BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF PASCACK PRESS
MONTVALE, N.J. –– Although the thought of getting a panda to eat away at Montvale’s bamboo problem created a stir of laughter at the Oct. 30 borough council work session, officials decided instead to let the local department of public works take the lead in ridding several property owners of a growing menace.
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Two property owners from Montvale Avenue showed up to seek answers to the problem and were told by the borough engineer that “now is a great time to get rid of it.” A third property owner from Norwood, who owns adjoining vacant lots, did not show up at the meeting.
Borough Engineer Andrew Hipolit, Maser Consulting, told the homeowners that the best way to kill the spreading bamboo plants was to dig up and expose the roots for two months, apply an herbicide to kill the roots, and then when dead, remove the roots from the ground.
Thomas Polifroni, a homeowner on Montvale Avenue, said that he “could not imagine” that the absent owner would object to getting rid of the bamboo. Adam Donikowski, another Montvale Avenue resident, was concerned about possible herbicide spraying.
Hipolit told him he, too, would prefer to do it without pesticides, but that is not as effective in killing the plants as exposure for two months and then applying a herbicide.
Hipolit told the council that DPW workers could expose the roots by use of a backhoe and digging. He said without using an herbicide on the roots, it may take “three or four cycles” of digging up and exposing the roots for two months at a time for them to die off. He said herbicide application kills the roots, which otherwise are quite aggressive and may grow back if not killed off.
Hipolit advised the council that temporary easements are required to go on private properties, and Mayor Michael Ghassali told Borough Attorney Joseph Voytus to prepare the easements for consideration at the upcoming Nov. 14 council meeting.
Councilman Michael Weaver said they would see what the plan would cost if they use DPW workers and need to rent equipment.
Hipolit said all three homeowners must agree to have “temporary easements” placed on their property until the bamboo treatment plan is completed. Then they will be removed, he said.
Without signed easements from all three property owners, the work to remove the bamboo cannot start, Hipolit noted.
Hipolit showed members aerial photographs of where the bamboo was spreading.
Montvale has no current ordinance that regulates bamboo planting.
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