In an effort to beautify and create a cleaner community, the Borough of Matawan has relaunched the Matawan Environmental Commission.
“One of my tasks this year was getting the group up and running again after being nonexistent for a quite a few years. I’m proud to report that has happened,” said Councilwoman Deana Gunn, who also is the commission’s council chair.
The purpose of the commission is established for the protection, development and use of natural resources, including water resources located within the borough, according to Gunn.
With the commission reestablished in January of this year, Gunn said, “The commission wasn’t funded or in the budget. It is now a priority for our administration.”
Gunn said there are seven members who are appointed by the mayor for three-year terms on a staggered basis. There also are five associate members, who are appointed by the commission for a term of a year, for a total of 12 members.
“Our first annual ‘Spring Clean Up’ was held on April 14. We partnered with NY/NJ Baykeeper who we are excited they now call Matawan their home. We also worked with the Matawan Citizen Alliance and Monmouth County Clean Communities who provided our clean-up supplies,” Gunn said. “We had over 50 people attend, big and small, collecting 581 pounds of garbage. We cleaned the community, hung out with our neighbors and celebrated Earth Day a little early.”
Gunn said at the end of the clean up members of the commission gave out 100 seedling trees at Terhune Park from the New Jersey Tree Recovery Program.
“I’m so proud and appreciative of the efforts of our Commission Chair Daniel Wieczorek and Event Coordinator Meredith Comi for making this event such a success,” Gunn said. “Our goal was to not only beautify Matawan, but to get the word out that the commission was active again, and they did an excellent job doing making both of those things happen.”
The commission may have a fall clean up, as well, but no other events are planned at this time. Commission members will be participating in several other events around town, according to Gunn.
“We have two big goals for the rest of the year. One is to create a community garden. The other is to compile and create a Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) for the town so we have documentation of our resources that can be used going forward as the town evolves,” Gunn said.
The commission holds its monthly meetings at 7 p.m. every first Tuesday of the month, unless there is a holiday or town event conflict, at the Matawan Municipal Community Center located at 201 Broad St., according to Gunn.
Gunn said to show their support towards the commission, residents are welcome to come out to the commission’s monthly meetings and like the commission’s Facebook page.
For more information about the Environmental Commission visit www.matawanborough.com/matawan/Our%20COMMUNITY/Environmental%20Commission/ or visit the commission’s Facebook page.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
