Possible changes to the regulations were discussed at last week’s meeting.
An ordinance regarding regulations on public functions was introduced at last month’s committee meeting, and the discussion on upgrades has continued.
After reviewing feedback given by members of the committee, township solicitor Peter Lange reflected on the comments given to ultimately revise the regulations.
The original ordinance raised concerns regarding a permit cost of $75, and the exceptions section stating any funeral procession, educational activities, weddings and houses of worship would be exempt from submitting a permit.
Lange spoke with Deputy Mayor Stephen Lee in regard to simplifying the wording of the regulations and decided upon a way to scale back the definition and applicability.
Lange proposed to define a special event as “any protest, service, fair, carnival, festival, show, exhibition, celebration, assembly, pageant or other similar public event to be conducted within or partly within the Township of Tabernacle.” He continued by stating a permit would be necessary, “where attendance by participants, spectators and/or patrons is expected to be greater than the occupancy rating of the occupied structure(s) at the site where the event is to be conducted.”
A permit would be required at events where it is expected reasonably by the owner of the property or the person conducting the event that the number of individuals present would exceed the occupancy rating for the building.
In addition, a permit would be required for occasions where an event or part of the event is to be held on public ground or public park or public right of way or private ground where the public is invited or if the event is advertised.
Lange proposed that funeral processions would be exempt, wedding processions, labor disputes and educational activities would be exempt — unless they are expected to exceed the occupancy rating.
When events require a permit, a two-page application would be required to be submitted to the Office of Emergency Management for further review, where further information could then be requested on a situational basis. With Lange’s updated changes, there would no longer be a permit fee.
The changes that were reviewed during the discussion will be reintroduced at next month’s meeting.
In other news:
- County Clerk Tim Tyler delivered a Killed in Action flag, which he stated he is hand-delivering to all 40 municipalities, so they can be hung above government buildings as a way to honor and remember service members who lost their lives fighting for the United States.
The next committee meeting will be held on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.
