Residents lobby for a change
to Bond Street parking rules
By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Residents of Bond Street have gotten involved in a situation that concerns them and should soon be able to see just how the process of government works.
It all started when a Bond Street resident wrote a letter to Mayor Michael Wilson and Borough Council members to request that "No Parking This Side of the Street" signs be removed from sections of the street. Attached to the letter was a petition containing the signatures of 16 residents in the area.
The issue was discussed by council members at a workshop meeting on Feb. 10 at borough hall.
Council members evaluated the letter, the petition and the request and made a decision that sometime in the near future the signs would be removed.
Donna Chong wrote in the Jan. 20 letter, "I myself have five licensed drivers in my home with six registered and insured vehicles." She went on to say that most of her Bond Street neighbors have at least two registered vehicles as well.
Chong informed council members that in obeying the no parking rule on one side of the street she tried parking one of her vehicles a few houses away on the "parking" side, only to have the vehicle’s windows vandalized. She said the damage amounted to $900.
She now parks that car in her back yard along with a trailer that she owns.
"To me," Chong wrote, "this creates an eyesore, and I am sure my neighbors to the rear of me do not appreciate it."
Bond Street residents appealed to council members for relief that will allow them to park their cars in front of their own homes.
Chong’s letter also cited numerous residents being ticketed for improper parking on the street in the last month. The letter said residents believe their street is wide enough to have parking on both sides.
Council members agreed.
According to Police Chief Michael Beierschmitt, a study was done on Bond Street by the borough’s traffic and safety officer, Patrolman William Bismarck, on Jan. 28. The chief said Bismarck’s conclusions led the officer to propose a change in the borough ordinance to allow parking on both sides of the street.
Bismarck has recommended that parking be allowed from the front of 39 Bond St. to 61 Bond St., commenting that the area of the street is wide enough to accommodate parking on both sides.
During a discussion of this issue on Feb. 10, Councilman Michael Toubin noted that, "It took us only two meetings to get this situation resolved. We want people to know that we do respond to borough residents’ needs and requests and that we react quickly."
According to Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina, the recommended changes to the Bond Street parking regulations will be introduced at the first council meeting in March.