Matawan Amends Effective Date of Regional Court with Hazlet, Keyport

The Matawan Borough Council passed an ordinance amending the effective date of the Joint Court of Hazlet, Keyport and Matawan at their regular action meeting Monday night.

, which was originally slated to begin on Jan. 1 is now expected to open in late January, according to Matawan Mayor Paul Buccellato.

"[The amending ordinance] merely states that while the AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts) is reviewing the physical layout and technical details that our municipal court as well as that of Hazlet and Keyport will continue until the official plan is signed off by the AOC," Borough Attorney Pasquale Menna said at Monday's meeting. "It just keeps us in operation until that date."

According to an article in the Asbury Park Press, Hazlet and Keyport passed similar ordinances at their respective council meetings this week.

The Municipal Court of the Borough of Matawan is currently held in a room inside of the Matawan Borough Police Department building on Main Street.

The Joint Municipal Court would reside in Hazlet, according to Matawan Mayor Paul Buccellato, as they have the largest and most up-to-date facility.

The municipalities would share the cost of the services, however revenue generated from summonses and court fees would not be shared. According to a mutual written agreement between the municipalities, Matawan would be responsible for 22.46 percent of the total cost.

Menna said in October that according to a study done, the joint court would save the borough between $100,000 and $110,000 per year, after subtracting the approximately $42,000 a year in total cost.

According to Menna, if Matawan did not opt to enter into a regional court system, they would have to renovate the Matawan Municipal Community Center to meet federal standards set by the Supreme Court.