Environmental Commission
The Environmental Commission’s mission is to educate, advocate, and promote best policies and practices for the Borough’s environment and the health and safety of its residents and by encouraging maintenance and conservation of open space and wetlands in the Borough.
Our goals are to advocate for the long-term protection of the Borough’s natural resources and to promote public interest in environmental issues and to work with the community to protect our unique natural resources.
Interested in being appointed to the Environmental Commission?
Email Councilperson Thomas Slockbower to get more information at slockbowerrb@rockawayborough.org.
Meetings
The Environmental Commission meets the third Thursday of January, March, May, July, September, and November in the Community Center, 21-25 Union St. at 6:30 p.m. Meeting schedule is subject to change. Click here for the up-to-date meeting schedule.
Minutes and Agendas
Click here to view the Environmental Commission minutes and agendas. They are posted on the meetings page.
Members
The Environmental Commission currently consists of five members as follows:
2026 Members
| Name | Term | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Cappuccio | 3-yr | 12/31/28 |
| Katie Clark, Secretary | 3-yr | 12/31/28 |
| Kathy Haake, Chair | 3-yr | 12/31/28 |
| Rachel Kelly | 3-yr | 12/31/28 |
| Lisa Lusardi | 3-yr | 12/31/28 |
News and Announcments
Environmental Commission announcements will be posted on the Announcements page.
On Tuesday, April 7, the Rockaway Borough Environmental Commission organized a small group to walk through the downtown area, collecting four large bags of trash from both sides of the sidewalks along Main Street and Wall Street.
The group included Councilmen Rob DeVito and Tom Slockbower, along with Environmental Commission members Katie Clark, Frank Cappuccio, and Kathy Haake. The most common item collected—both in volume and from between sidewalk cracks and near stop signs—was cigarette butts.
Much of the trash found on our streets eventually makes its way to the Rockaway River, where it is both unsightly and harmful to wildlife. The Environmental Commission encourages everyone to think twice before discarding trash on our streets.
If you would like to be part of the solution, please join us for the Rockaway River Clean Up Day at Jackson Avenue Park on Saturday, May 16, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We hope to see you there!
Rockaway River Clean Up Day
Campaign: Respect Your Turf
Event: Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Meeting Location: Jackson Avenue Parking Lot
Volunteer Sign-Up: BoroughClerk@RockawayBorough.org
Watch for weekly announcements beginning April 20 as we get closer to Rockaway River Clean Up Day!
Recycle Coach
Did you know there is an app you can download to remind you about garbage and recycling collection days? It also helps you confirm what belongs in the recycling bin and what goes in the trash. It’s called Recycle Coach see NJDEP| Division of Sustainable Waste Management | RC Morris County or download it here for Android or Apple.