Verizon rep will face officials

MANALAPAN - Looking as much for assurances as answers, members of the Township Committee will have a chance to question a Verizon representative about the recent but temporary termination of telephone land-line service to the Manalapan Police Department.

John Szeliga, Verizon's director of external affairs, is scheduled to appear before the committee at tonight's regularly scheduled public meeting in the municipal building.

Between 10 p.m. May 14 and 2 a.m. May 15, telephone service at the police department was cut off. The initial indication to police from Verizon personnel was that the service had been cut off due to nonpayment of an outstanding bill.

Following an investigation into the incident, Verizon spokesman Rich Young said the interruption in service to the police department was not related to any situation involving a bill payment, but was the result of a crew working on Verizon equipment in the area.

Police Chief Stuart Brown has filed a complaint against Verizon with the state Board of Public Utilities.

Township Committeeman Andrew Lucas said he wants more answers from Szeliga since Verizon has already acknowledged it was their mistake that led to the temporary loss of service. He wants to know how Verizon will prevent the problem from happening again.

"It's absolutely inexcusable to cut service to emergency responders without notice. The safety and welfare of our residents was jeopardized and I want to make certain that a service provider for the township doesn't do this again," Lucas said.