Deer fences, solar panels, smoking ban on agenda

Franklin Lakes A lot of talk and no action, at least for now.

The governing body has been discussing deer fences, solar panels and a public smoking ban, but has declined to act due to concern it would do more harm than good.

For months, the council has been on the fence about whether to allow deer fences. Code allows 5-foot fences; deer fences are 8-feet high.

"You can't protect all shrubbery even with a deer fence," Mayor Frank Bivona said at last weeks council meeting.

Some council members said such a fence would only force deer onto neighbors' properties.

Meanwhile, Borough Administrator Gregory Hart said, not a lot of people have been asking to install deer fences.

"Well, I can still see both sides of this," Bivona said. "People put a lot of time and money into gardens and shrubbery and they want to protect it, but what if the fences are ugly? It could be a case of good intentions that go bad."

Table that discussion and onto solar panels.

Solar panels are allowed but anyone who plans to install them has to appear before the Planning Board, an effort that residents complain is costly, Bivona said.

"We've had two or three complaints about this," Hart said.

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Deer fences, solar panels, smoking ban on agenda