Toms River residents will no longer have to shell out the $46 permit fee for inspections of electrical systems that needed replacement after Superstorm Sandy.

JCP+L meter
JCP+L meter (YouTube)
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Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher explained the fee was required to be charged as part of the state's Uniform Construction Code. However he reached an agreement with the NJ Department of Community Affairs to have them pick up the fee.

"They are going to do the inspections; they will not charge the homeowners. Down the line they will submit a bill to FEMA and hope maybe they can be reimbursed." Says Kelaher.

He adds anyone who was charged for the $46 for an inspection will be refunded.

Kelaher asserts that rumors claiming that only residents of the barrier islands were charged the fees are completely false. "We have the same problems in the lower areas along the Barnegat Bay shore by Silverton and Green Island, Shelter Cove, and Snug Island areas of Fischer Boulevard."

From here on out once a homeowners meter has been pulled because of storm damage, their electricians must request a permit (which is now at no cost) after which JCP&L will re-install the meter.

The township will be supplementing the staff to review and process these permit applications.  Additionally, the Building Inspection Department has expanded the hours of operation to include a starting time of 7:30 each day (through 4:30 PM), expanded hours on Wednesday to 6:30 PM, and Saturday hours from 9 AM to 3 PM beginning on December 8, 2012 through Saturday December 22, 2012.

Town Hall is located at 33 Washington Street in Toms River.

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