pole broken during the storm is still standing in his backyard. 

That was the last time anyone touched the downed tree limbs, said Allen, and he added he expected the branches and stumps to remain there for the forseeable future. 

“I can’t come out onto my porch,” said Allen. “Obviously I won’t have a backyard this summer.”