MANALAPAN – A public hearing has been scheduled for July 26 on an ordinance that seeks to increase penalties related to the maintenance of certain properties in the community.
On July 12, Township Committee members introduced an ordinance that pertains to the maintenance of vacant and abandoned residential properties in foreclosure by creditors (i.e., banks).
Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin said the amendment to Manalapan’s municipal code “puts teeth into the ordinance” and will enable officials to raise the amount of a penalty that is levied against creditors who fail to maintain properties.
In certain cases, an out-of-state creditor could face a fine of $2,500 per day for failing to notify the municipality of the local person who is responsible for maintaining a property, McLaughlin said.
Mayor Susan Cohen, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, Committeewoman Mary Ann Musich, Committeeman David Kane and Committeeman Kevin Uniglicht voted to introduce the ordinance.
The introduction of the ordinance came on the same night members of the governing body passed a resolution to place liens against a dozen properties at which the owner failed to keep up with grass maintenance.
In all of those instances, municipal employees were dispatched to cut the grass and the cost associated with the work becomes a lien that must be paid before the property can be sold.
On July 12, liens were placed against properties on Briarheath Avenue, Freehold Road, Gordons Corner Road, Hillcrest Road, Iris Circle, Iron Ore Road, Ivanhoe Drive, Heather Drive, Pence Road, Sutton Drive, Twin Lakes Drive and Woodward Road.
In June, committee members placed liens against properties on Beth Drive (grass maintenance), Denise Court (grass maintenance), Grayson Lane (grass maintenance), Highland Ridge (grass maintenance), Pension Hill Road (trash and debris removal), Randall Drive (grass maintenance), Dutton Drive (grass maintenance) and Terence Drive (secure an in-ground pool).
Finally on July 12, committee members declined a resident’s request to place two public referendum questions on the Nov. 7 Election Day ballot. Elected officials have until August to decide to place a public question on the ballot.
Resident Ray Kalainikas proposed placing a question on the ballot asking voters “Is taxation thievery?”
McLaughlin said it would not be proper or legal to place that question on the ballot.
The second question Kalainikas sought to place on the ballot would ask voters if the back of every police vehicle should have a sticker placed on it which says “Follow the Golden Rule.”
Musich said she brought that proposal, which Kalainikas has discussed with the committee during previous meetings, to Police Chief Michael Fountain. Musich said the chief’s response was that a sticker with the words “Follow the Golden Rule” would not be placed on police vehicles.
