JACKSON, NJ – Jackson Township Councilman Scott Sargent, an 11-year veteran of the Jackson school board, on Tuesday called out a blatant lack of procedure, transparency, and cooperation among members of the township council.
Councilwoman Jennifer Kuhn chastised the Flemming faction for putting a late edition on the agenda that would have appointed one of their political allies to the Jackson Zoning Board without sufficient notice and following proper procedure.
Currently, the township council is split with Marty Flemming, Steven Chisolm, and Nino Borelli on one side and Sargent and Jennifer Kunn on the other side.
Sargent said going forward; he will ‘leave no stone unturned’ when it comes to questionable actions of the rival camp headed by Jackson GOP County Committeewoman Clara Glory and Flemming.
“If there is an issue, I’m bringing it,” Sargent said. “I’m bringing up publicly. We can’t continue this way.”
“This is yet another example of lack of transparency,” Kuhn said. “Transparency needs to be an open flow of information between the government and the public. It involves disclosure, details about politics, decisions and actions.”
Kuhn said she and Sargent instead are blindsided each meeting by Chisolm, Flemming, and Borrelli.
Sargent said that even though the two factions do not agree with each other, they need to work together for the people of Jackson, despite their personal differences.
“We as a group don’t have to be friends, but we can be friendly with each other and work together,”
Sargent and Kuhn said Flemming insider Robert Hudak said they never knew he was applying for a position on the zoning board. Kuhn said Hudak did not even submit a formal application to the board; instead, a copy of years old leadership form for a different board.
“Why are we not being given the same information [the others] are given?” she asked. “This is another case of back door antics and blindsiding myself and Councilman Sargent.”
Hudak was a planning board member who voted during the approvals of many of the town’s controversial large residential development applications.
Kuhn wanted to know why the entire council wasn’t included in the decision-making process for vetting candidates for the town’s two most important boards.
Kuhn made a motion to table the appointment due to the lack of information needed by her and Sargent to make the appointment.
Sargent seconded her motion and was approved to a round of applause by the audience.
The township will now continue its search for a replacement on the township zoning board; this time, Kuhn and Sargent are hoping, in accordance with the law.
Flemming, Borrelli, and Chisolm are currently under state investigation for violating state ethics laws regarding the Sunshine Law, which regulates public meetings and the conduct of elected officials.
Resident Ray Cattonar also chastised the three councilmen who appear to ‘not be interested’ in working with Kuhn and Sargent and criticized Chisolm for violating the Open Public Meetings Act.
“Please, keep it real; there’s nobody violating the Sunshine Law,” Chisolm.
Chisolm responded to Cattonar in a confrontational manner, denying he did any wrongdoing.
Township attorney Greg McGuckin said Chisolm’s actions of modifying the public agenda prior to a meeting were not against the law.
McGuckin did say that meetings between the three men outside of the town council meetings would be a violation of the law.
Resident Sheldon Hoffstein questioned whether or not a meeting between the three men would be a violation, and McGuckin agreed it would be a violation.
“The three of us have never met,” Chisolm said snarkily. “If you have a meeting that ever occurred, I must have slept through it. Don’t talk about the meeting that never happened.”
The two sparred over the details of the meeting.
Councilman Borelli called Hoffstein a bully for questioning only Chisolm about the meeting.
“You know what? Stop it. Have a thick skin and listen to what I’m about to say,” Hoffstein said. “You want me to give you a kiss?”