Police chief will now report directly to administrator

BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN – Following a public hearing during which no opposition was voiced, the Township Committee adopted an ordinance that makes the township administrator, rather than the Township Committee, the appropriate authority to oversee the Manalapan Police Department.

The ordinance was adopted by a 4-0 vote. Committeeman Anthony Gennaro was absent from the March 19 meeting.

Mayor Michelle Roth said the change in authority would streamline the daily operation of the municipal government and was being done at the behest of the police department.

Before the vote, Roth explained that Police Chief Stuart Brown had been voicing concerns regarding a timely disposition of police matters.

According to Roth, the problem stemmed from the chief having to wait for responses from the five people who make up the committee and are only available on a part-time basis, as opposed to one individual- the township administrator- who is present and on the job in the municipal building every day.

Roth has previously noted that the police department is the only department not currently reporting directly to the office of the administrator and said it made sense to have all the departments in line with the same process of reporting and accountability.

Committeeman Richard Klauber said, “The administrator is full-time, every day. This cleans up our ordinance for the dayto day [operations].”

Officials noted that the ordinance does not reflect a policy change, nor does it dilute the powers of the police chief or interfere with the daily running of the police department.

Manalapan police Capt. Louis Moreto said, “For us it’s a non-event. It’s meant to improve efficiency and to streamline operations and just has the chief reporting to the township administrator like every other department head.”

The language of the ordinance reads, “The township administrator shall be responsible for the overall performance of the police department.

“The township administrator shall, from time to time, adopt and promulgate rules and regulations [by resolution] and amend same, for the governing of the police department, for the discipline of its members and any other lawful matters concerning said police department.

“All members of the police department shall be subject to such rules and regulations. [The Township Committee may designate and/or delegate to the township administrator the power to act on its behalf].

“The chief of police shall be in charge and have the supervision and control of the police department as further defined in (state statute).”