BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — The unanimous vote in favor of the long-discussed Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) ordinance came with a bit of humor from Old Bridge officials.
“We’re almost there,” Council President Brian Cahill said to the anxious members of the public before the council voted to approve two amendments to the proposed TNR ordinance, and eventually the TNR ordinance itself, during the Township Council meeting on March 27.
The councilman’s comments drew laughter from members of the public, many of whom have come to many meetings expressing their positive thoughts on a TNR program for the township.
TNR is the method of humanely trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies and then returning them to their colony to live out their lives.
The amendments came after an hour or so of public and council comment at the meeting.
“It is well known that [Councilwoman Anita] Greenberg and I don’t see eye to eye on a lot of issues, but I would like to thank you for bringing this forward,” Cahill said, turning to Greenberg-Belli. “I want to thank the volunteers and everybody who has come night after night after night.”
Greenberg-Belli, who has been a veterinarian for 33 years, put the TNR program for discussion at council meetings on Feb. 6 and 27. The council approved the first reading of the ordinance at a meeting on March 13.
She had presented the council with a draft copy of a TNR ordinance that was approved in Kearny in Hudson County in 2014, which Township Attorney Mark Roselli drafted to fit the Old Bridge code book and include any council amendments.
Animal advocates have said an unspayed female kitten can start reproducing at six months old and can have three litters of four to six kittens each year.
The ordinance states that a colony has to be 8,000 feet away from the property line of a school.
If there is a preexisting colony with a prior nuisance complaint, the caregiver assigned to that area has to give notice to all property owners within 500 feet before they can go on that property to perform their duties as a caregiver.
The ordinance includes a penalty enforcement mechanism on caregivers reflecting $100 per violation each and every day as the violation exists.
After the discussion, Greenberg-Belli moved the motion to approve the TNR program ordinance, which was seconded by Councilwoman Debbie Walker.
Each council member resoundingly approved the TNR program, which brought cheers of “Finally” from the public and hugs all around.
Cahill said discussion is a very important part of what the body of the Township Council does.
“This is what we do: we debate issues,” he said. “People have opinions about stuff and I think everyone on this council wants to do the right thing.”
Cahill said the council took into account what was discussed.
“We listened, we talked and discussed reasonably,” he said.
It was four years ago when Township Attorney Ken Lozier said he spent “hours upon hours upon hours” reviewing ordinances all over the state and drafted up a TNR program ordinance for the council’s review.
Walker said the ordinance at the time was complicated and did not move forward.
Then, two years ago, Greenberg-Belli, who was not on the Township Council at the time, suggested the TNR program to the council to help with the feral cat problem in the 12th largest township in the state.
The program also involves a colony caretaker who provides food, adequate shelter and monitors the cats’ health.
Greenberg-Belli had said a TNR program is the only program that humanely addresses the problem.
In 60 days, a TNR program committee will be formed and after a year, the program will be reviewed.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].