Fines, jail proposed for those feeding geese

Public hearing on latest measure to control birds slated for Aug. 7

By Sherry conohan

Staff Writer

EATONTOWN — Don’t feed the geese!

That’s the message being delivered in an ordinance introduced by the Borough Council on July 24 banning the feeding of any animal, wildlife or bird "in, near or around" Wampum Memorial Park and Wampum Lake.

The measure, along with the earlier hiring of the Geese Police, is aimed at keeping the new Veterans Plaza and the rest of Wampum Memorial Park on Route 35 from being overrun by the geese and fouled by their feces.

A public hearing on the proposed ordinance will be held at 8 p.m. Aug. 7.

The introduction was delayed briefly over the wording of the ordinance.

As drafted by Borough Attorney Gene Anthony, the ordinance prohibited feeding animals or birds "inhabiting" Wampum Park or the lake.

Violators could face a fine of up to $1,250, sent to jail for up to 90 days or sentenced to a period of community service not exceeding 90 days or any combination thereof.

Councilman John J. Collins questioning the wording, however, because it didn’t seem to cover someone feeding them on the sidewalk by Route 35 at the park’s edge and he wanted to be sure that would be covered too.

A further question was raised as to whether the wording could create a problem in enforcement because it might be difficult to prove that the geese "inhabit" the park.

Councilman William M. Kinney, who is a lawyer, resolved the dilemma by proposing that the wording be changed to banning feeding "in, near or around" the park which everyone agreed seemed to cover all the bases.

Anthony said the ordinance was necessary because he had checked the borough code and it didn’t have anything in it to address the problem.

The borough also will put up signs alerting park visitors to the ban.

In other action, the council gave final passage to two other ordinances. One prohibits the use of skateboards, skates and rollerblades in Wampum Memorial Park and the other sets fees for making copies of borough records and tapes. Both measures were approved unanimously 6-0.

The council also approved the engineering work necessary for installing a sidewalk along Wall Street from Parker Road to Whalepond Road.