Moorestown Finalizes New Guidelines For Holding Community Events

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown Council finalized new rules for community events Monday night, a little more than a month after it voted to remove vendors and one-day community events from a requirement that lumped them in with peddlers, solicitors and transient vendors when it comes to requiring permits.

Last month's decision came after some complained of the lengthy process they have to go through for a single day. The proposal to be introduced Monday night sets forth the guidelines for community events. Read more here: Restrictive Vendor Guidelines Lifted On Moorestown Events

After removing events from that section of township code, Moorestown needed to set forth new guidelines. Before Monday night’s final vote, officials clarified what constitutes a community event after they received questions concerning block parties and parades.

“Community events are defined as events that are open to all members of the public,” Township Solicitor Kevin Aberant said. “Block parties are generally limited to certain members of the public, so this doesn’t apply to block parties.”

Parades are already covered by another section of the township code, so they aren’t covered by these changes, either, Aberant said. While walking clubs are open to anyone in the public, they are also not considered community events.

Moorestown Council unanimously approved the new legislation, which specifically states that event organizers won't need to obtain a permit, as they have in the past. It also states that certificates from the Department of Health will be needed to serve food, no smoking is allowed, and organizers must restore the area to the condition it was in before their event.

It also states:

• Any person or entity that intends to hold a community event in Moorestown must submit an application to the police chief 90 days before the event if a road closure is being requested, and 45 days before the event if it is not;
• The application fee for events in which a road closure is requested is $100, and $75 for all others;
• Applications must include the name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number, including cellular phones where the organizer can be reached while the event is taking place, and a detailed description of the event being requested. Those details must include the date, location, hours of operation, whether any street closure is requested, whether alcohol will be served, whether Community Event Vendors will be present at the event, and such other information the Police Department may require to ensure safety of the attendees and members of the general public;
• Insurance information, including a certificate that indemnifies the township from liability; and
• A Social Affairs permit issued by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control if alcohol will be served.