Sandy Volunteer 'Quartering' Ordinance Passes in Brick

With the expectation of an influx of volunteers hoping to lend a hand in post-Sandy reconstruction this summer, Brick council members - with a few reservations - have approved a "quartering" ordinance which will allow volunteers to be housed in various places of public accommodation in town.

The ordinance, introduced in April, would allow volunteers to stay at properties owned by churches, businesses or other "places of assembly" not normally zoned for residential use. As long as the property is a place of assembly, the ordinance says, the use of the facility as a temporary encampment for volunteers would be allowed regardless of the property's zoning.

"We needed an avenue to let volunteers safely come into our township to protect our residents and the volunteers," said Councilwoman Susan Lydecker.

The ordinance "creates a databank" of volunteers, she said. Those in town to volunteer will have to register with the municipal clerk's office and present a form of legal identification, a copy of which will be held there.

"We have to make sure they have a proper place to stay, that they’re not just being thrown into a building that has no bathroom, no place to clean up, no place to sleep," said Lydecker.

Though the ordinance passed council unanimously, Councilman Domenick Brando said he had reservations.

"I’m ultimately going to end up voting yes for it, but I still have the concerns I brought up at the last meeting," he said. "I want to make sure that we’re not going to have a bunch of shelters popping up, fly by night."

"We’re going to have a lot of people coming in, so we’re going to have to crack down on this and be on it, all the time," he continued.

Township attorney Jean Cipriani said the locations where volunteers will be housed must be attached to organizations that are part of FEMA's long term recovery plan for the region.

Lydecker said all of the buildings must conform to township codes.

"Our township officials can, and will, walk in," she said.

One of the organizations participating will be the Visitation Relief Center, headquartered on Mantoloking Road.

The allowance for quartering volunteers in non-zoned properties will expire Dec. 31, 2014, the ordinance says.