(Fanwood, NJ) – The Borough Council on Monday night passed several resolutions including renewing the borough’s recycling contract with Grand Sanitation. The governing body also heard a Girl Scouts Gold Award project presentation by a high school student for an augmentative and alternative communication board at LaGrande Park.
Mayor Colleen Mahr swore in Richard Hawkins as public defender. Hawkins is also public defender in Roselle Park.
A proclamation was issued for Mental Health Awareness Month. Mayor Colleen Mahr said the Rotary “spearheaded” the “Paint The Green” initiation this year for Mental Health Awareness Month, which is celebrated annually in May. Participating stores have green ribbons in the windows while Fabio’s has put up green lights. Ten towns are taking part in the initiative.
The Mayor said the 10 towns are “standing united together” in supporting the Cross Town Mental Health Coalition. Murphy said the initiative also includes the stigma of mental health as some people, she said, do not seek the help they need because they are afraid of the stigma.
Mayor Mahr said Fanwood will be given signs by the Rotary saying the borough is a stigma-free community. She said the signs will be located at points of entry to Fanwood.
Cassidy Fitzgerald, a junior at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, presented her Girl Scout Award Project for an augmentative and alternative communication board at LaGrande Park. She said the board is for kids to communicate with each other on the playground. It is aimed for children with special needs such as Autism.
She plans to start a GoFundMe to raise donations to offset the costs, which she estimated at between $1,000-$2,000. She said boards can be hung with pillars or can be vinyl signs placed on fences.
“I command you. It’s a fantastic idea,” Councilman Anthony Carter said.
“This is one of the better ones (Girl Scout projects) I have seen in long time,” Mayor Mahr said.
Cassidy said she would like to have her project completed by the fall.
Catherine Hunt of Scotch Plains, a former Fanwood resident, requested council support for state legislation known as the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act (S-3545/A-4696), which she said would offset the financial burden of climate change on Fanwood. She said the legislation would make the largest fossil fuel corporations pay for damages caused by climate change in New Jersey. She said it is estimated that the legislation would raise up to $2 billion annually, funds which would be overseen by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The council approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with Grand Sanitation to collect, transport and dispose of borough recyclables. Grand Sanitation is the current hauler for curbside recyclables. The contract is for three years and includes two additional option years for 2029 and 2030. The new contract begins January of 2026.
A resolution was approved for the borough to enter into agreement with ATT Sports, Inc., to resurface the La Grande Park tennis courts along with new tennis nets, posts and paving a new exterior pathway surrounding the courts. The project is being funded through a state grant.
Borough Administrator Jesse Moehlman anticipates work beginning at the end of August with completion in October.
The council also introduced an ordinance to amend fees for films and motion pictures in the borough in order to be considered a film-ready town. Moehlman said the ordinance lowers the fees to keep in line with state guidelines to be more enticing to film producers and studios. The public hearing and second reading will be on Monday, May 19th.
