MARLBORO — The Township Council has authorized a lease for farming rights to two municipally owned properties. The action was taken during the council’s Feb. 12 meeting.
One parcel to be farmed is the DiMeo property on Conover Road near the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road.
According to previous articles in the News Transcript, Marlboro purchased the DiMeo property in 2004 for $4.35 million. The 77-acre parcel was purchased in order for it to be added to the township’s open space inventory.
The farming rights for one year were awarded to Matt Zeleznik, who will pay Marlboro $1,000 to lease the land.
The council also authorized a lease agreement with Zeleznik to land known as the McCarron property. Marlboro purchased the 43-acre McCarron tract on Pleasant Valley Road in 2007 for about $300,000 after receiving a grant from the state.
Zelznik will also lease the McCarron land for farming and he will pay the township $500 for the one-year lease.
The resolution to award the rights to Zelznik were originally brought before the Township Council during its Jan. 22 meeting. At that time Councilman Jeff Cantor asked if there was protection for Marlboro in case Zelznik accidentally spills pesticides on the property.
Township Attorney Ronald Gordon said Zelznik would have insurance for such an instance. When it was not clear how much insurance Zelznik had, the council tabled the matter until they could be informed of the amount.
During the Feb. 12 meeting the council was informed that Zelznik has insurance in the amount of $1 million in case of any damage to the property.
In other council business, Cantor thanked members of the Marlboro Veterans and Volunteers Committee who recently participated in a national salute to hospitalized veterans at the Lyons V.A. Hospital in Somerset County.
The committee members spent two days visiting Iraqi war veterans in the transition ward and also the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clubhouse and meeting room. Touring the long-term care unit, the volunteers handed out Valentine’s Day cards from local students thanking the veterans for their service.
The Marlboro Veterans and Volunteers Committee received a donation of $300 from the United Auto Workers Veterans for canteen coupon books, which were handed out to veterans.

