No Leaves in Bernardsville Streets Until After Halloween

Bernardsville Borough's annual curbside leaf pickup is a service appreciated by residents, but officials are asking those who put out their leaves to abide by certain guidelines to help the process run more smoothly.

First and foremost, Bernardsville Police require that no leaves be placed out before Halloween to avoid creating a hazard for trick or treaters, said Police Lt. Demmings Hoadley. The police department will enforce complaints, he said.

Residents can put their leaves out after then, but prior to the start of the borough's leaf collection on Nov. 5, and then through Nov. 25, according to information released by the borough.

Leaf pickups will not be made for commercial properties, or in three, five or 10-acre residential zones, according to the borough.

Leaves supposedly already on the roads

However, Borough Councilman Joe Rossi said at Monday's council meeting that there already are leaves in local streets, some being blown onto roads, that clogged drains during recent rain.

"They're not supposed to be on the street," Rossi said. Technically, the leaves are only supposed to be placed at the curb 24 hours before they are collected, he said, suggested that maybe the borough could plow the leaves back to the curb. He also added that in the past, some leaf collections were held before Halloween.

Police can ticket residents who do not follow rules for putting out leaves, Borough Attorney John Pigeon said at the meeting.

There will be two pickup periods for leaves in neighborhoods prior to Nov. 25, and leaves will be collected at least once during those periods, according to the borough. Leaf crews will not return after the final collection prior to that date, according to a news release from the borough.

John Macdowall, public works manager for the borough, said leaves should be placed out by Thanksgiving weekend. Before that, the leaf crews continue to travel through the borough as leaves fall during the entire collection period, he said.

After Nov. 25, the borough will clear the roads of leaves prior to winter weather, he said. However, the borough is asking that residents who have not placed their leaves by Nov. 25 take them to the Bernardsville landfill between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays on Pill Hill Road.

Leaves also may be taken to the landfill during the collection period or, if possible, composted on private property, the borough asked.

Other regulations in effect for this year's leaf collections are:

• Leaves should be placedon the edge of the roadway in piles no more than five feet wide, leaving space for vehicles to travel. Bagged leaves will not be accepted.

• Leaves should not be placed where they may cause a hazard, such as on sidewalks, in drainage ditches, on catch basins or in front of fire hydrants or mailboxes.

• In areas with sidewalks, leaves may be placed on the roadway, but as close to the curb as possible.

• No brush piles or other materials mixed in. Leaf piles with foreign matter such as rocks, wood chips, sticks, branches, logs, can or other materials will be left at the roadside, according to the borough.

• Residents leaving brush piles at the roadside will be subject to penalty, according to borough officials.

• Leaves should not be placed under bushes, hedges, fences, low trees or in any other location that would obstruct the leaf machine from picking up leaves, including along steep embankments or raided flower bed.

• No vehicles should be parked on or in front of any leaf pile.

• In accordance with new state stormwater regulations, leaves should not be placed within 10 feet of any storm sewer catch basin, according to officials.

Crosswalks and the paved portions of driveways also should be kept clear, Hoadley said.