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Runnemede council advances ordinance tightening rules for large gatherings
Summary
The borough introduced an ordinance to require permits, traffic-control plans and police/fire review for events drawing 100 or more people on public or private property; town-run events would use an existing town form and the measure was advanced in its first reading.
Runnemede borough council advanced a new ordinance on special-event permitting that would require traffic control, roadway-crossing assistance and review by the fire marshal and police chief for gatherings that attract 100 or more people.
The measure, introduced as a new ordinance to address recent incidents of crowds blocking traffic and creating safety hazards, clarifies that the town’s front office will accept applications and forward them to the administrator and the public-safety officials for review. Councilman White framed the change as a public-safety step after “issues with crowds blocking traffic” and potential hazards on major roads.
Council members said the requirement is intended to apply broadly to outside entities holding events on public or private property and would not supplant the town’s existing mechanism for events the borough runs on its own properties. Officials described the threshold as gatherings reasonably anticipated to attract 100 or more people and stressed the ordinance is designed to organize events and prevent situations that could “spiral out of control.”
Members discussed implementation details, including which events are exempt, how applications will be routed, and the role of the fire marshal and police chief in assessing whether additional traffic control is needed. Council emphasized the ordinance is not intended to be punitive but to ensure public-safety oversight.
The council moved and seconded the ordinance for its scheduled reading; members indicated their support during the roll call that followed. Because the ordinance was presented for its first reading and council noted there will be at least two readings, the measure will return for further consideration and a formal vote at a later meeting.
Beyond the ordinance text, councilors and staff signaled they will publish implementing procedures and continue coordination with the police and fire departments before the next reading.
