ShopRite First to Sell Biodegradable Bags

Biodegradable bags for Chatham Borough's Pay-As-You-Throw program will be sold at ShopRite in Chatham Township, according to a resolution approved by the borough council Monday.

Councilman Len Resto edited the resolution to give ShopRite permission to sell green bags "provided they sell both the regular and the biodegradable solid waste bags for Chatham Borough residents."

The original wording of the ordinance allowed ShopRite to sell both types of bags, but did not make permission contingent on selling both.

Resto said ShopRite was willing to sell both, and the ability to sell both "was part of our original discussion with them."

Regular non-biodegradable bags are available at at Kings Super Market and Dreyer's Lumber & Hardware, but neither store has permission to sell biodegradable bags. Resto said they could ask the council for permission, but to his knowledge neither has approached the council with such a request.

"It's the same price if they buy it from us or someone else," Warren Pearce, branch manager for the Chatham ShopRite, said. "A lot of our customers [live] in the borough, and ... would ask us if we could sell them."

Pearce approached Robert Falzarano, the borough administrator, about selling the bags at ShopRite. Falzarano brought the matter before the Chatham Borough Council as a discussion item at the Jan. 24 meeting. The council gave their tacit approval and voted formally at Monday's meeting.

Regular bags cost $7.10 for a box of 15-gal. "small" bags and $13.60 for a box of 30-gal. "large" bags. Biodegradable bags cost $9.60 for the 15-gal. bags and $16.90 for the 30-gal. bags. Each box contains 10 bags.

Also on Monday:

• The council discussed ongoing litigation against TriCare in closed session.
• The council endorsed March 2, 2012 as Read Across America Day in celebration of the 108th anniversary of the birth of Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss. They also pledged support to the Employment Initiative Program of the New Jersey Employer Support Guard and Reserves, which helps find jobs for unemployed and underemployed veterans and military spouses.
• An ordinance reducing the speed on Watchung Avenue near Washington Avenue School to 20 mph when children are near passed on first reading. Public hearing will take place at the next council meeting.
• The council approved payment of vouchers, refunding of various property taxes and authorized the settlement of two tax appeals, one filed by Todd and Tina Olsen and another filed by Mark Schmitter and Karen Geiger.
• The council awarded a cleaning contract for the Chatham Borough Municipal Building to Maverick Building Services, Inc.
• Cathy Belli was appointed as the borough's health insurance fund commissioner and Michael Marineillo was appointed as qualified purchasing agent for the borough. Also, Tyrina Milian and Anne Mandal were approved as signatories on a new FSA account through Aflac Wingspan Benefit Services.
• Change orders were approved for the improvements to Memorial Park and Pool, improvements to the Parrot Mill and Riverview pump stations, for the 2011 Road Resurfacing Program and for the 2010 roadway and drainage improvements to Hillside Avenue.
• The borough endorsed the submission of a recycling tonnage grant application to the state Department of Environmental Protection, with funds from the grant to be deposited into a "dedicated recycling trust fund to be used solely for the purposes of recycling."
• The Fourth of July parade and fireworks show were approved for this year.
• The council approved a banner at Reasoner Park and the Chatham Borough gazebo publicizing Chatham High School's spring comedy "Drowsy Chaperone."