By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
MARLBORO – The Township Council has adopted an ordinance that will establish an “Online Exchange Zone” at the Marlboro municipal complex, Wyncrest Road.
At the council’s May 5 meeting, the ordinance was adopted with a 3-0 vote from council President Carol Mazzola and council members Jeff Cantor and Scott Metzger. Council members Randi Marder and Michael Scalea were absent.
The ordinance permits the creation of a 100-square-foot parking space at the municipal complex where residents may conduct transactions that were reached in online agreements. The exchange space will be under video surveillance by the Marlboro Police Department.
Prior to the transaction, residents will register the names of the buyer and seller with the township. Registration may be accomplished on the municipal website and it will only be valid for the date of the transaction.
The private exchange of motor vehicles, weapons or items that do not fit in a 10- by 10-foot parking space will not be permitted, according to the ordinance.
“Township officials will not provide police personnel or township staff to witness the transaction in person, but the video surveillance by and proximity to police personnel is meant to increase the public’s peace of mind when engaging in such transactions with unfamiliar individuals in the safe space,” the ordinance states.
Mayor Jonathan Hornik said, “As we have evolved as a community and as a country, there are a lot of transactions being made online and we wanted to make sure (the exchange of items) was done safely under the umbrella of our police force.”
“As somebody who has had family members try to sell items online, I think this is a smart ordinance,” Metzger said.
In other business, the council will honor a volunteer firefighter for his seven decades of service to Marlboro.
Signs (15 by 24 inches) honoring Carlton “Bud” Borden will be placed on Vanderburg Road. One sign will be 100 feet east of Route 79 (Main Street) and one sign will be 100 feet west of Boundary Road. The signs will contain the logo of the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Company.
“I am grateful for the countless hours of community service you have made on behalf of this township. You deserve this honor,” Hornik said to Borden.
In other business, a grant in the amount of $220,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for improvements to Greenwood Road was approved for use by the council members.
Finally, the council members changed the date of their June 16 meeting (Thursday) to 7 p.m. June 22 (Wednesday) at Town Hall.
