Fanwood Council Adopts Ordinances Including Changes to Lot 9

(Fanwood, NJ) – The Borough Council adopted three ordinances on second reading at the December 1st agenda meeting.

At last month’s introduction of an ordinance amending downtown parking, Lt. Dan Kranz, Officer in Charge of the Fanwood Police Department, explained that the ordinance makes changes to lot 9, located behind stores on South Avenue across from the train station.

Two rows of parking spaces located close to the businesses will now be designated as two-hour parking, Monday through Friday, from 5 am-11 pm. There will be no parking allowed from 11 pm-5 am seven days a week. The remaining 170 spaces in Lot 9 will include permitted spaces to residents of 246 South Avenue, 250 South Avenue, and 233 LaGrande Avenue. In addition, each business will be given a certain amount of merchant permits. Larger businesses will have the opportunity to purchase additional permits for employees to park on LaGrande Avenue and Second Street by displaying merchant parking permits. Employees will also be able to park in the train station lot, which is free after 12 pm.

A second ordinance creates an auxiliary police force made up of volunteers to assist with traffic and crowd control.

The third ordinance amends salaries and compensation of employees by creating a position of crossing guard supervisor as well as establishing a stipend for the Office of Emergency Management coordinator.

Mayor Colleen Mahr announced the appointment of Erika Rodriguez to the Recreation Commission.

The Mayor and Council agreed to hold the Borough’s 2026 reorganization meeting on Monday, January 5th at 5:30 pm.

Mayor Mahr announced that the Fanwood Fire Department is now accepting wrapped gifts this week from 5pm-9 pm through Friday, December 5th for the Santa Parade to be held on Saturday, December 13th.

She also announced that Fanwood has received $355,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation local aid program. The funds will be used for improvements for Ashford Court, Sun Valley Way, and Timberline Drive.

Mayor Mahr said the Borough received a $7,000 grant for the police department for the “Drive Sober” campaign during the holidays.

Fanwood also received $15,000 from Union County Historical Preservation Trust Fund Grant, which will be used for the Fanwood Historic Train Station rehabilitation project.

Council President Patricia Walsh said the Borough’s tree lighting event is this Sunday, December 7th from 2pm -5 pm.

Mayor Colleen Mahr and Council President Patricia Walsh.

Resident Michael Lewis asked for an update on improving pedestrian safety at the Trenton and Martine Avenues crosswalk by installing a flashing pedestrian crossing sign. Borough Administrator Jesse Moehlman said the town is currently working on acquiring the equipment. In addition, he said the borough will be making a formal request to the county to reduce the speed limit on that stretch of Martine Avenue which is a county road.