Village Beefing Up Tree Debris Pickup Efforts [VIDEO]

The Ridgewood Village Council is in agreement that the autumnal storm isn't , and it's given the go-ahead to approve worker overtime and is also considering hiring a private contractor to finish the job.

"The council is aware that the cleanup is not going as fast as it could so we are prepared to increase the budget so we can get storm relief – trees and branches – cleaned up," Mayor Keith Killion said. "This will facilitate leaf pickup."

"We've got to get ahead on this," Councilman Steve Wellinghorst said Tuesday, adding the current conditions are dangerous. On many of Ridgewood's roads, large piles of debris obstruct sidewalks, forcing pedestrians into narrow roads.

Officials say village workers will be laboring 12-hour shifts, including Saturday, and moving systematically throughout village neighborhoods.

"If we find that things are still not moving fast enough the council will explore a private contractor to supplement our men," Killion said. "Again, there are budget concerns and we have to take that all into consideration."

Killion said Village Manager Ken Gabbert has instructed Director of Operations Frank Moritz to explore prices on bids. No figures are yet available, though Killion said just overtime costs alone could be around $20,000.

Many residents have already seen work done, noisily and late at night. Killion – who apologized to residents for the noise – said the village is aiming to have everything picked up within two weeks, though variables like weather could delay efforts.

"People have been frustrated," Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh added. "It's more debris than we ever expected."

Walsh reported that many landscapers heeded the warning to leave the leaf piles down and residents too are pitching in, bagging leaves, clipping branches and bringing the items to the Recycling Center.

"Although everybody is helping out over the next couple of weeks it's imperative to get all this stuff off the streets before the snowstorms come," Walsh said. "Now that the cleanup is progressing at a stronger pace, things are looking better."