JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – After a Shore News Network report regarding photos and videos contributed by a group of local watchdogs showed solid proof that former Jackson Councilman Marty Flemming no longer lived in Jackson, he resigned from his position less than twelve hours later.
Among those close to Flemming, ‘everyone knew about it for months’, but when pressed, political allies Nino Borrelli and Steven Chisolm refused to comment.
Shore News Network reached out to both councilmen at their official township email addresses regarding their prior knowledge of Flemming’s having left Jackson to live at his new home in Cookstown.
Neither one wanted to comment.
Last Tuesday, Flemming announced his resignation and abruptly exited the council meeting.
“It was common knowledge,” in Flemming’s inner circle led by GOP Municipal Chairwoman Clara Glory who has been accused of orchestrating the ruse in order for her to maintain a 3-2 controlling majority on the township council.
In the hours after Flemming’s resignation, Glory once again called for a political caucus meeting to ensure she had a say on the township’s replacement for Flemming. In most towns in New Jersey, that would be the case. The majority party’s municipal chairperson would have influence over the decision.
Unfortunately for Glory, she was one of the people who spearheaded the change in government that made Jackson a non-partisan form of government some twenty years ago. Party affiliation has no legal standing in Jackson when it comes to operating the local government.
Her position as the Republican township committee chairwoman is null and void in Jackson. Except, she’s the only person involved in politics who refuses to believe it.
Instead, Mayor Michael Reina said the township will put out a notice to collect resumes for those interested in filling Flemming’s seat.
“This is going to be a fair and open process, in accordance with the law,” Reina said. “It’s not going to be decided behind closed doors. The council will have to vote on a replacement and that replacement will finish out Marty’s remaining year on the council.”
The decision to replace Flemming will be held at a future meeting. The township has thirty days to replace him. It is anticipated that the split factions between those allied with Reina and those allied with Glory will split the vote 2-2. In that case, Reina would cast the tie-breaking vote.
“That is how Jackson’s government is set up,” Reina said, adding that it’s a non-partisan form of government.
Any resident who is interested in the appointment can contact the township through its website, www.jacksontwpnj.net. A notice is expected to be published in the coming days.