Honeywell Vote Has Resident Considering Lawsuit
Township Committee voted 4-1 in favor of rezoning company's global headquarters earlier this month.
A Morris Township resident opposed to the recent committee vote that would allow Honeywell to develop its 147-acre campus said he is considering filing a lawsuit against the township to reverse their approval, according to an NJ.com article.
Robert Burke, who has expressed his disapproval of the proposed project throughout its lengthy process, cited among concerns that Peter Manahan, chairman of a new township ethics committee that has investigated complaints against the now-approved rezoning, owns stock in Honeywell and therefore cannot be tasked with overseeing an ethics committee against them, according to the article.
Township Committee members voted 4-1 on Oct. 1 to approve the rezoning which would let Honeywell bring in 235 townhouses and expanded office and lab space on its property. Jeff Grayzel, the lone Democrat on the otherwise Republican-dominated committee, voted against the rezoning.
The process to redevelop the Fortune-100 company's global headquarters has been going on for more than two years, but it wasn't until June the township planning board unanimously approved the master plan amendment, and when the Township Committee introduced the approved ordinance that conforms with the master plan.
To read the complete article, click here.
Rob Burke
1:11 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Dear Mr. Manahan:
How many shares of Honeywell stock do you own, and what is the value of your holdings?
Very truly yours,
Robert W Burke
PS -- Why haven't you scheduled a preliminary investigation of my complaint regarding Committeeman Sisler's conflict of interest? My complaint is gathering dust...
AJ
3:01 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
if we're gonna build..can we get some athletic field on the grounds?
Lee Goldberg
11:42 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
My wife and I filed 2 Ethics Complaints against Mr. Sisler the first week in September. In this video taken last night at the Morris Twp. Committee meeting Mr. Mills, Twp. Attorney, indicates he has information that the next scheduled meeting of the Ethics Committee is to be held in the latter part of NOVEMBER. Well after ELECTION DAY. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEgJXXJkotU&feature=plcp
mark
11:42 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
gotta agree with AJ....... hopefully this is part of the plan !!!
Andrew Kayser
11:42 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
History: Originally 2 of the 5 committeemen were recused leaving 3 committeemen to vote. Than, over 30% of the landowners (only 20% needed) abutting Honeywell signed a petition which forced a super majority vote. This meant at least 4 committeemen had to approve the ordinance change. To get this Township Committee Attorney Mills invoked the "rule of necessity" that reinstated the 2 recused committeemen. This lead to the 4-1 vote approving the ordinance.
Was the "rule of necessity" correctly applied? It is supposed to be used in emergencies. Was there an emergency here? Understand that the $40 million grant given to Honeywell to stay in New Jersey that they have to move on is not linked to the ordinance change.
Rob Burke
7:37 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
That's one of the central issues that the court will have to decide. I fully expect this case to go all the way up to the NJ Supreme Court. Historically, the rule of necessity has almost never been used. It seems more relevant to issues like budget approvals, which must occur or a township would grind to a halt.
Patriot
4:05 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
www.recovery.gov
Check out some of the money given to "HONEYwell" by the Federal Government from '09 to 2012.
Rob Burke
7:37 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
And then check out all the money Honeywell donated to the Buccos...