Compass rose in Ventnor City Hall.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, Aug. 12 introduced two ordinances regulating traffic in Ventnor. Ordinance 2022-14, which has been discussed at several meetings over the summer months, permits residents who own a truck used for work to park on the street where they live. The second ordinance, No. 2022-15 allows police to impound all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes operated illegally on city streets.
The parking ordinance states that commercial vehicles weighing over 1 ton, trailers, buses and recreational vehicles may not be parked in any district between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The owner of a truck weighing 1 ton or less who lives in a single-family home without a garage or driveway and uses it to go to and from work may park only one such vehicle on the street in front of their home.
Residents have complained at commission meetings that certain business owners have been parking multiple commercial vehicles on the street, which reduces the number of parking spaces available for residents.
The ordinance also bans charter buses from parking on the streets, but they will be permitted to park in designated charter bus zones to load or unload passengers, along the 5500-block of Atlantic Avenue, or on private properties, such as Ventnor Plaza shopping center, Beth Judah, Shalom House and St. James Church. Minibuses with fewer than 25 seats can park in areas where there is sufficient room for passenger loading or unloading.
State law prohibits the operation of ATVs and dirt bikes on public streets and highways and are considered a threat to public safety. The ordinance provides the Police Department with the right to impound such vehicles operated illegally on city streets and highways. Police vehicles are exempt from the regulation. Police can dispose of confiscated vehicles as they see fit.
Public hearings on the ordinances will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25.
In other business, the board accepted the resignation of Police Officer Thomas Schallus, who recently pleaded guilty to defrauding the NJ State Health Benefits program by submitting fraudulent claims for unnecessary prescriptions.
In another police related matter, the city approved a shared services agreement with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office to purchase a license plate reader at a cost of $126,635. Several other municipalities are also participating in the shared services agreement, which has substantially reduced the cost of purchasing the readers.
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