News, Notices, and Announcements

Fall Brush Collection

Fall brush collection will begin the week of October 4th through the week of October 25th. While there is no fee for this service, we require that you sign up for collection in order to more efficiently schedule pick-ups.
Please download the signup form here.
View the Street Map to determine your specific pick-up week here. (Pickups will be only on the week specified for that street.)

Return application by mail or in person to:
Andover Township
Attn: Brush Pick Up
134 Newton Sparta Road
Newton, NJ 07860

Please note the following: Brush, including, but not limited to, all branches and bulky tree limbs will be collected by the Department of Public Works once in the month of April and once in the month of October, weather permitting, if deposited in ONE 4’x4’x6’ pile PER HOUSEHOLD, with cut ends facing the road placed at the street curb, if one exists. However, if a curb does not exist, the brush shall be deposited in ONE 4’x4’x6’ pile PER HOUSEHOLD, with cut ends facing the road, placed near the street pavement but not on the street pavement itself. In no event shall the brush be placed closer than ten (10) feet from any storm drain inlet. The following items will NOT be collected: leaves, grass clippings, vines, bamboo, bedding plants, stumps, tall landscape grasses or anything containing thorns.

Visit the
Open Space Plan
Website

Take the Survey

Read the flyer

Andover Township Open Space Plan

Andover Township is launching its Open Space Plan to shape the physical, environmental, and recreational future of the Township. The updated Open Space Plan will provide a framework for enhancing the Township’s quality of life through improvements to open space and recreational opportunities.

As part of the planning process, we are holding a public meeting in our community and spreading the word on the new project website. We are talking to residents, businesses, and other stakeholders about the issues you face. We want you to share your ideas!

The Plan covers the following topics related to open space:

Facility Improvements
Open Space Acquisition
Preservation
Walking/Hiking Trails
Sustainability
Environmental Protection

Join Us at the Community Workshop on Wednesday, October 6, 5-7 PM at the Township Municipal Building.

Visit the project website & take the survey: publicinput.com/AndoverOpenSpace.

What is an Open Space Plan?
A Master Plan provides a guide for the future of open space development, preservation and acquisition. The Open Space Plan is considered an element of the Township’s Master Plan, a document that gives the Township the legal authority to control future development. An Open Space Plan also allows the Township to apply for and receive funding to implement the goals and recommendations of the plan. The last time Andover Township completed a full Open Space Plan was in 2008. The Township has since re-examined its existing Master Plan. The new Open Space Plan is expected to be complete by the end of 2021.

Miss Andover Township Contest

Congratulations to our 2021 Miss Andover Township, Rachael Davis! All of our contestants were remarkable young ladies and we are so proud of them for taking the initiative to participate. What an amazing representation of our youth in Andover Township!

Special thanks to Ultima Hair Design & Spa, Blooms of Elegance, Andover Eye Care, Lake Lenape Lodge, Sheridan’s Lodge, American Legion, Red Nails, Pig Whistle Inn, Andover Township Volunteer Fire Department and Andover Township Recreation for your donations, which made our event very successful! We couldn’t do it without you!

Pictured from left, First Runner-Up Chelsea Leonardo, Contestant Kaylee Westerfield, Miss Andover Township Rachael Davis, and Contestant Shelby Perna.

Cannabis Cultivation

The Mayor and Township Committee of Andover Township, in response to the majority of New Jersey voters who approved a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana effective January 1, 2021, wish to explore opportunities to permit cannabis cultivation in certain locations within the Township.

The Township Committee recognizes that our landscape may provide well-suited locations for this type of cultivation. The Committee is working with the Planning Board, the Economic Development Committee, and professionals to locate sites within the Township that are conducive to this activity. Supporting this industry in Andover will create a tax ratable and economic benefit to the Township.

