Maurice River Committee adopts ordinances on short-term rentals, low-speed vehicles and fees; approves property purchase

The Maurice River Township Committee unanimously adopted four ordinances at its June 18 meeting, including new rules for short-term rentals and permission for low-speed vehicles on municipal roadways, and authorized the purchase of a parcel adjacent to the township recycle center.

The committee adopted Ordinance No. 765 authorizing purchase of Block 250 Lot 6 from Donna Cottrell for a purchase price of $145,000 with closing costs not to exceed 5 percent. Mayor Ken Whildin told the public the property was offered to the township at a reduced price. The motion to adopt was made by Deputy Mayor Joe Sterling and seconded by Committeeman Ben Stowman; the roll call vote was Sterling, Stowman and Whildin — all ayes.

Ordinance No. 766 establishes a short-term rental (STR) licensing regime that requires annual license applications, a $250 nonrefundable application fee, designation of a responsible party (New Jersey resident) available 24/7, proof of $500,000 general liability insurance, parking plans, and recordkeeping of transient occupants for three years. The ordinance prohibits STRs in certain residential uses (boarding houses, nursing homes, foster homes and similar facilities), bans on-site rental signage, and sets fines of $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 for a second and $2,000 for a third. A resident who said he had read the ordinance voiced support; the measure passed on a motion by Sterling, seconded by Stowman.

Ordinance No. 767 permits operation of federally compliant low-speed vehicles (attainable speed greater than 20 but not more than 25 mph) on township roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or lower, provided state registration and insurance requirements are met. A member of the public asked whether the ordinance allows street-legal golf carts; Mayor Whildin confirmed it does. The ordinance was adopted unanimously.

Ordinance No. 768 updates penalties and construction-permit fees in Chapters 3 and 11 of the township code, including administrative penalties for repeated false alarms and fee schedules for photovoltaic systems and lead-based paint inspections; it passed without public comment.

On first reading, the committee approved Ordinance No. 769 (authorizing a municipal lease to the U.S. Postal Service for the Delmont Post Office) and Ordinance No. 770 (2026 salary schedule) and scheduled public hearings for both on July 16, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting also adopted a consent agenda covering multiple resolutions and routine items, including a tax exemption for a 100% permanently and totally disabled veteran, support for a $5,000 Sustainable Communities grant via Atlantic City Electric to purchase benches and amenities for Leesburg Veterans Memorial Park, endorsement of a housing element addendum, and approval of a change order to Arawak Paving Co., Inc. The consent agenda was adopted on a single motion.

The committee’s engineer and staff also moved forward with preparing and submitting 2027 NJDOT grant applications for municipal aid and bikeways projects, which the committee authorized. The meeting ended after routine departmental reports, approval of bills, and a second public comment period; no votes failed.

What happens next: Ordinances 769 and 770 return for public hearing July 16. The STR ordinance will become effective 30 days after final publication, and the initial license effective date will be 60 days after STR properties are identified per the solicitor’s statement.