PEQUANNOCK - A day after several residents and animal rights advocates voiced their opinions both for and against the proposed waterfowl hunt at PV Park, the general opinion of the Township Council remains unchanged: Although it's willing to consider alternatives, the hunt will go on if the governing body feels it's needed.
Some, like Edita Birnkrant, the New York director of the nonprofit animal advocacy group Friends of Animals, urged the council to abandon its plan for a culling, and said that a plethora of other factors, such as dog excrement found in the trails around the 27-acre park, could influence the high levels of fecal coliforms that have caused the lake's occasional closure in past years.
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| Edita Birnkrant, of 'Friends of Animals,' speaks to the Pequannock council. |
Others, however, like Wren Place resident Carol Angelillo, were not convinced. The lake was part of the reason she moved to Pequannock, she said, but last year, her son became sick at about the same time the lake closed due to elevated bacteria levels.
"I appreciate everything you've done to try and help the lake, and I just want you to know that I support you in whatever you deem necessary to help keep the lake safe for all of us," she said.
About a dozen attendees spoke on the plan over the course of the meeting, and public opinion appeared split. But, Mayor Rich Phelan said Wednesday morning, the council's opinion has not shifted.
"I'm looking to work with the residents that have an issue with this, and we're looking at whatever alternatives we can come up with," he said. "But, as a last resort, we will go through with the hunt [if needed]."
Email: janoski@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/news/204547321_Some_residents_also_in_favor_of_Pequannock_waterfowl_hunt.html
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