Mahwah Reverses Course On Eruv, Parks Ban Ordinances

MAHWAH, NJ — Officials have reversed course on two controversial pieces of legislation that were the center of a civil rights lawsuit the state attorney general filed against the town.

The state alleged the ordinances attempted to address a perceived "infiltration" of Orthodox Jews into the town. One piece of legislation prohibited out-of-state residents from using the town's parks. Another would have outlawed an eruv, which is a religious boundary for Orthodox Jews, from being built on utility poles.

The council introduced an ordinance that would allow "residents and non-residents alike" to use parks.

The council also approved a separate resolution that would impugn a proposed law that would have stopped white PVC pipes from being posted on utility poles marking the eruv boundaries. That proposed law was introduced, but was not adopted.

Council President Robert Hermansen, and the other members of the council, did not comment on the ordinances, NorthJersey.com reported. Mayor William Laforet said the ordinances were ill-advised. He was blocked from speaking by the council and spoke afterwards to s small group, according to the report.

Hermansen said he would move to censure Laforet at the next meeting because he ignored legal advice not to comment, according to the report.

County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal told township police not to enforce the parks ordinance on the grounds that such enforcement violates the U.S. Constitution.

Grewal sent a letter to Chief James Batelli directing him not the enforce the ordinance.

Batelli expressed concern to Grewal in an earlier letter that enforcing the ordinance means violating people's Constitutional rights and could expose the Mahwah Police Department to civil liability and complaints, Grewal stated in his letter.

Orthodox Jews spoke out against the parks ban and proposed eruv regulations online and at council meetings.

Related: Mahwah Township Excluded Orthodox Jews, State Claims In Lawsuit
Related: Prosecutor Tells Town Police Not To Enforce New Parks Ordinance

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