December 25, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Mahwah Revisions to towing ordinance now being mulled by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council spent several hours at a recent public meeting discussing the pros and cons of revising the township’s towing ordinance. The main issue is the practice by some towing companies to have separate companies with separate towing vehicles and storage yards in order to obtain more spots in the towing rotation. The council ultimately introduced the amended ordinance and was expected to adopt it at the council’s Dec. 19 public meeting. The ordinance contains several amend- ments to Chapter 4-2 of the revised general ordinances of the township. The application process was amended to include a revised section that requires a site plan showing the location of the towing company’s storage area, the number of vehicles that may be stored on the site, and the total storage area in square feet. The applicant also must include with the application copies of a zoning certifi- cate, resolution, or other document from the municipality confirming the applicant’s right to use the storage area, and a deed or lease agreement confirming the applicant’s right to use the storage area at least for the term of the license being sought. Another section requires certification that no vehicle is listed on more than one license application submitted under this ordinance, and that the applicant will not transfer vehicles to any other licensee or applicant to satisfy the requirements of this ordinance. Still another section was amended to describe the minimum standards of per- formance required of a tower and another section points out that, if the responding approved towing operator cannot remove the vehicle, the Mahwah Police Department reserves the right to notify the next avail- able approved towing operator on the rota- tion list and the tow operator who cannot remove the vehicle will forfeit the right to bill the responsible party. The township also reserves the right, in times of emergencies and/or natural disas- ters, to contact other towing services opera- tors on the rotation list. The section on towing and storage fee schedule was amended to state that the tower will keep copies of all invoices and bills for towing services rendered to the township for a minimum period of seven years and a representative of the Mahwah Police Department will conduct routine inspections of the invoices to ensure com- pliance. Other amended sections relate to bill- ing procedures, but one states that towers will not stop at any accident scene unless directed by police, except to notify the police of an unattended accident and to advise victims that police have contacted the licensee on rotation. Also, towers will not solicit or attempt to divert patrons of another towing operator, whether or not licensed under this section, or solicit pro- spective patrons of a given repair service to any other repair service. That section also states that towers will not tow vehicles without proper authori- zation from the police at the scene or the owner or driver at the scene. The full ordinance can be seen at the township clerk’s office at the Richard J. Martel Municipal Center on Corporate Drive in Mahwah. Legacy honored Pamela Drozd of Mahwah honored the legacy of her late husband, Mike Drozd, and his gift of donated tissue to 57 people by put- ting the finishing touches on a ‘floragraph’ portrait at a ceremony at Mahwah Fire Co. 1. The portrait, which is made of seeds, flowers, and other natural materials, will be part of the Donate Life Float at next month’s Rose Parade in Pasadena, Califor- nia. Pam will also attend the Rose Parade. Her trip to Pas- adena is being sponsored by the NJ Sharing Network Foundation, the philan- thropic arm of NJ Sharing Network, the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for nearly 5,000 New Jerseyans awaiting life- saving transplants. To learn more about organ and tissue donation or to get involved with NJ Sharing Network call 1-800-742-7365 or visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org to register as an organ and tissue donor.