HELMETTA — Following the resignation of a borough police officer after being caught on video making controversial statements about President Barack Obama, the borough council is considering new legislation that could make it harder for residents to use smartphones inside public buildings.

Exempting public meetings, the proposed ordinance will prevent visitors to Helmetta's municipal buildings from taking video or photographs without an approved permit.

The ordinance states that the permits will be issued at the borough's discretion, and that any resident who receives one will be barred from interfering with the normal business operations of municipal employees and filming them or other visitors without expressed consent (See a full text version of the draft ordinance below).

If approved, violating the ordinance would result in a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and up to $2,000 in fines.

Herb Massa, borough administrator, confirms that the ordinance is indeed a direct response to a recent scandal involving former Helmetta police officer Richard Recine.

Earlier this month, video surfaced of Recine angrily denying a resident's public records request, claiming that because President Obama does follow the U.S. Constitution, police don't have to.

"Obama has decimated the friggin' constitution, so I don't give a damn," Recine says on the video. "If he doesn't follow the Constitution, we don't have to." The video later went viral. Recine resigned shortly after.

In the aftermath, police have pushed hard for tighter rules governing residents' ability to photograph borough employees when visiting public offices, says Massa.

Asked about the legality of limiting photography on public property, Massa claims that while filming outdoors is permissible for residents, filming indoors on public property has limitations.

"When they come into the building and people are conducting business, there has to be a reasonable expectation that the financial information is secure and not in the next 15 minutes up on Facebook," says Massa. The ordinance, he adds, was written and vetted by borough attorney David Clark.

Helmetta's elected officials seemingly agree with Massa. At its August 27 meeting, the six-member borough council voted unanimously to move the legislation forward.

Attempts to reach council members were mostly unsuccessful. Via email, Councilwoman Denise Estrada declined comment.

The ordinance comes before the council for a final vote on September 24.

2014 Helmetta Ordinance Establishing No Photos in Public Places

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Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.