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Senior resident’s fall prompts council push to place Knox‑style key box at Belmar Housing Authority
Summary
A senior resident told the council she crawled to a phone after falling and police had to wait about eight minutes for access; residents urged installation of a Knox‑style lockbox and the council discussed writing a letter of support to the housing authority and coordinating with fire and police protocols.
At Monday’s Belmar Borough Council meeting, resident Missy Manley described a July 4 fall in her senior‑housing apartment that left her unable to stand and prompted a discussion about emergency access to units.
"They were wonderful. They got me up off the floor," Missy Manley said of the police response, recounting that officers arrived quickly but could not enter her apartment because building staff were not immediately available and there was no master key. She said it took about eight minutes for the superintendent to arrive and open her door.
Manley urged the borough and the Belmar Housing Authority (BHA) to install a Knox‑style lockbox containing a master key at the building’s exterior or office to allow quicker emergency access. "I personally would be grateful to have that knockbox in your building," she said.
Council members and staff discussed options. A council member suggested the council could write a letter of support for the housing authority to acquire a lockbox and coordinate with the fire department. Council members emphasized that any installation would require BHA approval because of tenant privacy and control over access. Chief Scott (police) told the council that in true emergencies officers will gain entry if needed and that the fire department uses a Knox‑type system on other authority buildings, with the fire apparatus carrying locked master keys that are released via coordinated protocol.
Why it matters: delayed access to apartments can increase risk in medical emergencies for older residents. Council members said they would pass the suggestion to the housing authority and consider drafting a letter to support procurement of a lockbox and formalize a rapid‑access protocol with public safety agencies.
Next steps: officials said the council or mayor’s office can send written support to the BHA and work with the housing authority and fire and police departments to develop a protocol; no formal binding action was recorded at the meeting.
