October 5, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Mahwah On Sept. 22, the Mahwah police arrested and charged three individuals, one male and two females from Newark, with prostitution and/or promoting prostitution. The Mahwah Police Investigative Division continually works to deter prostitution activity within the township. Through monitoring of various means and Internet services that promote prostitution and/or illegal activity, Mahwah detectives conduct undercover stings of organizations or individuals that offer prostitution services or other illegal activity within the township, particularly area hotels. Police charge three in connection with prostitution As a result of the department’s ongoing approach, the Mahwah police arrested two 31-year-old females for engaging in prostitution at the Super 8 hotel within the township. Detectives became aware of the above individuals intention to conduct potential prostitution activity at the local hotel and subsequently facilitated an undercover investigation. As a result of the undercover operation both woman were arrested and charged. During the continued investigation and arrests of both of the above women, a third individual, a 32-year-old man, was discovered by Mahwah officers to have been in a vehicle with one of the females in the hotel lot being given approximately $1,400 in currency that is believed to have been proceeds from the illegal activity the females had been conducting. The man was determined to have been involved in the illegal activity and assisted in facilitating their actions. He was charged with promoting prostitution. A total of $2,516 in currency was seized as proceeds of illegal activity from all three individuals. All three were later released on their own recognizance and must appear in Mahwah Municipal Court. Election signs (continued from page 8) tell Montroy what to do. Ultimately, it was agreed that the administration will ask Montroy not to change the policy of not enforcing the prohibition of political signs in the rights-of-way during the election season unless they pose a public safety hazard. Following the meeting, Laforet complained that the discussion was not held in a public portion of the council meeting during which he could have stated his position. Laforet’s sign on the median on Macarthur Boulevard and one placed in front of the Darlington Schoolhouse at the end of Darlington Avenue by his campaign staff were removed at the direction of Montroy. In a series of e-mails between the candidate and the zoning enforcement officer, Laforet accuses Montroy of acting in an “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable manner.” Laforet said his signs do not obstruct traffic and the one on the median of Macarthur Boulevard was smaller than the “Welcome to Mahwah” sign on that same median. “It is no secret that you are supporting the current mayor (in the election),” Laforet wrote to Montroy, “and while that is perfectly legal I don’t think it should allow you to determine when the (sign) ordinance should be enforced.” Montroy responded to Laforet stating that his sign on Macarthur Boulevard was taken down because it was “in violation of the township’s zoning ordinance” by being placed within the public right-of-way and because the size of the sign “obstructed traffic and could have caused an accident.” He said the sign had to be removed from its metal frame because the frame was anchored in the ground. Montroy also pointed out that the township’s sign ordinance prohibits signs in the right-of-way or on public property without first obtaining prior approval of the township council. He said he intends to “liberally enforce” the sign ordinance in keeping with past practices. “From my perspective,” Montroy wrote, “the important thing is that the placement of signs (does) not endanger anyone.” Laforet claims that several previous politicians and candidates who have sought election in the township over the last 25 years have told him they had posted political signs and none of them ever requested permission to post the signs, or had them taken down by the zoning enforcement officer. He said he intends to replace the signs that he believes are consistent with the sign ordinance and past practices in the township. But Montroy told Laforet that if the sign he placed on the center median on Macarthur Boulevard were to be replaced it would be in violation of the zoning ordinance and would subject him to a summons in municipal court if he continued to violate the township’s code.