By PETE WALTON
Borough officials are asking Neptune City residents to go online and sign up for an updated emergency alert system.
The Nixle program is already used in Asbury Park and other nearby communities, but is new to Neptune City.
As a result, there are going to be some glitches, according to Capt. Keith Mitchell, who is coordinating implementation of Nixle for the Neptune City Police Department.
“It’s still new to us,” Mitchell said at this week’s Borough Council meeting. “It’s more effective and has more options than the system we’ve been using.”
Mitchell noted that the old system mainly consisted of recorded phone notifications, which may or may not be heard in time. Nixle delivers text notifications on a timely basis, with links to more information included for those who want additional details.
Residents must sign up for the free Nixle alerts even if they already receive messages via the previous system.
Sign-up information is available on the home page of the borough’s web site, neptunecitynj.com.
Registrants have the option of also receiving alerts from other towns using the Nixle system.
In other business at the meeting, the council accepted with regret the resignation of Michael P. Campanella as resource officer at Woodrow Wilson School.
Mayor Robert J. Brown said he did not know the retired detective for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office when the council decided to create the position two years ago.
“I had no idea how great a fit he would be,” Brown said.
Council President Pamela Renee said Campanella was taking a job closer to his home in Rumson.
“It’s our loss,” she said. “The kids really love him.”
Councilman Andrew Wardell said his two children at the school were sad to hear the news.
The mayor said Campanella told him he would be back to assist with a garden he helped start at the school.
