Ocean City Council Members Open To Reducing Pesticide Use

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Resident and environmental advocate Donna Moore has tried for years to get the city to stop using pesticides on public lands, citing health risks. After many City Council meetings speaking on the issue and often wearing posters about her cause, it appears her message is getting across.

Moore spoke at Thursday's City Council meeting, hoping members of the governing body would discuss legislation "banning toxic lawn pesticides from our city's public lands." Several members of City Council openly supported at least reducing Ocean City's pesticide use.

The Ocean City resident wore a poster on her back that said "IMMUNE SYSTEM DISRUPTION BY CUMULATIVE CHEMICAL PESTICIDES EXPOSURE" so that all watching the City Council meeting could see. She cited a Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed by physician Linda Stern, which mentioned the risk of 2,4-D — also used on Ocean City's public lands and an active ingredient of Agent Orange.

The pesticide can cause several health issues, including immune-system suppression and endocrine disruption, Stern says.

Councilwoman At Large Karen Bergman agreed with Moore that Ocean City should phase out its pesticide use.

"It’s people like you that come out and do this week after week and study this that can only make us as a town better," Bergman said. "I hope that we’re moving towards a pesticide-free city. That would go along with our tag as America’s Greatest Family Resort."

City officials performed an experiment last year, making the grounds of the Bayside Center pesticide-free.

At Thursday's meeting, First Ward Councilman Michael DeVlieger said he didn't know if the city could eliminate its pesticide use on public lands all at once. But DeVlieger, who serves as council vice president, said they could probably try eliminating it on the city's playing fields.

"I think we’ve probably learned some things this year on the lots that we did," he said. "But maybe the professionals can report to us on how that went. If it went well, then I would say we should eye out the playing fields."

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