By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Municipal officials are taking action to limit the use of fuel-powered generators in Millstone Township.
On April 5, the Township Committee introduced an ordinance that will, if adopted, prohibit the use of a fuel-powered generator on residential and commercial properties if the generator produces sound that is audible 100 feet away from its location.
Exceptions are made for cases of unintentional power outages and for maintenance and testing of the generator, as long as the generator is operated with a muffler.
Mayor Michael Kuczinski, Deputy Mayor Fiore Masci and committee members Gary Dorfman and Nancy Grbelja voted to introduce the ordinance. Committeeman Bob Kinsey was absent.
A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for May 3. The committee may adopt the ordinance on that date.
According to the ordinance, fuel-powered devices that produce electricity and sound that is audible 100 feet from its location will not be operated on residential and commercial properties, with exceptions.
According to the ordinance, generators can be operated if electricity is interrupted for reasons beyond the control of a property owner or an occupant.
Generators can also be operated for maintenance and testing, according to the ordinance. The maintenance or testing cannot exceed 30 minutes and can only be conducted once a week.
According to the ordinance, maintenance and testing of generators can only be conducted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a residential property, and between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on a commercial property.
The exceptions only apply if a generator is operated with a muffler, according to the ordinance.