Environmental Commission giving away 825 tree seedlings
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3
by Stephen Pistone
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—During the
Hammonton environmental Com-
mission’s meeting on april 10,
commission chairman Daniel
Bachalis gave an update on the
upcoming distribution of 825 tree
seedlings to the community for
free, courtesy of the New Jersey
Department of environmental
Protection (NJDeP) New Jersey
tree recovery Campaign.
the campaign is being organ-
ized by the NJDeP’s Division of
Parks and forestry in an attempt
to help communities where Super-
storm Sandy destroyed and dam-
aged trees in 2012, according to
the NJDeP’s website.
Bachalis was scheduled to re-
trieve the seedlings on the after-
noon of april 15, and said he and
other members of the commission
would begin bundling them to
prepare for their distribution later
that evening and potentially on
april 16 as well.
the commission plans on dis-
tributing the majority of the
seedling bundles outside of Cas-
ciano’s Next Door during Main-
Street
Hammonton’s
third
thursday festivities on thursday,
april 18. Bachalis said he also
plans to coordinate with the local
school districts in the hopes of dis-
tributing smaller bundles of
seedlings to local students.
in other news, Bachalis an-
nounced that the town was denied
from receiving a Sustainable Jer-
sey grant that would’ve allowed
for the purchase and installation of
an electric vehicle charging sta-
tion.
Bachalis said he was surprised
and disappointed that the grant ap-
plication was unsuccessful, espe-
cially considering the fact that
town council resolved to develop
an all-electric fleet of municipal
vehicles at its earliest convenience
during its January 30 meeting.
the resolution also stated that the
town would purchase its first elec-
tric (non-utility) passenger vehicle
if it could secure funding from
Sustainable Jersey.
“i was very disappointed in that.
i thought the idea made sense, of
course, and i thought the little
Now carrying
Blush by
Hayley Paige and
Maggie Sottero
We carry gorgeous dresses by:
One Sindoni Lane, Suite C, Hammonton
(609) 270-7886 • www.meadowsbridalshop.com
Hayley Paige, Maggie Sottero
Casablanca, Mori Lee,
and so much more!
REMOUNT EVENT
A NEW LOOK FOR
YOUR FOREVER RING
CUSTOM ENGAGEMENT RINGS & WEDDING BANDS
REPAIRS COMPLETED ON PREMISES
121 S. White Horse Pike
across from the McDonald’s
Hammonton • 561-6222
NOW THROUGH
MAY 11
sweetener we threw in with the
council’s ongoing support for
electric vehicle acquisitions would
be really something they couldn’t
resist, but apparently they did,”
Bachalis said.
in other business, the commis-
sion reviewed the following tree
removal applications during the
meeting:
1. Ildefonso Guevara, 344
Boyer Ave.—Requesting to re-
move two trees with no intention
of replanting.
the commission extensively
deliberated the application, in
which Guevara wrote that he is
afraid the trees will fall onto his
home. although the application
did not explicitly state whether the
trees were dead, commission
member angela Donio said
“they’re not in real good shape.”
Commission member alicia
Murphy also went to look at the
trees in question, and said it’s dif-
ficult to discern their health and
whether Guevara’s concern about
them falling is reasonable.
“i don’t know. it’s a little hard
to tell because they still have
leaves on them, so i couldn’t say
exactly what was dead and wasn’t.
But they’re definitely lopsided,”
Murphy said.
a motion to grant the approval
was made by commission mem-
ber Dr. Michael Hozik and sec-
onded by commission member
Steven Carr, but was denied via a
2-5 vote. Commission member
terri Caruso-Cafiso abstained
from voting on the application’s
approval.
2. Craig and Susan Danson,
220 S. Third St.—Requesting to
remove one tree, which the appli-
cant will replant.
the tree is a large pine tree that
is now dying due to being struck
by lightning, and is now being re-
moved for safety purposes, ac-
cording to the application. a
motion to grant the approval was
made by Caruso-Cafiso, seconded
by Donio and passed unani-
mously.
3. Birendra Tandan, 560 Belle-
vue Ave.—Requesting to remove
two trees, both of which will be
replanted by the applicant.
according to Bachalis, one of
the two trees is dead, and the other
is leaning towards the neighboring
yard. a motion to grant the ap-
proval was made by Donio, sec-
onded by Hozik and passed
unanimously.
4. Joseph Pignolo Jr., 345 Val-
ley Ave.—Requesting to remove
one tree that will not be re-
planted.
Bachalis said the very large elm
tree is five feet in diameter and is
less than a foot from the founda-
tion of the applicant’s home. the
application also stated that the
See MEETING, Page 14
DiMeglio Septic ,
Est. 1975 ~ DEP 03261 ~ Paul DiMeglio
Inc.
1 (800) 427-4617 ~ 561-1007 ~ 561-3597
491 White Horse Pike • Ancora, NJ
• Grease Trap Cleaning • Portable Toilets
• Septic Certifications • Jetting Service