By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — The borough’s Quality of Life Enforcement Team has been up and running since July and has issued about 70 summonses to date.
During a workshop meeting on Sept. 9, Mayor Michael Wilson revealed the initial results of the team’s efforts, stating that "the team was placed into operation on July 22 and has been operating on a daily basis during various times of the day."
According to Councilman Kevin Coyne, the quality of life team was formed in response to an increase in complaints about so-called quality of life issues and an increase in the number of crowded living conditions in the town.
The Borough Council hired a new full-time code enforcement officer, assigned a special police officer to the matter, and established a quality of life court session to hear all violations concerning these issues. The quality of life court is expected to convene for the first time on Sept. 24, at a time to be determined.
The council is also in the process of revising its landlord registration ordinance to track absentee landlords who own residential units in town.
According to Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina, summonses have been issued by the quality of life team for violations including overcrowding, illegal living arrangements, illegal parking, drinking and urinating in public, excessive noise from motor vehicles, and unsafe structures.
Wilson said more than 80 property inspections have produced violation notices for quality of life infractions, such as illegally parked cars, abandoned vehicles, building code infractions, improper storage of trash and refuse, and many others.
The mayor said the team’s "mission will continue with the purpose and zeal with which it began."
During the public briefing, Wilson told council members the quality of life court sessions will begin later this month.
"This court is the most crucial step of the quality of life enforcement process," Wilson said. "Unfortunately, it is not until fines are issued and punishment is given by a judge that people begin to realize they have an obligation to society to live within all laws and codes. Laws bind society together in order to provide social order and that transcends all ethnic backgrounds and all neighborhoods."
Bellina told council members that debris on Institute Street just past Orchard Street has been cleaned up as part of the Quality of Life Enforcement Team’s efforts.
"We didn’t find as much evidence of ‘camps’ being set up as we did before," Bellina said. "Actually, it appeared as though people were in the throes of building one, but we knocked it down."
Bellina said at least 10 dump trucks full of junk were hauled from the area.
"We had 10 men working one day and eight men on another day," he said, noting that other areas will be searched for debris in the days ahead."
Bellina also discussed a cleanup that is taking place on the Conrail railroad tracks.
"Before we begin the cleanup, Conrail needs to be informed of the cost and then we’ll get the go-ahead to begin the work from them," the administrator explained, adding that Conrail will be responsible for reimbursing the borough for the cleanup project.
According to Bellina, there are at least 50 cases on the docket for the quality of life court’s first session.
"This is a pretty hefty amount," he said. "And keep in mind that all summonses that were taken care of and have been resolved are not included in that number."
Council President Michael DiBenedetto expressed his pleasure with the results that were reported by the mayor at the public briefing.
"Residents who have been following our activities are pleased that we have employed a comprehensive approach to this seemingly insurmountable problem," DiBenedetto said. "Shortly, the governing body will be adopting a fee-generating ordinance that will allow borough officials to effectively control and monitor absentee landlords."
In a later conversation, Coyne discussed the planned absentee landlord legislation that officials believe will allow for the most equitable way to pay for the Quality of Life Enforcement Team.
"We cannot ask our taxpayers to pay for this" enforcement action, he said.
Coyne said the mayor’s briefing was a "step in the right direction" and he advised residents to be patient. He said before the quality of life team was formed, although officials always expressed concern over the issues, there was difficulty attending to them.
"The key thing now is that when people call to complain about these issues, there is someone there to take the call, someone there to check out the problem," he said. "There are people solely dedicated to these issues."