Township Committeeman Robert Mack unable to attend
meeting, forcing question to be rescheduled to June 14
By:Laura Toto
The Hillsborough Promenade application was postponed at last night’s Planning Board meeting because all five members of the board that initially voted yes to the application were not present.
Planning board member Robert Mack could not attend the meeting due to death in his family. The other four members that voted to approve the application Planning Board chairman Christian Jensen, Mayor Joseph Tricarico, Bob Lawton and Ken Wells were present.
A ruling made by Superior Court Hunterdon Judge Roger Mahon in response to suit filed by Concerned Citizens for a Better Hillsborough ordered the Planning Board to reaffirm acceptance of a traffic study prepared by a consultant it hired.
The lawsuit filed by the citizens’ group had contended the consultant hired by the Planning Board said the plan was adequate, and the suit alleged that the Planning Board incorrectly ceded its authority tot he consultant on the issue.
Planning Board attorney Susan Rubright said she had a phone conversation with Judge Mahon earlier this week.
"The judge basically said the opinion speaks for itself," she said. "He did not want to give any advisory opinions."
Ms. Rubright also said they are still working on the particular line of questioning to ask those members of the board.
"A this point we are going to try to handle it as fairly and as expeditiously as we can," she said.
The Planning Board will respond to questioning from Ms. Rubright at the June 14 meeting.