ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION


DID YOU KNOW?

It’s the landscaping quiet season and a good time to think about this: gas- powered leaf blowers are gas guzzling, polluting equipment that is damaging to human health and the environment, not to mention the irritatingly loud noise they make. The science has shown that the noise, particulate matter, unburned gas, and oil being released, and the fumes from burnt fuel are hazardous to the health of the workers, residents (particularly the elderly and young), causing hearing loss and potential cancers, hypertension, cardiac disease, and increased stress levels.

A Few Facts About Gas Powered Leaf Blowers:

1 Hour of use = Driving a car for 1,100 miles

30% of the gas used fails to properly combust, causing extreme health problems.

The decibel level of 80-95 is in violation of the Fanwood Noise Ordinance, which can penetrate houses up to 800 feet from the noise source

For more information about sustainable yards, and how to chat with your professional landscaper about environmental concerns, check out Conversations with Landscapers.

Commission Meetings 2024

January 18 February 15
March 21 April 18
May 16 June 20
July 18 August 15
September 19 October 17
November 21 December 19

Meetings held: 3rd Thursday, 7:00 p.m. at the Fanwood Carriage House, 75 N. Martine Avenue.

Commission Members

The Fanwood Environmental Commission is a statutory board of eight regular members and two alternates. The regular members include Liaison (Planning Board) & Liaison (Town Council).

Our charge includes studying and making recommendations concerning open space preservation, water resource management, air pollution control, solid waste management, noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance, and protection of flora and fauna.

We are also caretakers of the Fanwood Nature Center located just off Cray Terrace, entrance accessible from alongside the powerlines. Take a video tour of the Nature Center via this link: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3e270c0e/XXkZFQKE8UeMj7I7Ej-D2A?u=https://youtu.be/3qkq88QgcFg

Email: Fanwood.EC.1895@gmail.com

Suzanne Custons-Sanschagrin Secretary
Gary Szelc  Vice Chair
Sandy Redder Chair
Phyllis Sandrock
Dave Schwartzberg
Leslie Krone-Speck Planning Board Liason
Patricia Walsh Council Liaison
Andrea Parra Alternate #1
Vacant Alternate #2

Our Mission

We promote the conservation, protection, development, or use of all Fanwood’s natural and water resources by:

  • Planning & implementing local conservation programs as approved by the Town Council
  • Compiling an Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) compendium
  • Making recommendations on all development plans before the Planning Board with a focus on how it would impact Fanwood’s natural and water resources and environment.
  • Conducting Outreach programs to raise awareness on environmental issues as they affect our town.
  • Advertising, preparing, and distributing materials necessary to implement the Commission’s activities
  • Acting as the Township liaison for conservation needs with regional, state, and federal agencies
  •  Working with Boy and Girl Scouts and other youth and community groups to perform various environmentally-oriented projects throughout the town