FREEHOLD — All Freehold Borough residents, homeowners and property owners are invited to spend an evening learning all about how code enforcement works to ensure safety of their homes and their neighborhoods on May 20 at 7 p.m. in Borough Hall, West Main Street.
Maureen Haley, chair of the Rental Property Advisory Board, said the Code Enforcement Forum will provide attendees with overviews and specific information, such as what exactly code enforcement does, and what it does not do. Speakers will include code enforcement officers, Borough Attorney Kerry Higgins and Municipal Prosecutor Kathleen Sheedy.
Attendees will learn how to log a complaint and the entire process of what happens to that complaint, such as how code enforcement officers proceed to address and/or correct the problem that prompted the complaint call, and how they keep track of complaints along with the actions taken.
In addition, attendees will learn what happens when matters go to municipal court as well as how fines are assessed. Speakers will relate recent activities on complaint calls and share success stories, as well as what residents can do to combat problems occurring in rental units.
Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine said, “The purpose of this seminar is to educate our residents in understanding the operations of our code enforcement department and how to recognize and report a violation.
“It will also help landlords to better understand their property management responsibilities. Attendance at this forum will teach residents how they can avoid violating ordinances, and also to recognize when others have violated the same, as well as how to initiate a complaint,” he said.
“Community education is vitally important, especially in matters that need code enforcement to step in,” Haley added. “We urge Freehold Borough residents to come to this forum because this information can help them protect and preserve their quality of life and that of their neighbors and friends in the community.”
Haley said the Rental Property Advisory Board wants to assist code enforcement to combat abuses that occur in rental properties as well as properties that seem to lack oversight and maintenance.
“Code enforcement needs the public to be knowledgeable of their rights and watchful for signs of abuse. We encourage residents to feel empowered to work with our code enforcement for the betterment of all,” she said.