No date set yet for meeting to discuss report dealing with controversial land deal.
By: Scott Morgan
MILLSTONE As fingers continue to point in the case of a former committeeman’s alleged improprieties regarding a potential land deal, the Township Committee has decided to hold a special meeting to address the issue.
Last week, the township released an eagerly awaited investigative report that addressed alleged wrongdoing by the Millstone Open Space Trust (MOST) during a land acquisition negotiation with a township resident. Susan Laone of Conover Road accused former Committeeman Bill Kastning, a member of MOST at the time, of attempting to coerce her into a land deal over a property adjacent to her home.
The investigation, conducted by Eric Marcy of the law firm Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer of Woodbridge, did not directly indict anyone, but concluded the business deal was mishandled through lack of communication. The report, which is an independent follow-up to a Monmouth County prosecutor’s office investigation that cleared Mr. Kastning in January 2001, points to a possible breach of ethics rather than a criminal act. Mr. Kastning’s term ended Jan. 31.
During last week’s Township Committee meeting, Mr. Kastning referred to the report as an "inquisition" and "woefully incomplete." He has chided the Township Committee for conducting a "witch hunt" that sought to smear him.
Ms. Laone also addressed the committee, referring to the members as her "heroes" for having the courage to follow up on her allegations.
Mayor Evan Maltz, in an effort to bring order to the meeting and the situation, said the Township Committee will hold a special meeting to deal exclusively with the issue. Mayor Maltz has maintained the Marcy investigation was intended to protect Mr. Kastning. He said he wanted to eliminate the perception some might have that Mr. Kastning was cleared as a political favor by one Republican to another.
Mr. Kastning and some of his supporters were unhappy not to have the issue dealt with at the meeting. Committeeman Cory Wingerter said the regular meeting was not a proper venue in which to deal with an issue so complex.
Another point of contention centered around a proposal by the Township Committee to post the results of the Marcy report on the township Web site. Mr. Kastning said it would be unfair to post the results of this study, which leaves open a question regarding the ethics of his actions, while not posting the report by the Monmouth County prosecutor’s office, which cleared him. The committee agreed to withhold the postings until it could post both.
There is no date presently set for the special meeting, as the township is busy with budget meetings and other business, Mr. Wingerter said. Mayor Maltz said it would take time to gather all the necessary parties for the meeting, including Mr. Marcy and other legal officials, but stated the meeting would be soon. He said he wants nothing more than to put the issue in the past.
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