MANALAPAN – The Township Committee has adopted an ordinance that creates a new class of special law enforcement officer in the Manalapan Police Department.
The ordinance was adopted on July 12 with unanimous support from Mayor Susan Cohen, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, Committeewoman Mary Ann Musich, Committeeman David Kane and Committeeman Kevin Uniglicht.
No one from the public commented on the ordinance, which gives Manalapan police administrators the ability to hire retired police officers to work in schools.
The Class III officers will carry firearms, according to Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin.
There is no limit on the number of Class III officers who will be permitted to work in the police department. The position will pay $20 per hour, according to Township Administrator Tara Lovrich.
The ordinance states that Class III officers “shall be authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a public or nonpublic school on the school premises during hours when it is occupied by public or nonpublic school students and their teachers.
“While on duty, a Class III officer may respond to offenses or emergencies off school grounds if they occur in the officer’s presence while traveling to a school facility. The use of a firearm by an officer of this class may be authorized only after the officer has been fully certified as successfully completing training …”
In other business at the July 12 meeting, committee members voted 5-0 to adopt an ordinance providing for pressure filter improvements at the Lamb Lane water treatment plant. Officials appropriated $510,000 for the project.
Township Engineer James Winckowski said the “much-needed improvements will be completed in a public-private partnership with Suez Water. The upgrades will help to ensure the quality of water.”
Suez Water operates the Manalapan water franchise in the portion of the municipality that is south of Route 33.
