Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • June 20, 2012 Mahwah Township plans to limit parking near bus stop by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Township Council intends to prohibit parking during certain times of the day on two streets near the New Jersey Transit bus stop located on Franklin Turnpike just south of Micik Lane. The marked bus stop is directly across from Rock Ridge Road and, based on some residents’ complaints about commuter parking on that street and a recommendation from Captain Robert Sinnaeve, the police department’s traffic safety officer, the council plans to introduce an ordinance that would prohibit parking on both sides of Rock Ridge Road and the Trellis Court cul-de-sac between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. The intent of the ordinance is to prohibit commuters who take the New Jersey Transit bus into New York City at that bus stop from parking their cars all day on these two roads. At a recent council meeting, Council President John Spiech voiced the concern that, if parking were restricted on Rock Ridge Road and Trellis Court, the commuters might park on other nearby streets. He also pointed out that the restriction would apply to residents and commuters. The suggestion of providing residents with resident stickers for their automobiles was made, but Township Administrator Brian Campion said he would prefer not to use stickers. He pointed out that the use of stickers for residents’ vehicles would not, in any event, eliminate the need for the “no parking” signs. Explaining the need for the restriction, Rock Ridge Road resident John Duffy pointed out that, with the cars parked on his street, the garbage cannot be picked up, street sweepers cannot clean the street, and the township cannot pick up leaves. He favored restricting the commuters while not impacting the residents, and added that he has no problem with the proposed hours of the parking restriction. Eugene Banas, another resident of Rock Ridge Road, showed the council photos depicting the difficulty that a school bus has in turning onto Rock Ridge Road while cars are parked on that street. He described the situation as “an accident waiting to happen.” He also supported a restriction on parking on that street. Thomas Crudele of Wagon Trail, a street located to the south of Trellis Court, told the council he has never had a problem with cars parked on his street. He said the township has too many laws and does not want any “no parking” signs on his lawn. He pointed out that his neighbor often has guests from New York State, and he has never considered it a problem. Diller DeBenedetto, a resident of Boulder Trail, which is located farther south on Franklin Turnpike, said he opposed the restriction on his street because he does not leave his neighborhood until later in the morning during the summer. He predicted the police would give him a ticket every day if the restriction were imposed on his street. His father, Anthony DeBenedetto, agreed, telling the council in the summertime his children are home from college and they have five cars, some of which must be parked on the street. He said he understands the problem the residents of Rock Ridge Road have, but he does not want signs in front of his property. If the restriction were imposed on his street, however, he said he would not be opposed to giving residents a sticker for their windshield to avoid receiving a parking violation summons. Joy Schare, also a resident of Boulder Trail, told the council she has not seen the problem being discussed, but said she would prefer stickers rather than signs. Campion told the council that information about the proposed ordinance would be sent to all the residents of Rock Ridge Road and Trellis Court, and a public hearing on the ordinance would be held in about a month. Bridging to Brownies Mahwah Daisy Troop 4472 recently bridged to Brownies. The troop’s ceremony was held at Winter Park bridge.