Washington Township Council wants public’s input on proposed pedophile ordinance (Nov. 3)
By: Marisa Maldonado
WASHINGTON The Township Council wants the public’s input on a proposed pedophile ordinance that would limit where convicted sex offenders can live in the township.
The ordinance, which council members discussed at their Oct. 27 meeting, would restrict certain classifications of sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet from schools, parks and playgrounds.
The council will be holding a special public forum on the ordinance at its next meeting Nov. 10. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, where all council meetings temporarily will be held while the municipal building remains closed for mold cleanup.
Residents who cannot attend the meeting can send their comments in writing to the township clerk prior to the meeting at 1117 US Route 130, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Councilman David Boyne, who wrote the initial draft, said the ordinance would help protect the township’s children from sex offenders.
"Protection of our children is extremely important," he said, "and I think we should move forward on this."
Mr. Boyne initially requested introduction of the ordinance at the Oct. 27 meeting; however, the council decided instead to set aside a portion of the next meeting to get public input and introduce the bill at a later time.
"It’s too touchy, too controversial for us to decide for the whole town," Council President Sonja Walter said that night.
Councilwoman Ronda Hyams expressed some doubts as to how successful the bill’s intent would be.
"This is a dark, dark path," she said. "I don’t understand how this piece of paper is going to protect our children."
Washington’s proposed ordinance would apply to Tier 2 and Tier 3 sex offenders, or those who pose a moderate to high risk of reoffending. The law would not affect sex offenders who already lived in the township prior to the ordinance’s adoption (no sex offenders currently live in Washington, according to the state’s sex offender registry).
Several New Jersey municipalities, including Plumsted, Millstone and Hamilton, have passed ordinances prohibiting sex offenders from living near places frequented by children.
Police Chief Martin Masseroni advised the council that they should clearly know what restrictions they want when crafting a resolution.
"Think about it as you move forward," he said, "and that’s why the attorney’s here."
Ms. Walter expressed concern that a sex offender ordinance in Washington could push them to moving into other towns.
"Certainly protecting our children is a (concern)," she said. "If we’re throwing all these people out, where are they going to go?
"Not that I want them here," she added.
Also on the minds of some council members was the recent firing of Robbinsville High School teacher Scott Copperman, who has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after being accused of improper conduct with a 14-year-old student recently. Mr. Copperman’s employment termination because effective Dec. 24.
Although details of his interaction with the student have not been released, district officials sent a letter home to parents warning them to monitor the computer activity of their children. Mr. Copperman’s home computer was seized upon his arrest three weeks ago.
Mr. Lesniak said the incident was proof that pedophiles have more than one way of finding children.
"More pedophiles are on computers than riding around looking at the kids," he said.

