By: Eileen Oldfield – Packet Group
CRANBURY – The township and Zoning Board of Adjustment have interim attorneys for the remaining four months of 2010.
Former zoning board attorney Steven Goodell will serve as interim attorney for the township, and Planning Board attorney Valerie Kimson accepted an interim appointment as zoning board attorney.
The shift in legal counsel occurred after Ms. Kimson joined the same law practice, Mason, Griffin and Pierson, of Princeton, as former township attorney Trishka Waterbury. State law prevents lawyers from the same practice serving as township and planning board attorneys because of potential conflicts of interest. As a result, Ms. Waterbury stepped down as township attorney.
Subsequently, the township asked Mr. Goodell, who is with Herbert, Van Ness, Casci and Goodell, of Princeton, to interview for the interim position, then appointed him to the township post.
According to Director of Finance and Treasurer Denise Marabello, Mr. Goodell is paid hourly, rather than on a retainer fee, so his compensation depends on the number of hours he works. The rate charged as zoning board attorney was not available, but Ms. Marabello said the Township Committee would vote on a rate agreement for Mr. Goodell’s time as township attorney during its Aug. 23 meeting.
Likewise, Ms. Kimson, as Planning Board attorney, is paid an hourly rate based on the number of hours she works though that rate also was unavailable, Ms. Marabello said. The zoning board extended its offer for the interim position Aug. 4, which Ms. Kimson accepted, zoning board secretary Josette Kratz said.
Ms. Kimson will receive additional compensation for the hours she works handling zoning issues within the township, Ms. Kratz added.
"There had not been an increase (per hour) or change in contract as far as the amount she was making before," Ms. Kratz said.
Since both appointments are temporary, the township will have the option of finding a new attorney for 2011 or keeping Mr. Goodell as a permanent attorney. Likewise, if Mr. Goodell remains as township attorney, the zoning board can either search for a new attorney or keep Ms. Kimson as attorney.
However, it’s too early to tell what the township or zoning board will do, according to Ms. Kratz.
"It’s too early to tell," Ms. Kratz said. "It all depends on what the Township Committee does because they took our zoning board attorney. He’s interim also, plus you never know what will happen until the reorganization meeting."

