The #MiddletownRI Planning Board says fertilizers and pesticides can have more of an impact on the community than most realize. To help, the Town Council recently approved a new voluntary policy intended to improve water quality, the environment and more.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
TRYING TO BUILD A HEALTHIER MIDDLETOWN
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JUNE 3, 2024) – The Town of Middletown has new policies overseeing the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
Stopping short of adopting formal ordinances — which could have had stringent penalties for noncompliance — the policies from the Planning Board act as strong recommendations from the town.
Known as “Policy 20,” the 28-page document addresses everything from why the town wants to reduce chemicals in the community to the steps to help reach those goals on an individual basis and more.
“It’s all about appropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides,” Town Planner Ronald M. Wolanski said. “With an ordinance, there were a lot of questions about how something like that could be enforceable, so we decided it made the most sense to go the policy route. That way, it’s clear what we endorse as a community and what our expectations are for homeowners and businesses.”
A big component of the new policies were an educational and outreach effort to better inform people about how reducing fertilizers and pesticides might help make Middletown healthier.
Wolanski said this is not only from an environmental standpoint, but also the drinking water, property values, wildlife and pollinators like bees and more.
The policy speaks about the damage done from fertilizers and pesticides that runoff into local waterways and beaches, an issue that can create significant bills for the town — and its taxpayers — to repair over time. Not to mention the damage such issues do the quality of life, civic pride and other areas of the community.
To view the full policy, visit https://mdl.town/Fertilizer-Pesticides online. For questions, reach out to Wolanski’s office at rwolanski@middletownri.com or by calling 401-849-4027.
The policy was formally approved by the Town Council at its May 20 meeting, but not before a lengthy discussion.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues said he’d heard from people, concerned that they wouldn’t be able to use fertilizers and pesticides on their lawns and other locations as a result of the policy.
Not so, according to Wolanski. The planner said the town wasn’t in the business of banning such chemicals, rather recommending moderation and safe use.
Following prompting from Councilor Emily Tessier, who noted he was an expert in the field, council Vice President Thomas Welch III said much of the policy was common sense.
Encouraging anyone who uses such chemicals on their lawns or elsewhere to “read the label,” Welch said oftentimes people use too much and cause problems they never envisioned.
Suggesting that letting Mother Nature do her part was usually the best solution, Welch said planting more native plants was important too.
“One of the easiest things we can do is not remove the clippings when we cut the grass…” Welch said. “If you don’t take the grass clippings, it’s a nice ecosystem rotating through.”
Thanking Welch for educating his colleagues and those on hand, Rodrigues jokingly said “I feel like I just came out of science class” to wrap the discussion on the item, drawing chuckles from the crowd.
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-FP