December 4, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Franklin Lakes Discharge of arrows now prohibited near residences by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council has adopted an ordinance that will prohibit the discharge of arrows within 150 feet of a residence. The matter arose in September when Police Chief Joseph Seltenrich wrote to Council President/Public Safety Commis- sioner Nathalie Lota and Councilwoman/ Public Works Committee Chair Paulette Ramsey, about two instances that involved the discharge of arrows. Chief Seltenrich wrote that, during the previous several months, the police department investigated two instances wherein arrows were shot from residential backyards into neighbor- ing yards and, in one case, the arrow was shot at a home and became lodged in the siding. “Also,” Seltenrich wrote, “two recent, and separate, inquiries were fielded from individuals requesting information regard- ing the conditions under which they could utilize bows and arrows on their proper- ties.” He continued, “There exists an obvious safety concern involving the usage of bows and arrows within residential neighbor- hoods, as arrows can be made to fly a great distance, and in the event that one were to strike an individual, it could inflict serious injury, or worse.” Seltenrich said he had discussed this matter with Borough Attorney William Smith, who advised him that bows and arrows are not considered firearms and, therefore, their use is not controlled under the existing borough ordinance that regu- lates the use of firearms with respect to proximity to dwellings and roadways. Seltenrich requested that the governing body consider amending, or augmenting, the existing ordinance, in order to reference and control the use of bows and arrows within the borough. According to Seltenrich, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife recommends that bows and arrows not be used within 150 feet of dwellings, which is considered a “safety zone.” He recommended that the borough adopt a similar position and pro- hibit the use of bows and arrows within 150 feet of a residence or roadway. In a recent public safety notice on fire- arms from Seltenrich he advised all bor- ough residents and visitors that the Franklin Lakes Borough Code in general prohib- its hunting and the discharge of firearms within the borough, except under strictly controlled circumstances. “The intention of the Franklin Lakes Police Department is to do our utmost to ensure the safety and security of our resi- dents,” Seltenrich stated, “and we ask for your cooperation, by reporting to police headquarters at (201) 891-3131 whenever you may hear or see firearms being dis- charged within the borough.”