Politics & Government

New Beautification Task Force Takes Aim at Recycling, Entrances to Town

The group met for its first ever meeting on Thursday, July 29.

After the first official meeting of the newest Bernards Township volunteer group, the Beautification Task Force has set its goals and agenda for the rest of 2010.

The eight-member group organized a leadership structure and decided on five tasks for the current year. The projects will include:

  • A ramp clean-up day in October to remove litter from the entrances into town (from Rt. 287 and Rt. 78) and raise awareness about keeping the ramps clean
  • Enforcement and education about local recycling laws (residents should not put out recycling earlier than 6 p.m. the night before it is due to be collected)
  • Publicizing the group and its projects to community members, including appointing a point-person for residents who wish to report beautification needs to the township
  • Co-sponsor the Basking Ridge Garden Club's annual home and business beautification awards

The group considered many similar projects, but chose to focus on the above because of their limited timeframe. As a task force, the beautification team will work on a project basis before their current charter is reevaluated, and potentially renewed, by the Township Committee next year.

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The idea for the team, one of Mayor Scott Spitzer's goals for 2010, was inspired by the 250th Anniversary Task Force daffodil project, which led to thousands of flowers being planted in town. The Township Committee officially created the task force on June 15.

The members of the eight-person group include: Roberta Abel of South Alward Avenue, Mark Harabedian of Morrison Street, Kevin Larner of Spencer Road, Kathleen Piedici of Sycamore Court, Marilyn Winston of Sycamore Court, Carlos Rivera of Berkeley Circle, Linda Lordi of Countryside Drive (absent, first meeting) and Spitzer as the Township Committee liaison.

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Piedici and Rivera were chosen as co-chairs, Harabedian the vice-chair and community contact person and Larner was appointed secretary.

"This is a historic moment for Bernards Township," Spitzer said to the group at the July 29 meeting. "It's the first time we're putting together a Beautification Task Force."

The group's members have ties to other organizations that could be useful in helping with the tasks, including the Basking Ridge Garden Club, the Bonafides of Somerset Hills, Berkeley Heights Homeowners Association and Bernards Township Shade Tree Commission. Spitzer called the seven volunteers his "dream team" for the task force.

"There are a number of groups in town that do different things with the purpose of the beautifying the community." Spitzer said. "The goal here was to really bring together an and harness some of those efforts to make an impact and enhance the appearance of the town."


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