Lacey Township committee removes Lacey Used Auto from rotating tow list after police report of repeated nonresponses

The Township Committee of Lacey on April 10 voted to remove Lacey Used Auto Parts from the municipality's rotating list of towing contractors after a hearing in which Police Chief Christopher Kenny described repeated failures by the company to answer calls or respond to tow dispatches.

Chief Christopher Kenny told the committee he had requested removal under Chapter 309 of the Lacey Township Code and cited dispatch records showing Lacey Used Auto “failed to answer the phone approximately 81 times from 2020 through 2024,” accepted calls roughly 51 times and refused calls about 70 times. He also said the municipal ordinance requires contractors to maintain at least two operable tow trucks and to answer 24/7; he testified the company had been operating with one usable truck for about two years and had recently purchased an additional truck.

The hearing gave the contractor — identified in the meeting as Mr. Caputo, owner/operator of Lacey Used Auto Parts — an opportunity to respond. Caputo told the committee he had been in business in Lacey Township since 1985, that equipment problems and after-hours staffing had driven many missed calls, and that he had acquired a second truck and added personnel within the past six months. He asked to be reinstated on the rotating list; the chief and the committee pressed for documentation and a way to verify 24/7 responsiveness going forward.

After discussion of the dispatch records and whether the communication logs accounted for phone-number changes, the committee voted to adopt a resolution removing Lacey Used Auto Parts from the township rotating tow list under Chapter 309. The resolution notes the contractor is entitled to reapply; the committee and counsel advised that any reapplication should include full documentation of current vehicles and staffing and be reviewed and approved by the police chief before the tow company would be returned to the list.

Committee members voting in favor included Missus Juliana, Mister Kenneth, Mister LeRae and the mayor (presiding) (roll call recorded during the meeting). The committee chair confirmed the contractor may reapply and that the chief will review any new equipment and staff documentation before any reinstatement.

Because the police dispatch system uses a short rotating list, committee members said inconsistent response by one contractor can delay response times for other motorists and is unfair to other qualified contractors on the roster. Township counsel explained that removal after a hearing is authorized by the municipal code and that reapplication — with updated proof of compliance — is permitted and recommended.

The committee passed the resolution removing Lacey Used Auto Parts and directed staff to publish reapplication instructions; the police chief was asked to inspect vehicles and verify personnel availability if a reapplication is submitted.