Environmental Commission                                                                      Follow Us     

The Environmental Commission's mission is to educate, advocate, and promote best policies and practices for the Borough's Environment and the Health and Safety of its residents.

2022 EC Annual Report

Recent News

PSEG Energy Efficiency Partnership Program - PSEG offers a FREE home energy assessment and financial incentives to improve the energy efficiency of your home.  Rebates are available for home insulation, appliances, heating and cooling equipment, and much more!  Sign up for an assessment NOW and improve your energy efficiency today!

 

Thank you to all who came out to our Earth Day Event on Saturday April 22nd!

Jay Scott Community Garden is Open!  

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Recent Activities

2022 Earth Day Celebration

 

 

Programs

Earth Day Clean Up

Somerville residents and local organizations volunteer one Saturday in April to clean up litter and other debris throughout the Borough's parks, brooks and other public areas. Volunteers meet at the Somerville High School parking lot at 9 AM where clean up assignments will be given. No pre-registration is needed. Work gloves, trash bags, and refreshments are provided. Local Girl Scout, Boy Scout, school, and youth groups are welcome to help in the clean-up. Adult volunteer groups are encouraged to assist.

Arbor Day

An annual Arbor Day event is usually held in conjunction with a local community group which has included, tree planting days, tree pruning and planting workshops, a tree seedling give-away. To find the current event date and time check the website in March.

Girl Scouts Tree Arbor

The arbor was founded in 2012 with 100 trees planted to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. The award winning mini nursery now boasts an inventory of nearly 200 trees of which a portion of are transplanted annually into local parks. Girls Scouts use this as an outdoor classroom for community service and badge work-shops. Trees can be made available to residents upon request.

Other Activities

Members volunteer their time at monthly meetings on behalf of improving Somerville’s environmental practices and on managing municipal shade trees and the Borough’s Community Forestry Management Plan.

Members also facilitate the Green Team, which has earned Somerville to be recognized as Silver status community in the Sustainable Jersey Program.

Other past activities include rain barrel workshops, tree pruning workshops, environmental advocacy, and tree plantings.

Education

• Learn how to compost
• Dispose of your prescription drugs safely and environmentally
• Learn what can be recycled and how to do it. 

Storm Water Pollution

Pollution on streets and chemicals from our lawns enter into storm drains when it rains, then directly into our drinking water supply. This storm water pollution is one of New Jersey's greatest threats to clean and plentiful water. In order to keep our water clean, municipalities are adopting ordinances and rules prohibiting activities that contribute to storm water pollution.

For more information on storm water related topics, visit:

• US Environmental Protection Agency
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water Quality
• NJ Site Mart Database  

2023 Environmental Commission 

To contact the Environmental Commission, please email environmentalcommission@somervillenj.org.

• Jeff Lamborn, Chair (3-yr term expires 12/31/24)
• Helene Venizelos, Vice-Chair (3-yr term expires 12/31/23)
• Sandra Benscoter, Secretary (2-yr term expires 12/31/23)                      
• Larry Cleveland, Planning Board Liaison (3-yr term expires 12/31/25)
  
• Glen Denys (3-yr term expires 12/31/24)
• Geoffrey Keiser (3-yr term expires 12/31/23)
• Rebecca Reitman-Garofalo (3-yr term expires 12/31/24)
• Geraldine DeSapio, Alternate #2 (2-yr term expires 12/31/23)
• Roberta Harmon, Alternate #1 (2-yr term expires 12/31/23)
• Gina Stravic, Council Liaison

2023 Green Team

Appointees are serving 1-yr terms, which expire on 12/31/23. 

• Tania Althoff
• Pamela Dorn
• Paige Greenfield
• Zahra Haider
• Grace Kollmer
• Bridget Lacerda
• James Luque
  
• Caitlin Martin
• Janet Perantoni
• Samantha Santos
• Ellen Schwalm
• Melissa Smith-Shell
• Logan Stahl
• Colleen Reh Sweeny
  

Meetings

The Environmental Commission meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month in the Council Chambers (Police Headquarters), located at 24 South Bridge Street in Somerville. The meetings begin at 7:30 PM.

Meeting Minutes

Commission Documents

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