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Residents press borough to remove knotweed along new sidewalk; contractor agrees to excavate contaminated soil
Summary
Residents reported invasive Japanese knotweed in green strips adjacent to new sidewalk work; the contractor (Discover Construction) told council staff it accepts responsibility and has scheduled excavation and removal of contaminated soil toward the end of the week, while residents urged rapid action and outreach to landscapers to prevent spread.
At the April 27 Fair Haven council meeting, residents pressed borough officials to remove invasive Japanese knotweed that has appeared in green strips next to newly installed sidewalk work.
"It's going to get in McCarter Park. It's going to be a huge issue," said resident Betsy Kroll (146 Fairhaven Road), who told the council neighbors believe contaminated topsoil brought in during the sidewalk project is the source.
Borough staff and the contractor said the vendor accepts responsibility. "The vendor is coming, and they are taking full responsibility. They are going to excavate all of the soil and remove it," a staff/contractor representative said. Staff said the work was scheduled toward the end of the week, weather permitting, and that the contractor's payment is tied to satisfactory mitigation under the contract's performance requirements.
Residents asked the borough to prioritize the pond area first, where knotweed coverage is most concentrated, and warned that mowing or weed-whacking the material would spread fragments and exacerbate the infestation. "As they mow it, it's just going to spread," Kroll said.
Another resident, Sylvia (115 Baton Road), urged education for landscapers and residents about disposal: she said fragments tossed into brush piles or yard-waste sites can reestablish and that affected material must be bagged and removed, not placed with ordinary brush collection.
Council members and staff said they would hold the contractor accountable and also pursue outreach: staff proposed a flyer and direct contact with registered landscapers in town and suggested the environmental commission liaison assist with education materials.
Action: borough staff said they would monitor the contractor's excavation, require repeated mitigation if needed, and prioritize the most concentrated areas to limit further spread. Residents were advised to notify the borough if they see landscapers or crews disposal practices that risk spreading knotweed.
