Council introduces ordinance to remove 24/7 nursing mandate for Stonebridge, sends change to planning board

Council members introduced an ordinance on April 7 to amend Chapter 108, Section 6.23 of the Monroe Township code to remove the township requirement that communities in the PRC‑2 (Planned Retirement Community District 2) maintain a registered nurse on duty 24 hours a day.

The measure was introduced by motion and carried on a roll call vote (Councilman Charles DePiro: yes; Councilman Michael Markell: yes; Councilwoman Rupa P. Siegel: yes; Council Vice President Terrence Van Zora: yes; Council President Miriam Cohen: yes). The ordinance is now scheduled for referral to the Planning Board and a second reading before the council; no final repeal or change to existing services was adopted tonight.

The ordinance would place Stonebridge in parity with the 14 other 55+ gated communities in Monroe that are not bound by the current PRC‑2 nursing requirement. Mayor Steven Delina, speaking before the public comment period, framed the issue as one of local choice: “I feel that each community should have its own freedom of choice as the 14 of the 15 private other senior communities already have to make health care decisions for themselves,” he said, while adding he personally believes nursing services are valuable.

Council members expressed differing emphases but voted to introduce the ordinance. Councilwoman Rupa P. Siegel said the change is “about fairness and freedom” and urged that Stonebridge residents be allowed to decide through their homeowners association; she added she would nonetheless encourage Stonebridge residents to support nurse services. Councilman Charles…