Township Ethics Committee to Hold Special Meeting

For the first time since Mayor Mancuso has appointed its new members, the Township Ethics Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss how they handle future cases.

Township Administrator Timothy Quinn said the purpose of this reorganizational meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the Morris Township Municipal Building, is to "develop the procedures of how they're going to function as a board."

Although several matters have come up throughout the Honeywell proposed redevelopment process that have been referred to the Ethics Committee, including the recusals of committee members Jeff Grayzel and Bruce Sisler—who have each since been reinstated—Quinn said those cases will not be discussed as the group is just using the meeting to get organized.

"As by the municipal ordinance they need to meet, select a chairman and determine their protocols for addressing complaints or concerns that are received," Quinn said.

The group has not been able to convene at the time of the conflicts due to scheduling issues over the summer.

There have been several recent complaints referred to the board, but will not be discussed during Tuesday night's public session.

At last week's Honeywell hearing, Township Attorney John Mills said the Ethics Committee received a complaint against one of the members of the township committee, and challenged the committee to not continue with the Honeywell proceedings. Mills did not disclose what committee member the action was against.

While Mills said the grievance has been directed to the Ethics Committee that will evaluate the nature of the complaint, he didn't think the complaint was sufficient enough to prevent the committee member from continuing in the deliberations.

Mills was unable to be reached for comment on Monday.

Quinn said he believes if the board did review the cases, it would be in a closed session. If any other matters come up that the board will discuss, Quinn said he won't find out until the day of the meeting.

Although the meeting will be open to the public, the board—comprised of three Republicans and three Democrats—will not be taking any comments or questions from residents on Tuesday.

The board members are Attorney Peter Manahan, Attorney John Carlin, Attorney Patrick Minter, professor Dr. Michael Shumer, Raymond Snyder, who is retired, and Attorney Karen Zimmerman.

The members will review the state law and discuss how the committee should respond or act to future instances, like the cases that have come up recently.

The next public hearings on the ordinance to rezone Honeywell's property will be at the regular Township Committee meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m., and then again on Thursday at 8 p.m.

All meetings are held at the Morris Township Municipal Building.