MILLVILLE — Assemblyman Matthew Milam (D-1st) is pleading not guilty to a summons received by City of Millville Special Officer Anthony Cills for allegedly being illegally parked in a handicapped parking spot.
Cills has been employed with Millville Police Department as a Class One officer since 2000, according to Lt. Wayne Smith.
According to Milam’s attorney Brendan J. Kavanagh, he was meeting Milam at a restaurant. Kavanagh is corporate counsel for Milam’s Vineland-based company, Foundry Service Corp., a bulk materials hauler.
The men were alerted that Milam was getting a ticket and went to investigate.
Milam’s 2006 GMC Yukon was partially parked in a handicapped spot that was already occupied by a vehicle with handicapped tags.
According to Kavanagh, the handicapped parking space was oversized to accommodate a wheelchair van, however the paint was so badly faded Milam was unable to recognize the blue lines, and the oversized section of space did not have a posted handicapped sign.
Subsequently Milam parked in the space meant to accommodate the retractable lift on wheelchair vans, not the parking space itself.
Maintenance of that parking space is by the City of Millville, according to Kavanagh.
Milam told the Herald he has had several people tell him that they received a ticket in the same parking space under the same circumstances.
“I could have just paid the ticket but I was not really guilty. I am more concerned that this space was not properly maintained,” said Milam
Milam also maintained he did not prevent a handicapped vehicle from being able to park in the spot, as the spot was already occupied.
According to Milam, his brother is paralyzed and his father, who past away eight weeks ago, was in a wheelchair.
“I am definitely aware of the needs of the handicapped in helping my brother and father getting in and out of vehicles, I really just want to bring awareness,” he said.
Millville police did not specifically comment on the summons issued by Cills. They stated, “Officers will enforce parking laws and other laws the best we can to serve the public.”
The trial will be before Judge Steven Neder. No date has been set.
Contact Scheeler at: (609) 404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com
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