A Message from Mayor Mahr
Earlier today the state reported another 2,625 positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 71,030. The current total in Union County is 3,156. Fanwood has seen 43 confirmed cases and sadly, a fourth death. The deceased was a 95-year-old woman with multiple underlying conditions residing at The Chelsea. Our sympathies go to her family and the entire Chelsea community. Below you will find an up-to-the-minute tracker of test results statewide.
As you know, pandemic-related closures are boosting unemployment claims, with 560,000 claims to date.
Approximately 50% of the online claims have been processed, with unemployment funds showing up within 2-3 weeks of filing. This is normal. Up to 39 weeks of unemployment befits are available.
If you were receiving unemployment benefits prior to the emergency, and your benefits were anticipated to end in February or March, you are eligible for extended benefits, which should kick in automatically.
Supplemental unemployment checks, funded through the CARES Act, are expected to lag approximately one week behind your initial unemployment benefit check. These funds are based on your salary and can be as much as $600/week until July 31. If you are self-employed you will qualify for CARES Act funds, however, you must first file an unemployment claim. Upon denial of that claim, you will become eligible for CARES Act funding. Click here to download the Unemployment Claim Link and here for the Self-Employed CARES FAQs for details.
When applying for unemployment with the Department of Labor, it is very important that you read all of the information, including the FAQ sheets, in order to file accurately and have your claim processed.
Stay well Fanwoodians!
– Mayor Colleen Mahr
Second Quarter Taxes Due May 1
The Mayor & Council of the Borough of Fanwood recognizes the effects this deadly virus has had on the community and wishes to mitigate, to the extent possible, these disastrous consequences on those who reside in the Borough.
Because it is within our power to fix interest rates for delinquent payments, we have resolved to extend the “grace period” for late payments from May 10th to May 31st, 2020. Further, the Council has determined that the interest rate for payments made after the May 31st deadline will be assessed at .00001%. You can read the full resolution here.
Second Quarter 2020 Tax Payments are due May 1. Payments must reach the Tax Collector on or before the end of the May 31 grace period to avoid interest charges.
Since Borough Hall is currently closed to the public, payments should be submitted as follows:
Regular Mail – mail to tax collector 75 N Martine Avenue, Fanwood NJ 07023
Online – on our homepage click on the sidebar for tax/utility payments; you will be directed to a site to make an online payment using credit card or e-check (additional charges are applied when paying online see information listed on payment site)
Drop-off – there is a mail slot located on the wall outside of the front entrance to borough hall labeled “tax and sewer payments” – drop payment inbox it will go into a secure payment box inside of the building.
SPF Resource Central for COVID-19
The Borough of Fanwood and Township of Scotch Plains designated the FSP Rotary Club to create a centralized committee, SPF Resource Central, for people needing information about available resources during the Coronavirus pandemic. The goal is to assist the towns during this difficult crisis and become a key point of contact for the community.
To secure assistance or to offer assistance, please visit fsprotary.org.
The federal government’s stimulus checks will start arriving to homes all over the country beginning this week. If you are curious to find out the status of your check, please visit IRS.gov.
Face Masks are Not a Substitute
We would like to remind ALL Fanwood residents that wearing a face mask in public is not a substitute for existing stay-at-home orders or social distancing protocol.
- Please leave surgical and N95 masks for our medical professionals and first responders, who need them
- Avoid touching the front of the mask
- Wash your hands before putting on the mask & again after removal
- Store the mask in a paper bag
- Cloth masks are not recommended for children under two
A Message from NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT remains committed to the safety of our customers and employees and is working to ensure a safe environment by following the health standards set by the CDC through the sanitation of our facilities and vehicles and the cleanliness practices of our employees; Additionally, NJ TRANSIT remains committed to providing reliable and dependable service.
Per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 125 requiring all personnel and customers on New Jersey Transit vehicles to wear face coverings, among other requirements, strengthening NJ TRANSIT’s efforts to protect the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, please be advised that:
NJ TRANSIT REQUIRES ALL RIDERS TO WEAR A FACE COVERING.
NJ TRANSIT WORKERS AUTHORIZED TO LIMIT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY TO 50% OF THE VEHICLE’S MAXIMUM CAPACITY ON ALL TRAINS, BUSES, AND LIGHT RAIL LINES.
CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE USING NJ TRANSIT SERVICES FOR ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY.
For more information on Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 125 please click here.
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s Website Provides Resources
On her website, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman states “As our nation continues efforts to mitigate both the spread and impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, I am committed to providing you with as much information and as many resources as possible to keep your family healthy and secure during, and in the immediate aftermath of this crisis. While I’m working on legislation that will provide resources for families hit by layoffs or other coronavirus-related challenges, I’m also working with state and federal leaders to get New Jersey every tool it needs to see us through this.”
The Congresswoman’s website has compiled a number of different resources at
