COLTS NECK – Individuals who fish in Colts Neck’s ponds are now required to release any wildlife they catch following the Township Committee’s adoption of a “catch and release” ordinance.
The ordinance was unanimously adopted by committee members on Sept. 26. No one from the public commented on the ordinance, which amends an existing law that refers to recreation area rules and regulations.
A section that refers to fishing will now state, “Fishing, other than ice fishing, shall be permitted in the ponds within township-owned parks, subject to the following ‘Catch and Release’ Policy.”
” ‘Catch and Release’ refers to the requirement of the return to ponds within township-owned parks of all fish and wildlife caught there. The ponds within township-owned parks are designated as catch and release sites, and all wildlife and fish caught, trapped or extracted from (those) ponds shall be returned immediately to the pond, and every reasonable effort must be taken to maintain the health and life of the wildlife.”
In other business, Colts Neck entered into a shared services agreement with neighboring Howell through which Howell will offer the following services for Colts Neck: catch basin cleaning, culvert repairs, diesel inspections, equipment use (with equipment operator), guide rail installation, leaf collection, mowing, paving, recycling, salting and sanding, street sign installation, street sweeping, towing, traffic signal installation, vehicle maintenance, vehicle painting and vehicle repairs.
Colts Neck officials may request any of the listed services. Upon receiving the request, Howell representatives will give Colts Neck a price for the service based on the equipment needed, materials and labor costs, and Colts Neck will have the option to proceed with the work based on the price. The agreement expires Sept. 30, 2019.