Ordinance on Underage Drinking

At Next Tuesday's Denville Town Council Meeting (November 9, 2010) we are scheduled to introduce an ordinance regarding underage drinking. The entire Council, by way of consensus, agreed to put the ordinance through for introduction. This allows the ordinance to be officially introduced to the public for review. At a future council meeting, the Town Council will vote to adopt the ordinance. (Read the Proposed Ordinance Here)

Recently at our Town Council Workshop, I had several questions regarding the ordinance. I wanted to make sure it did not infringe on private property and our constitutional rights. Obviously, a local ordinance can never trump the Constitution. Essentially, the ordinance will allow the Police to cite an underage individual who is consuming alcohol on private property. However, they can not enter private property without consent or just cause. If there is a legal parent or guardian with the underage individual there is no offense.

State Law currently gives sole responsibility to the property owner if an underage individual is consuming alcohol on private property. This ordinance will allow authorities to hold the individual underage person responsible with a citation and local municipal court appearance. This ordinance will hopeful quell the massive problems of underage individuals consuming large amounts of alcohol on private properties where the property owners or other responsible adults are not present.

Again, the ordinance excludes cases with parental supervision and consumption of alcohol at private religious or other personal events & ceremonies.

However, I do recognize the power of unintended consequence so I hope you'll evaluate the proposed ordinance for yourself and let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Thanks

Council Update - 4/13/10

Regional Board of Education Update.

Last Evening's Town Council Workshop was jam packed. We were first given an update on the Regional Board of Education. The superintendent of Morris Knolls Regional High School, James Jencarelli, discussed the proposed budget. If passed on April 20th, it would result in about a $66 increase per the average Denville home per year. As with most Boards of Education in the state, there were massive cuts of state funding which then resulted in cuts made by the Regional Board. More information can be found at the Regional Board of Ed website.

The Highlands Council

Eileen Swan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Highland Council. This was a very informative presentation. Denville will have a very big decision to make about whether to opt into a regional plan for development and environmental protection. This was the first time this new council was presented to by the Executive Director. By June 8th the Council will have to make a decision on opting into the plan in order to determine our affordable housing requirements. However, we can still opt out at any time. I still remain very open, yet noncommittal to whether or not we opt into the plan and am anxious to see what develops with affordable housing requirements in New Jersey. Currently there are many bills introduced at the state level regarding the Council on Affordable housing. The outcome of these bills will help the decision.

Ordinance Review.

Last evening the Town Council had a lengthy discussion and presentation on light ordinances, sign ordinances and property maintenance ordinances. It was agreed that the Township Planner, Engineer and Health Officer will review and recommend back to the Town Council how we can tighten up and strengthen these ordinances to keep from excessive light pollution and unkempt properties.