[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Middlesex
7-3-1940 by Ord. No. 121. Amendments noted where applicable.]
From and after the passage of this chapter, no public meetings, assemblies,
dances, picnics or parades shall take place or be conducted in the Borough
of Middlesex until a permit shall be obtained from the Chief of Police of
the Borough of Middlesex.
Any person, persons, corporation or organization desirous of conducting
a public meeting, assembly, dance, picnic or parade may apply to the Chief
of Police four days in advance of the proposed public meeting, assembly, dance,
picnic or parade, designating the proposed date, time and place. In applying
for a permit to hold a parade, the applicant shall specify the route thereof.
If there shall be no prior application for a public meeting, assembly, dance,
picnic or parade at said time and place, the Chief of Police shall forthwith
issue a permit granting said application. In the event that there shall be
a prior application for a parade for said time and place, the Chief of Police
shall indicate another available route and shall forthwith grant a permit
therefor. There shall be no charge made and/or paid for the issuance of a
permit under this chapter.[1]
Prior to the issuance of a permit by the Chief of Police under the provisions
of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to determine
whether or not in his judgment in relation to the comfort, convenience and
safety generally, the presence of one or more special police officers of the
Borough of Middlesex should be required at said public meeting, assembly,
dance, picnic or parade. If the presence of one or more special police officers
of the Borough of Middlesex is deemed necessary and advisable in the judgment
of the Chief of Police, then in that event the issuance of the permit shall
be conditional upon the agreement by the applicant to have in attendance at
said public meeting, assembly, dance, picnic or parade such special police
officer and/or officers as shall be deemed advisable and necessary in the
judgment of the Chief of Police, provided further that said applicant shall
agree to pay for such special police officer and/or officers at the rate and/or
rates of pay heretofore or hereafter established by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Middlesex for special police officers.
Upon the denial of a permit by the Chief of Police because of the failure
of the applicant to agree to the attendance at such public meeting, assembly,
dance, picnic or parade of such special police officer and/or officers as
are deemed advisable and necessary by the Chief of Police, or because of the
refusal of the applicant to pay for such special police officer and/or officers
at the rates of pay hereinbefore specified, then in that event the applicant
may appeal to the Council of the Borough of Middlesex from the denial of the
permit by the Chief of Police, within two days thereafter by filing his said
application with the Borough Clerk, who shall thereupon promptly convoke a
meeting of the Council for the purpose of acting thereon. Upon such appeal,
the said Council may reverse, affirm or modify in any regard the determination
of the Chief of Police by a vote of a majority of those present at said meeting.
To carry out the judgment of the Council upon appeal, the Chief of Police
is directed to issue a permit in conformity with the judgment of the Council.
Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this chapter
shall be subject to the penalty of a fine not to exceed $200 or not more than
30 days imprisonment in the county jail, or both, upon conviction thereof.
This chapter is not to apply to regular scheduled meetings of local
civic organizations.
