Fanwood Recognizes Long-Time Volunteers, Introduces Budget, Addresses Misinformation on Proposed Tree Ordinance

(Fanwood, NJ) – The Borough Council recognized its long-time volunteers at Monday’s regular monthly meeting as part of Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Volunteers with 10+ years of service are: Board of Health: Margaret Lewis, Kathleen Thomas, Michael Lewis and Jan Siegel; Cultural Arts: Adele Kenny and Tom Plante; Environmental Commission: Sandra Redder, David Schwartzberg and Gary Szelc; Historic Preservation Commission: Joan Skubish; Library Board of Trustees: Jane Frost-Guzzo and Jenn Coppock-Huegel; Planning Board: Matthew Juckes; Recreation Commission: Neil Pierce, Mike Kelly, Eryn Sinclair, and Bruce Zakarin; Shade Tree Commission: Steve Falco and Joanne Muoio, and TV 35, Michael Lewis.

Mayor Colleen Mahr and Councilwoman Patricia Walsh present a proclamation to Michael Lewis, of the Board of Health, as part of Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Mayor Colleen Mahr and Councilwoman Patricia Walsh present a proclamation to Steve Falco, of the Shade Tree Commission, as part of Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Mayor Colleen Mahr and Councilwoman Patricia Walsh present a proclamation to long-time Fanwood Memorial Library Board Member Jane Frost-Guzzo as part of Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Mayor Colleen Mahr and Councilwoman Patricia Walsh presented proclamations for Clean Community Day, Arbor Day, Child Abuse Prevention Day, and Autism Awareness Month.

The council approved a resolution for the introduction of the 2026 municipal budget totaling $13,319,347, representing 21% of the total tax bill. The average Fanwood tax bill of $3,128 is an increase of $226.86 over last year for municipal services. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education portion accounts for 62% of tax bills with the County making up 15% of the bill.

In his presentation to the Mayor and Council, Borough Administrator Jesse Moehlman said the tax increase is primarily due to significant hikes in group health insurance (26%), liability insurance (9.5%), debt service (3%) and pensions (4.7%.) Moehlman said these increases amount to a year-over-year increase of $500,000.

Moehlman said the borough recently entered into shared services agreements with Garwood for the Municipal Court and with Scotch Plains for tax collector services. Fanwood also has shared service agreements for its public works director with Garwood and for its construction official with Rahway. Fanwood is also a member of the Westfield Health Department.

Capital projects in 2026, funded through previously received grants, will include the rehabilitation of the North Side Train Station/Community House, resurfacing of the Forest Road Park tennis courts, improvements to Sun Valley Way, Timberline Drive, the Hetfield Place Bridge in Scotch Plains, pedestrian safety improvements at Trenton and Martine Avenues. Bids will also be issued for resurfacing Waldon Road, Kyte Place, Graybar Place, and Watson Road.

A public hearing and adoption for the budget is scheduled for Monday, May 18 at 7 pm.

Mayor Mahr said she will put a resolution on the next meeting agenda urging the State to address needed health benefits reform. She said the large increases the borough has been witnessing the last several years are “unsustainable” with cost increases passed on to employees, retirees and taxpayers.

A resolution was approved urging the state to ban algorithmic rental pricing software.

Sean Foley of Scotch Plains thanks the Mayor and Council for passing a resolution urging the State to ban algorithmic rental pricing software.

During the public portion of the meeting, several residents spoke in favor of a proposed revision of the borough’s ordinance concerning removal of trees on private property.

Steve Falco of the Shade Tree Commission described the existing ordinance as “very complicated and very cumbersome and difficult to deal with.” He said he supports the language in the proposed ordinance.

Steve Falco, of the Shade Tree Commission, urges residents to attend Friday’s Arbor Day celebration at 4 pm at Carriage House Park.

Leslie Krone-Speck, chair of the Environmental Commission, said there is a lot of misinformation being circulated on social media concerning the tree ordinance. She said residents may be removing trees because they are unaware the borough has a tree ordinance. Krone-Speck said she supports having a certified tree expert confirm an old tree is deceased before it is taken down.

Leslie Krone-Speck, chair of the Environmental Commission, speaks in favor of a proposed revised tree ordinance.

Laura Lang of the Fanwood Green Team also said she welcomed the new ordinance.

Laura Lang of the Fanwood Green Team speaks in favor of a proposed revised tree ordinance.

Councilwoman Patricia Walsh read a statement on the tree ordinance.

Councilwoman Patricia Walsh reads a statement on the tree ordinance.

“We are looking at revising the ordinance to make sure we follow storm water management, DEP regulations, and state regulations,” Councilwoman Walsh said. “The Environmental Commission and the Shade Tree Commission, our borough engineer, and our borough administrator have all spent many, many hours discussing our current ordinance, looking at model ordinances from the state and other towns to ensure that our proposal will satisfy all the regulations and requirements we need to. Our intent is to strengthen and clarify our current ordinance, to protect our trees, to meet the needs of our residents, and adhere to all the regulations.”

The Councilwoman said the proposed ordinance was discussed at the council’s April 6 agenda meeting, but action was not taken. She said the drafting of the ordinance is an ongoing process and collaboration with borough commissions “to get the best tree ordinance for Fanwood that we can.”

“We have absolutely no interest in making money through fines. We want to promote environmental conscience behavior and responsibility regarding tree removal and replacement,” Councilwoman Walsh said. She encouraged residents to engage in productive dialogue with the borough by attending council meetings or joining borough commissions as opposed to posting “insulting and misinformation on Facebook.”

David Schwartzberg, of the Environmental Commission, encourages residents to take part in Saturday’s Clean Community Day as Mayor Colleen Mahr looks on.

Mayor Colleen Mahr reads the proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month as Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School student Tyler Midrano and Carrie Speiser of Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey look on.