Off the Wire
MCs in the News
I have a fuckin' idea... want to save taxpayers money... don't authorize the bullshit overtime for the cops to sit there with their thumbs up their asses watching an event that has not caused trouble in the past. Instead... these assholes are "contemplating an ordinance that would give the borough jurisdection over large events"... un-fuckin'-believable.
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MANVILLE - After officials reported that overtime for an increased police presense during a recent event hosted by the Hells Angels cost local taxpayers $8,500, the council is contemplating an ordinance that would give the borough jurisdiction over large events.
The Newark chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club traveled into town Sunday for what was described on its website as an annual spring party at Rhythms of the Night on South Main Street. Hundreds of members of the Hells Angels attended the event, which was within capacity limitations for Rhythms of the Night, said Councilman Ed Komoroski.
As a precautionary measure, Komoroski said all 22 borough officers and neighboring police in Hillsborough, Bridgewater, the Somerset section of Franklin and the Somerset County Sherriff's Office. The breakdown in overtime for the other towns was not immediately available.
Some borough merchants also closed early in anticipation of crowded streets.
Komoroski made it clear that the motorcycle group and some of its members, who have patronized borough establishments in the past, have never caused a problem in the borough. The increase in police presense was due to magnitude of the event, he said.
Police Chief Mark Peltack told the council that no issues of violence occurred during the event.
At the next night's Borough Council meeting, Komoroski proposed enacting an ordinance that would give municipal officials a say in what types of organizations and how many people can gather at local establishments.
"It's not to single out any specific person, organization or business," Komoroski said Thursday. "My feeling is if the police department thinks there is a safety concern, it (event) should come to the mayor and council or some board to make a decision to say if this should go on. Sunday was a considerable amount of of money — not just for Manville, but for Somerset County, the state and neighboring towns."
Under Komoroski's proposal, a business could fill out a permit for an event expected to draw a high turnout or would need additional police for safety concerns. The business or event organizer would then be responsible for some of the extra costs associated with the event, such as police overtime, Komoroski said.
Komoroski said the Borough Council would have discussions about such events on a case-by-case basis with local police.
Borough Attorney Francis P. Linnus said at the meeting that Komoroski's ordinance proposal would be worth looking into, but noted a business such as Rhythms of the Night is a private entity. He said consideration for the type of ordinance proposed by Komoroski must be weighed between public safety versus property rights.
Linnus said borough officials can't tramp on the property rights of a legally permitted business if the business is operating within the law.
Komoroski said Thursday that Linnus will review if any other Somerset County municipality has an ordinance similar to his proposal. He said it would be easier to "piggy back" on something already written rather than develop a new ordinance.
"The borough has to look into this and say we can't go through this expense every year," Komoroski said, noting the tough economic climate.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club started in 1948 in Fontana, Calif. It has national and international charters.
original article
