Town to be sprayed for gypsy moths

by Gina Rullo, Gazette Staff Writer

HAMMONTON—The town of Hammonton will be sprayed for gypsy moths in May, according to Bureau of Plant, Pest and Disease Control with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Bureau Chief Joseph Zoltowski and town officials. The town was informed of the decision on March 20.
“I am happy that they allowed us to participate at this time. I know the residents are happy the state allowed Hammonton to participate,” Councilman James Bertino said.
“I am very happy the state saw it our way to let us back in the program and that they are to fund the program and give us $10,000. We had some faulty information in February; now that we have the accurate information, we changed our vote. We view the gypsy moth issue as a serious problem and we want to do what we can to straighten this problem out,” Councilman Anthony Marino said.
Marino said he spoke with Senator Chris Connors and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Daniel Van Pelt last week at their offices in Forked River. Marino said he wanted to thank the state elected officials for their efforts.
On March 17, Zoltowski sent an e-mail to the town informing the town government that the town could not be sprayed. In January, town council voted to approve an expenditure of funds for spraying. In February, town council voted to be removed from the gypsy moth spraying program because the town would only receive one application, instead of two, as approved in January. At the March 17 council meeting, town council voted to ask the state to reconsider allowing Hammonton back into the program. Mayor John DiDonato, Councilman Edward Wuillermin and Councilman Jerome Barberio recused themselves from all discussions and votes on the gypsy moth issue.
Councilwoman Tracy Petrongolo recused herself from voting at the March 17 meeting after discussion, noting that she had already voted on the issue.
According to the town clerk’s office, the cost to the town will be $46,420.88 with the state reimbursing the town 23 percent of that fee or $10,676.88. The net cost to the town will be $35,744.
Zoltowski said Hammonton was reinstated into the program after he discussed the issue with the vendor of the spray. He added that the town will also be receiving the grant to cover a portion of the cost.
“Pretty much everyone is getting what they were told. There is still a lot of paper work the town has to do,” Zoltowski said.
According to Zoltowski, the spraying will take place “anytime on or after May 1.”
“That is as broad as we can get. We need a complete hatch of caterpillars before we put the spray out,” Zoltowski said.
The spray is known as BT, Bacillus thuringiensis. Zoltowski said BT has “relatively no residual” and dissipates after about five days.
“We need enough foliage to put the treatment out. It is a microbial pesticide. It only affects [the gypsy moths] when they are small,” Zoltowski said.
Approximately 11,177 acres will be sprayed, Zoltowski said at the January 21 council meeting. He outlined the criteria for spraying.
“Select areas that have minimum 520 egg masses per acre and a minimum of 40 contiguous acres of infestation,” Zoltowski said.
The state does not perform the spraying. According to Zoltowski, an aerial vendor is hired.
“We are working very closely with the vendor throughout the process,” he said.
The single application is estimated to cause 65 percent population reduction, according to Zoltowski.
“It will get rid of good portion. It is a suppression program. If people wanted to supplement with a ground spray, that will certainly be a help during these times when things are bad,” Zoltowski said.
The peak times for gypsy moths are from May to August.
“During early May they are very small. But as they get larger and larger they get more wasteful — towards the end of May through June. They will stop eating and come out as moths in July. Then they mate. They are usually done in August in South Jersey,” Zoltowski said.
He said there are no adverse reactions for humans from the spray.
“Some people who are very asthmatic should stay indoors,” Zoltowski said.
If a person is sprayed, Zoltowski recommends showering and washing the affected clothes as the spray has a musky odor.
“It is not a contact poison. It doesn’t affect mammals and fish,” he said.
According to Zoltowski, the town will be responsible for notifying the public.
The town has not yet established a contact person as of March 23, Zoltowski said.
The town has to advertise when the spraying will take place and residents will be notified directly, according to Zoltowski.
The town council has been debating the issue of gypsy moth spraying since January.
At the March 17 council meeting it was discussed again. According to the meeting’s agenda, the council received a petition from residents requesting the governing body to reconsider entering the state’s gypsy moth spray program.
Bertino, chairing the portion of the meeting because DiDonato, Wuillermin and Barberio had recused themselves, made the motion from the chair for a resolution from the council, asking the state to include them in the spraying.
Councilman Jerry Vitalo then spoke during the discussion on the motion. He explained why he had joined Bertino, Marino and Councilwoman Tracy Petrongolo in voting against the spraying last month.
“I made a judgment call last month, OK? I weighed the pluses and minuses, talked to the council people throughout the county. I still feel comfortable about that judgment call that I made and protecting the taxpayers’ money. But I’m also here working for the taxpayers, and I hear the taxpayers. And the general consensus is, ‘You want to take a shot, you take a shot.’ But, you know, I’m not saying ‘I’m always right, I’m always wrong.’ We’re all human. I made a judgment call, but I hear you. So I’ll second that motion,” Vitalo said.
During the meeting, Marino said he would be meeting with Senator Chris Connors on March 19.
“There’s a lot of people that want services from their government. And that’s fine; that’s what we’re here for. But at some point, you have to step up to the plate and start paying for this. I don’t want to see taxes rise to spray for gypsy moths. That’s why I got in touch with the senator’s office. And hopefully, the government can find the money to fund the entire state,” Marino said.
On March 20, Marino told The Gazette he did have that meeting with Connors.
Vitalo did not return phone calls from The Gazette seeking comment.