Jackson planner forced out of meeting on neighbor's property

Jackson Planner Forced Out of Meeting on Neighbor’s Property

by
August 22, 2023
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JACKSON, NJ – Jackson Township Councilman Marty Flemming, owner of County Line Hardware, and a member of the Jackson Township Planning Board, was forced to recuse himself on a hearing in which he presided over on Monday.

Flemming, who owns land adjacent to a plaza at 715 Bennetts Mills Road in Jackson sat on the board during the start of the meeting before he was forced to recuse himself by attorney Robert Shea.

During the meeting, Shea got up and spoke to Flemming about his apparent conflict of interest. According to a video provided by the township, at first, Flemming shook Shea off, then reluctantly agreed to recuse himself.

Flemming owns County Line Hardware, whose property sits adjacent to the strip mall where the owners want to add a second floor with office space. That improvement could potentially cause Flemming’s own property to increase in value substantially. He is reportedly seeking buyers on the County Line Hardware property after selling his family’s homes and a Lakehurst commercial property in recent months.

According to township officials, Flemming is reportedly resigning from the township council in the coming weeks.

After approaching Flemming on the matter, Shea asked for a pause in the meeting to discuss Flemming’s eligibility.

After vacating the dais, Flemming stood in the hallway door of the meeting room for the rest of the meeting.

Under New Jersey law, members of boards and commissions must recuse themselves from meetings if there is a perceived conflict of interest or if the voting member could stand to financially benefit from a decision made by that board.

Phil Stilton
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