By alison granito
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE — Those who strap on a pair of in-line skates or push off on their skateboards at some recreation sites in the township may owe municipal court $100 if caught.
Last week, the Township Committee approved an ordinance to ban the use of skateboards, in-line skates, roller skates and scooters at the Millstone-Roosevelt Little League Field on Perrineville Road, and on the tennis and basketball courts on Rocky Brook Park, located on Millstone Road behind the municipal building.
Violation of the ban could result in a maximum fine of $100 or a sentence of 30 days community service, according to the ordinance.
Although the ordinance only named the Little League fields initially, officials decided to extend the ban to include the facilities at Rocky Brook after it was noted that skating on the courts can damage a special coating. Officials have said that repairs to the courts can run the township up to $30,000.
The measure passed 3-0. Mayor William Nurko and Committeeman John Pfefferkorn abstained.
Pfefferkorn has said he believes a ban left in place at all times is too restrictive, and that he received calls from residents complaining about the measure.
He said he understood the limits at the Little League fields during ball games, but felt the ordinance should only apply to hours when teams were playing.
"If there is no one around and it’s just a couple of kids running, what’s the big issue?" he said.
"To restrict it for all hours is, I think, very prohibitive," Pfefferkorn said.
Nurko said he also received calls from residents protesting the ban.
He said that at the Little League fields there was not much paved area that would invite skating.
"It’s not really more conducive to skating up there than most than in most paved driveways of residences in Millstone," he said.
Members of the committee also said that the ban at the fields was at the request of Little League officials.
In related business, recreation officials at last week’s meeting noted that a facility appropriate for skating is under consideration for a planned park on Charleston Springs Road.