January 28, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Franklin Lakes State agency approves cleanup of borough library lot by Frank J. McMahon The Borough of Franklin Lakes has resolved the illegal wetlands intrusion issue behind the library and the Tommy John Field on DeKorte Drive with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, according to Mayor Maura DeNicola. The mayor advised that the millings that were placed in that area several years ago have been replaced with topsoil and seed. “We are now aiming to revitalize the area and to complete the Memorial Pond project with community and school organizations and volunteers, as well as with an Eagle Scout project,” DeNicola advised at the council’s reorganization meeting. Councilwoman Paulette Ramsey has opposed the use of that lot for parking since the millings were placed there in 2004, and she is pleased that the lot will now be restored to its original condition. “I am happy the property has been restored to its original beauty,” Ramsey said recently. “Green Acres (land) should be natural, open space. I look forward to more passive activities behind borough hall for our residents (and) I love to see everyone out walking on our nature trail. It is always busy.” Ramsey said the property will be used in the future for nature trails and an educational area in conjunction with the library. The millings were originally brought to the site when a contractor who was milling Route 80 donated them to the borough to create a parking lot behind the library in order to reduce the use of the library parking lot during athletic activities at the adjacent Tommy John Field and the athletic fields behind the municipal building. The site was graded, rolled, and compacted to provide the additional parking. Earlier this year, however, while the borough council was considering various plans to meet the parking needs of the different groups that use the municipal complex property, illegal dumping was noticed on the property along with the possible disturbance of the wetlands area adjacent to the site. The Green Acres Division of the NJDEP, which had provided funds for the original purchase of the property behind the library and the municipal building in the 1960s, was notified. The borough hired an environmental consulting firm to create a plan that would be acceptable to the NJDEP to remove the millings from the area adjacent to the Memorial Pond area in order to avoid any violation of NJDEP regulations. The road millings mixed with dirt, stones, and soil was scraped out of a 50-foot buffer area around the rear edge of the lot, which is adjacent to the environmentally sensitive Memorial Pond site. The pile was scraped back from the edge of the property by department of public works personnel, who replaced it with soil and seed. About 300 cubic yards of millings, soil, and stones were scraped out of the buffer area and it cost the borough between $10,000 and $12,000 to cart it away. The need for that additional parking was recently elimi- nated when the parking lot across from the municipal building, which is next to the library, was expanded. Ramsey explained that the expanded parking lot will provide safe and adequate parking for visitors to the borough hall, the recreation facilities behind it, and will accommodate any overflow parking for library events. She added that neighbor friendly lights will be installed there when weather permits. Landscaping Corp. CIRINO 201-891-0955 ������������������������������ ��������������� Ask about our prepay for Season Discount! Why not get a price for 2009 Landscape Maintenance and Lawn Care Service? Lawn Care & Lawn Maintenance Programs Full Service Landscape Company SAVE BIG! ���������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������ �������������� SNOW PLOWING LICENSED & INSURED • www.cirinolandscaping.com No Two Realtors Are Alike. ������������������������������� ���������� ��������� ��������������� � ������� ������������������ � ��������� �������������������� ��������������� Gotta Get Geeta! Geeta Khanna-Gorwara Broker-Sales Associate Direct: (201) 847-1111 Email: geeta@realtor.com The beauty of nature is often complex. So too is buying and selling a home. I can simplify the process and make it an experience to look back on with good memories. ��������������� ������������������ � �������� ���������������� � ���������� ������ ���������������� ������������������� � ����� ������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� Home Sales Specialist Christine Moore RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 372 Franklin Avenue Wyckoff, NJ 07481 ������������