Agency never registered with Local Finance Board
By:Vanessa S. Holt
FLORENCE The Florence Township Redevelopment Agency was instructed by the mayor and council last week to put its meetings on hold until the township is able to resolve an oversight by which the agency was not registered with the state.
Earlier this month the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) informed the township that the Florence Township Redevelopment Agency had never registered with the Local Finance Board when the agency was formed in 1999 to oversee the redevelopment of the former Roebling Steel Mill site.
"We directed them to put all actions and meetings on hold until we meet with DCA," said Mayor Michael Muchowski.
Township and redevelopment agency professionals and the DCA were scheduled to meet at the DCA office in Trenton this week, he said.
The Local Finance Board is part of the Division of Local Government Services within the DCA. The board deals with fiscal affairs of local government entities such as authorities and fire districts.
The mayor said he expects the DCA to give the township some direction on what will be required to properly register the agency and ensure the validity of actions already taken.
Also slated for discussion is the training that agency members should have received through the state within 18 months of the agency’s inception.
George Sampson, agency chairman and former mayor, said that while it was a surprise to learn the agency had not been registered, he believed the problem could be rectified.
"We’re volunteers. We depend on people to guide us along," said Mr. Sampson. "It’s important that we know there’s something that fell through the cracks."
Agency members are scheduled to take classes required by the state later this month, he said.
Two openings on the agency will not be filled until the township receives direction from the DCA.
Lease negotiations under way at the site will be on hold as well.
Mayor Muchowski said the development of the site will not be impeded by the agency’s temporary suspension.
"We are prepared to take over the daily operation of the agency so that there is no loss of continuity in things that are under consideration right now," said the mayor. "It’s inappropriate to take any further action without clear direction."