The Mayor and Township Committee are reaching out to businesses interested in obtaining a cannabis cultivation license from the State. The Township will soon be identifying specific areas where the Committee would endorse cannabis cultivation activity. In the meantime, the Governing Body wishes to advise the public and interested businesses that the Committee supports such activity within the Township. Of course, the location of these facilities is of critical interest to the citizens of Andover Township, as well as to the future success of the businesses.

Andover Township encourages parties with an interest in cannabis cultivation to contact the Township Administrator at pbussow@andovertwp.org so that the Township can provide you with a forthcoming ordinance and identification of sites where the Committee will permit and support the cultivation of cannabis.

Ed Doughtery, Matthew Danielson, Janis McGovern

Pictured from left: Ed Doughtery, President Greater Andover Senior Citizens Group, Matthew Danielson, Janis McGovern, Andover Township Mayor

Special Delivery to Senior Citizens of Greater Andover

Andover Township Resident and Sussex County Technical School Student Matthew Danielson recently procured donations to deliver to the Senior Citizens of Greater Andover at their first in-person meeting in over a year. Donations included a gift bag containing hand sanitizer and face masks. A special note of thanks and recognition to the Ali Family, who donated the hand sanitizer upon hearing of Matthew’s plans to assist the Senior Citizens group.

Matthew completed this project as part of his ongoing community service requirement, which service also includes being a member of the Andover Township Volunteer Fire Department. Thank you, Matthew, for being an integral part of our community, and for being an outstanding role model for our younger generation!

image of diseased ash trees lining a street

Protect Your Ash Trees

We are experiencing a widespread problem with our Ash trees. If left untreated, 99% of trees that are infested with the Emerald Ash Borer will die. For information on how to protect and treat our trees, please see the NJ Department of Agriculture website nj.gov/agriculture and the booklet Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer.

Need Help Paying Your Energy Bill?

Financial Assistance Programs are Available.
Elizabethtown Gas has put together a fact sheet on available programs. See Fact Sheet. | See Elizabethtown Gas Energy Assistance page.

Virtual Reorganization Meeting

Although not as ceremonious as traditional, the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Andover Township Committee was held virtually on Thursday, January 7^th.

Congratulations to our newly elected Mayor, Janis McGovern! Mayor McGovern is no stranger to local government, having served on the Township Committee for the past 8 years. Mayor McGovern has also served and continues to serve on the Township Land Use Board, Environmental Commission and Sustainable Andover, in addition to being an active liaison to our Senior Citizen Group and Recreation Committee. We applaud her efforts in putting community first, and wish her the very best in 2021!

Also appointed was Deputy Mayor Michael Lensak, and our newly elected Committeemen, Thomas D. Walsh, Jr. and John Carafello. Ellsworth E. Bensley, Jr., continues his 3-year term as Committeeman.

Although times have been challenging, our Mayor and Township Committee look forward to a better, more hopeful year, and are committed to serving the residents and business owners of Andover Township.

Mayor of the Year

Congratulations to Mayor Lensak, and to all of the Mayors representing Sussex County's 24 municipalities on being honored Mayor of the Year for 2020. The Sussex County Economic Development Partnership dediced to recognize all 24 Mayors for their efforts in what has been an unprecedented, difficult and trying time for their respective municipalites. Andover Township was no exception, and Mayor Lensak led with strength, compassion and conviction, fighting fiercely for local businesses to stay alive, while handling the day to day business as a member of the Township Committee. Special thanks to Edison Avecillas Enterprises and Perona Farms for sponsoring this year's event in Mayor Lensak's honor. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, you found a way to support the Township, and it is greatly appreciated.

Andover Township Named One of Safest Small Towns in America

SafeWise has recently released its annual Safest Small Towns in America report, and Andover Township ranked #69 this year! You can read the full 2020 report here: safewise.com/safest-towns-america/

Don't Put Plastic Bags in Your Curbside Recycling Bin

Plastic bags and wraps require a different collection system.
Please don't include them with your curbside pickup; take them to a grocery store that accepts clean and dry plastic bags.
Thank you. See flier.