Many not complying with leaf pickup law
BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

Jamesburg

JAMESBURG — A failure to comply with a new stormwater management ordinance has residents in danger of piling up fines.

A section of the new law, which was mandated by the state and enacted by municipalities this year, spells out regulations for leaf collection, but has largely been ignored, according to Borough Zoning Officer Bernie Long.

Residents have been raking their leaves into piles on the curb, often unknowingly violating the new rule, Long said.

The ordinance states that “sweeping, raking, blowing or otherwise placing yard waste that is not containerized at the curb or along the street is only allowed during the seven days prior to a scheduled and announced collection, and shall not be placed closer than 10 feet from any storm drain inlet.”

Violators are subject to a fine of up to $100.

Long said the law is designed to keep leaves from clogging up the stormwater drains.

“Now, I’d much rather have people comply than give out these expensive tickets, and I’ve been warning people,” Long said.

Notices of the new regulations were sent out with residents’ tax bills, and the information has been advertised in newspapers and on the borough Web site.

Long said he has been giving residents a few days to correct their situation before he is forced to penalize them, and he hopes residents will comply prior to having a $100 fine levied against them, as well as the $30 court fee for the ticket.

“We try to work with the residents,” Long said. “I’m not out to ring up the cash register writing tickets. But I have to enforce this thing.”

Long said he has been fielding complaints from residents who have raked their yards to the curb, and now must undo their work, but he noted that the ordinance was required by the state, and the borough’s hands are tied.

“It’s not the town’s doing,” he said. “We have to comply with the state regulation or the town will be fined.”

But, Long said, he understands the residents’ frustration at clearing their yard, then having to return the leaves to the yard, then raking again at the appropriate time.

“There’s nothing worse than when somebody rakes all their leaves out to the front of the yard, and then you’ve got to go tell them to put them back,” Long said.

Leaves may be dropped off at the public works garage, Duane Street, on Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Joseph Intravartola, public works garage foreman, can be reached at (732) 521-3335.

For curbside leaf pickup, Long provided the following schedule, and suggested that residents have their leaves out at the appropriate place on the curb the Sunday prior to pickup:

•Section A:

Leaves will be picked up for this section of town Nov. 28-Dec. 2, Dec. 26-30.

Section A includes: Marryott Street, New Street, William Street, Spring Street, Michael Street, Forge Street, Lake Street, Cherry Street, Emma Street, John Street, Reade Street, Worth Street, Mendoker Drive, Duane Street, Cavour Street, George Street, Pergola Avenue, Buckelew Avenue, Forge Road.

•Section B:

Leaf pick-up for the following streets will take place Dec. 5-9, Jan. 2-6, 2006:

East and West Church streets, Franklin Street, Warren Street, Stevens Avenue, Augusta Street, Vine Street, Sedgwick Street, Sherman Street, Sheridan Street, Stockton Street, East Railroad Avenue, McKnight Avenue, Helmetta Road, Hooker Street, Mott Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Pergola Street, Colletti Court, Rhode Hall Road, Bordentown Turnpike, Docks Corner Road, Dayton Road, Colletti Terrace, Courtney Street, Quail Run Drive.

•Section C:

Leaf pickup for the following streets will be held Dec. 12-16, Dec. 26-30:

Willow Street, West Railroad Avenue, Harrison Street, Front

Street, Grand Street, Gatzmer Avenue, Prospect Street, Glenn Court, Perrineville Road, Davison Avenue, Ridgeview Road, Hilltop Court, Hillside Avenue, Elliot Place, Parkside Drive, Brookview Circle, Deerfield Lane, Dogwood Court, Hemlock Drive, Hickory Court, Jeanette Court, Jennifer Drive, Peachtree Lane, Pinetree Court, Robin Place, Spruce Street.

•Section D:

Leaf collection for the following streets is taking place through Nov. 18, and Dec. 19-23, Jan. 2-6, 2006:

Oakland Road, Woodland Road, Fernwood Lane, Maple Drive, Mill Road, Cedar Lane, Birchwood Road, Antoinette Court, Half Acre Road, Forsgate Drive, Mine Road, Quarry Cove Road, Sandhill Court, Sandhill Road, Stoneyhill Road, James Barton Boulevard.