Sex offender residency law repealed in Manalapan
BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer

MANALAPAN — The township's sex offender residency law, which was dubbed Miracle's Law upon its passage in 2005, has been stricken from the books.

Without any comment from the public at the Manalapan Township Committee's June 24 meeting, Mayor Richard Klauber and committee members Michelle Roth, Andrew Lucas and Don Holland voted to repeal the ordinance which delineated areas of Manalapan in which people who had been convicted of sexual offenses would not be permitted to live.

Committeewoman Susan Cohen was absent from the municipal meeting.

In general terms, convicted sex offenders would not be permitted to live close to Manalapan's schools, parks and other areas where children congregate.

The law also established areas in Manalapan in which convicted sex offenders would not be permitted to linger. Those areas had been dubbed "Brown Zones" after Police Chief Stuart Brown and were generally areas around businesses where children might be present.

The committee's stated intent in adopting the ordinance was to protect the community's young people from individuals who had been convicted of sexual offenses.

The ordinance was repealed by the committee as a result of a ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Township Attorney Ron Cucchiaro explained that the Supreme Court recently ruled that individual municipalities do not have the right to impose regulations regarding convicted sex offenders.

That right is left to the state through Megan's Law, which requires convicted sex offenders who live in a community to register their presence with police.

In some cases under Megan's Law the community may be notified about the presence of a convicted sex offender in town, but the law does not restrict where the individual may live.

Cucchiaro said the state Legislature is considering taking action on bills which could impose residency limits on convicted sex offenders or give municipal officials the right to do so.

In other action on June 24, the committee approved a resolution

to renew two liquor licenses for the period from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

The liquor licenses that were renewed are held by Molly Pitcher Post 434 American Legion (Molly Pitcher Post 434) and Wei Hsin Corporation (Hunan Gourmet).

The resolution states that the applications submitted by the liquor license holders have been deemed complete and in order for the renewal period, and that inspections have been completed for compliance with state and local regulations.

And, Township Administrator Tara Lovrich said the final count on the number of children who will attend the Manalapan summer recreation program is 770.

The enrollment had initially been capped at 750 children, but Lovrich said all 20 children who were on the waiting list were accommodated. The township's summer recreation program began on June 29.

Lucas thanked the members of the Yorktowne Social Club for making a donation to the township which will allow more children in need to attend the summer recreation program.