Officials amend alarm law
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - The Township Committee voted Feb. 28 to adopt an ordinance amending and supplementing municipal penalties pertaining to residential and commercial alarm systems that generate false alarms.

Township Attorney Caroline Casa-grande said the change to the alarm ordinance was made with regard to the number of times a false alarm needed to be generated before violations summonses would be issued to a property owner.

Before the ordinance was adopted all property owners were subject to receiving a summons if their home alarm was activated without cause three times.

Under the amended ordinance, the present limit of three false alarms before a fine may be imposed will be raised to six false alarms in the case of commercial property owners.

Also under the amended ordinance, schools and religious buildings would be exempt from having to pay a fine if their alarms accidentally activate a response, according to Casagrande.

A violation of the alarm ordinance can result in an $80 fine.

In other business at the meeting, township administrator Tara Lovrich announced that funding provided through the Monmouth County Improve-ment Authority will be used to install an electronic access lock at the senior center annex building, formerly the Freehold Soil Conservation District building, Route 522.

Representatives of the Manalapan Medical Reserve Corps had asked to be allowed access into the building which is being used by various township agencies.

The Medical Reserve Corps is the group that would be called upon to coordinate emergency distribution of food and medical supplies in the event of any disaster, manmade or otherwise. The Medical Reserve Corps would also be responsible for coordinating emergency shelters for residents if such shelters were needed.