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grant money and he wanted to remind everyone that the money comes from us. Councilwoman Rivere stated that if the money doesn’t go to Jackson you’re still paying for it and it goes somewhere else.

STEPHANIE BROWN – 310 SOUTH NEW PROSPECT ROAD thanked Mayor Reina for the support and concern that he has given to her daughter Shannon and wanted him to know that her daughter has been clean and sober for 75 days. She also wanted to let everyone know how amazing the Jackson School System is. She mentioned that her son had brain surgery and was homebound twice. Her son attends Liberty High School where they’ve made it possible for him to succeed. He was just named student ambassador for Liberty High School and will be representing Jackson Township when he goes on a school trip next summer to Europe. She said none of this would have happened without the school system working.

JOHN SUTTLES – 403 MEADOWOOD ROAD mentioned amending the performance bond guarantees and the possibility of it being a very slippery slope. He believes that they must be very careful, so there are no loopholes that would allow someone to take advantage. He is suggesting they should proceed with extreme caution before modifying these rules.

TIM JONES – 15 HARVERST COURT regarding the Bond Ordinance 17-07 he asked if they get to vote on this. Councilman Martin stated that they do. Mr. Jones asked if Attorney Gilmore’s Office is paid out of this bond. Attorney Gilmore replied that they are. Mr. Jones asked Attorney Gilmore about monies paid to his office and if it goes through his office and back to the landowners. Attorney Gilmore replied yes. Council President Martin commented that Mr. Jones is asking Attorney Gilmore to make a blind comment about this. Township Clerk Eden replied that this is all in response to an OPRA request by Mr. Jones and that Ms. Pinkava just went to get the information. Attorney Gilmore replied that without looking at the records all he can tell him is that yes, it is possible. Mr. Jones goes on to question payments to various attorneys. Township Clerk Eden stated that, if he has a purchase order number, he can OPRA that information and find out specifically where the money was spent. Mr. Jones stated that this bond looks like a huge pie where everybody is sticking their finger in and getting a piece. He thinks we’re paying a lot of duplicate legal fees. Mayor Reina said that it was mandated a little over a year ago and we sat down with seven or eight attorneys and the court master to discuss COAH. Accusations were made that he was in secret negotiations, but that’s when a lot of the attorney’s bills came in and at that time he believes Councilman Tilis and then Planning Board Chairman Bressi were also present. Councilwoman Rivere said she was present as well. Councilwoman Updegrave said she was too. Attorney Gilmore stated Phil Caton was the court appointed master, so his law firm was paid. He goes on to explain some of the other charges. Township Clerk Eden stated that she was just provided a copy of Bond Ordinance 17-07 and after reading it she stated that anything having to do with affordable housing is going to hit this Bond Ordinance.

KIMBERLY LUM – 8 MONROE LANE the point we’re trying to make is there is at least a half-million dollars in legal fees and she’d like to know where we got with them since we haven’t really fought them like a lot of other municipalities. Council Vice President Bressi stated that’s what COAH has cost our town and other towns, it’s astronomical and that’s part of the problem. Ms. Lum asked how long they’ve been pulling money out of this. Sharon Pinkava replied that it started in 2007. Ms. Lum asked what we’ve won with COAH. Councilman Bressi replied that Mitch Lee was also a COAH application and the entire mediation was over COAH. The court master told him they were there for COAH by court order and all the professionals were present.

TIM JONES – 14 HARVEST COURT he mentioned along with this bond he knows we received two million dollars out of another account and he will OPRA that as well. He stated Rehabco was paid almost $50,000.00 out of this fund and he wants to know who they are and what they do for our town. He said we are paying them almost $1,500.00 a month and wants to know what are they doing. Council President Martin stated that they do remedial work for affordable housing.