Professionals compensated for work on housing case

BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer

MARLBORO — Three professionals are helping the township fight ongoing litigation.

In 1999 the Monmouth Housing Alliance sought permission to build a development of 37 apartments on Boun-dary Road near the Colts Neck border. The apartments were not a permitted use in the zone in which they were proposed.

The apartments would have been made available as affordable housing to people who have an income that meets regional guidelines established by the state Council on Affordable Housing.

Among the objectors to the plan was the township of Colts Neck. The Zoning Board of Adjust-ment eventually rejected the Monmouth Housing Alliance’s application for the development.

The alliance subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging that the zoning board violated New Jersey’s Fair Housing Act when it rejected the application, according to a previous article in the News Transcript.

Township Attorney Andrew Bayer said a trial on the litigation is currently taking place in state Superior Court, Freehold. There has been a few days of testimony and the plaintiff is currently putting on its case, Bayer said.

With that in mind, the Township Council took action recently to compensate professionals who are working on behalf of Marlboro.

Thomas A. Thomas of Thomas Planning Associates, Brielle, has been providing the township with advice relating to the claims made by the Monmouth Housing Alliance. A resolution approved by the council on Feb. 3 was to compensate Thomas Planning with a payment not to exceed $10,000.

Joseph P. Majewski of JPM Construction Consultants, Spring Lake, has been working for the township for several months, providing advice concerning the damage claims in the litigation. The council will compensate Majewski with a payment not to exceed $10,000.

The council hired Art Bernard of THP, East Brunswick, to provide advice concerning the affordable housing claims in the litigation with the Monmouth Housing Alliance. The firm’s payment will not exceed $10,000.

Council members said 100 percent of the money to pay for the professionals’ services will come out of the affordable housing trust fund. However, it is possible to get up to 50 percent of the money back from insurance, according to municipal officials.