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Residents urge Morristown council to step up cleanups, report lax enforcement of gas leaf-blower ban
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Summary
Residents used the public-comment period to press the council for more neighborhood cleanups and clearer enforcement of the gas-powered leaf‑blower ordinance; the mayor and council urged callers to report violations to police and described planned DPW and association cleanups.
Hundreds of pieces of litter along a river crossing, repeated use of gas-powered leaf blowers near downtown banks and complaints about pickleball fees were the lead concerns raised by residents at Morristown’s March 24 town council meeting.
Bill Byrne of 100 Franklin Street told the council he has volunteered to pick up trash near a bridge but urged the town to organize a cleanup committee so residents can rotate shifts and avoid dangerous bending and slips. "We gotta have more cleanups if we wanna make Morristown beautiful again," Byrne said.
Ed Peters of 142 Washington Street thanked the town for recent sidewalk and lighting improvements near Barnum Park and praised former hauler Blue Diamond for courteous service, recounting a driver who helped him after a fall. Peters also questioned a $12.50, three-hour pickleball pass, saying pricing makes the courts "useless to a lot of people in this town."
Wendy Rice pressed the council on enforcement of the ordinance restricting gas-powered leaf blowers, saying violations near several banks have continued for roughly three years. "I do call the police," Rice said. "The only reason I don't like doing it is because crossing South Street is so dangerous."
Mayor (name on file) and council members responded with concrete next steps: they told residents to report violations to the police nonemergency number so officers can respond when feasible, offered to contact offending contractors or property owners on callers’ behalf, and urged residents not to confront workers directly. The mayor said the administration will direct the Department of Public Works to target street-sweeper and pickup efforts near the bridge and other trouble spots identified during public remarks.
Council members and the mayor highlighted recent civic volunteer efforts, including a well-attended Whippany River cleanup, and recommended neighborhood association coordination for recurring problem areas. The council encouraged residents to provide phone numbers from offending trucks or photographs as evidence when calling.
The public-comment matters concluded with the council thanking speakers and noting further follow-up would come through police and DPW channels.
