Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Aircraft Noise topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge action on aircraft noise; council hears Teterboro noise-abatement concerns
Summary
A resident-led group urged the Township Council to pursue remedies for increased aircraft noise and raised air-quality concerns tied to Teterboro flight paths. The council agreed to follow up and consider a resolution and website outreach.
During the general public-comment period a resident identified as Mary Ellen Stickel of Washington Township told the council she represents a grassroots committee called TANS (Taxpayers for Aircraft Noise Solutions and Safety) and asked the township to engage with the Teterboro Airport Noise Abatement Committee (TANEC) and federal authorities about frequent flights over the Pascack Valley area.
“I think, you know, I know this is a horrible thought, but I think we are one plane crash away from really waking up about this,” Stickel said during public comment, urging council attention to safety, noise and air-quality issues she said affect schools, parks and neighborhoods.
Stickel asked the council to consider posting TANS information and links on the township website and to support residents who wish to attend the next TANEC meeting (April 16 at the Airport Administration Building in Teterboro). She also requested that the township ask partners running canopy and carbon-monoxide testing (a Montclair State project was referenced by a council member) to evaluate private-jet emissions and air quality in affected neighborhoods.
Administration indicated it would assist. Administrator Bueno said he would look into resident complaints and that staff would discuss possible next steps with the mayor and council. A council member suggested drafting a formal resolution asking regional and state representatives to raise the issue with airport and FAA officials; another council member offered to coordinate contacts with elected representatives. The council asked staff to provide a website link and to discuss possible resolution language at an upcoming meeting.
Why it matters: Residents expressed public-safety, health and quality-of-life concerns tied to flight operations that community groups say are concentrated above parts of the Pascack Valley. The council’s decisions on outreach, website posting and whether to approve a formal resolution will shape how the township coordinates with regional and federal aviation bodies.
Next steps recorded at the meeting included staff follow-up to place contact information or a link on the township website, and exploratory steps toward a possible council resolution to raise the matter with appropriate agencies.
