Call for resignations halted during meeting New councilman told to make written request to Marlboro officials BY LARRY RAMER Staff Writer MARLBORO — Councilman Jeff Cantor made good on his promise to ask for the resignation of Zoning Board of Adjustment Chairwoman Sherry Hoffer. Speaking at the Township Council’s Dec. 2 meeting, Cantor, a Republican, publicly called on all members of the zoning and planning boards to resign. Cantor, who was participating in his first council meeting, said all of the board members would be invited to reapply for their positions. He had previously said that he would specifically ask Hoffer to step down from the zoning board. Cantor said, “I’d like to ask all members of the zoning and planning boards to resign and reapply for their positions on the boards, specifically the chairwoman of the zoning board because ….” At that point Democratic Councilman Barry Denkensohn spoke up. “Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman,” Denkensohn interjected. “We’ve gone through this before, we’re getting into political attacks. It’s inappropriate to have this conversation on the dais.” “I’m not politicking. I’m doing what’s right by residents,” Cantor replied. “I swore to this and I’m fulfilling my promise to the residents.” “You’ve made your accusations in the newspapers. It’s inappropriate to discuss this on this dais,” Denkensohn said. Democratic council President James Mione then stepped in and told Cantor he should submit his request for the board members’ resignations in writing. During an interview with the News Transcript in late November, Cantor said he was asking for Hoffer’s resignation in part because of allegations of improprieties that have been made against the zoning board. According to published reports, a federal grand jury has investigated whether developer Frank Calandrino paid an intermediary $50,000 in an attempt to influence the zoning board to approve an application for the Marlboro Sports Center. The unnamed intermediary was allegedly supposed to convince board members — with money or other powers of persuasion — to support Calandrino’s application. The board eventually approved the Marlboro Sports Center. “Under the leadership of Sherry Hoffer the board has been rife with allegations of corruption and as the leader of the board she should do the right thing and step down,” Cantor said in November. Cantor said Hoffer should resign because, in his view, she has treated Marlboro residents poorly during her tenure as the board’s chairwoman. Hoffer, the former chairwoman of Marlboro’s Democratic Party, responded by saying that she will take Cantor to court if he slanders her.