Politics & Government
Committee Approves Parking Permit Fee Hike
The Manalapan Township Committee approved an ordinance that increases fees by 34 percent
Manalapan commuters are faced with another significant fee hike for their pay-per-year parking permits.
During a Wednesday meeting, the Manalapan Township Committee approved an ordinance that will raise the costs of permits by 34 percent, from $150 to $201.
Mayor Andrew Lucas has said that the hike is necessary to account for increased costs of in snow removal, electricity, public safety and public works.
The Committee’s agenda included a public hearing on Ordinance No. 2011-12 which began with comments from the governing body.
Democratic Committeewoman Michelle Roth was alone in her opposition to the ordinance and called it “a hidden tax hike”.
Roth argued that these fees have been increased enough and have helped offset snow removal, trash pickup, electricity and the recent re-paving of the lots.
She suggested a one-time surcharge for the December blizzard and not a fee hike.
“I suspect Mayor Lucas is pushing this ordinance as a way to generate more revenue for the Township and offset the $25,000 decrease in revenue we just suffered when he voted to give himself a property tax reduction on Jan. 12,” said Roth. It was a hot topic she addressed later in the meeting.
Republican Committeeman Jordan Maskowitz agreed with the Mayor’s proposal.
“I don’t think it’s fair for all the senior citizens in the community and those that don’t use the lot to have to incur those costs,” said Maskowitz, adding that he doesn’t think the hike is exorbitant.
Democratic Committeeman Don Holland also agreed with the Mayor, stating that the fee hikes are in line with other county municipalities.
Only one resident, John Castronova, objected to the ordinance at the meeting.
Castronova, a commuter and a member of Manalapan’s Transportation Committee stated that commuters suffered a 25 percent increase last year and a 100 percent fee increase in the last five years.
Castronova conducted his own research on maintenance fees.
“We’re well under the threshold of the commuter parking lots maintaining themselves; in fact, it seems to be operating on a profit,” said Castronova.
He cited additional revenues that the Township collects such as the sale of hang tags and fines for traffic violations in the lots.
“It’s a nominal fee in comparison to other towns, but I’m a little tired of the commuter always being trampled on,” Castronova concluded.
Lucas disagreed with Castronova’s research, citing that the costs for maintaining the lots steadily increases on a year-to-year basis. He also disagreed with the idea of a 2010 surcharge, citing legal complications.
“I don’t think it would be a good practice for us to do a one-year rate, but what we can do as a Township Committee is if we can find ways to trim these costs, we can come back next year, revisit this issue and readjust the price,” said Lucas.
Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin agreed with the Mayor.
The ordinance was passed in a 4-1 vote; Roth dissented.
Township Clerk Regina Preteroti noted that the parking permits expire on March 31, and the mailings will be going out this week, giving residents the typical 30-day period for renewal.
