By Allison Musante, Staff Wrier
WEST WINDSOR Tempers flared and the public’s patience ran out as arguments over Councilman Charles Morgan’s lawsuit with Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh appeared to reach a boiling point at the Township Council meeting on Monday.
With a resolution on the table authorizing another $10,000 appropriation for the mayor’s legal fees, members of the public had apparently taken sides but all urged a swift end to litigation. As Mr. Morgan and the mayor began commenting on matters of the litigation against the advice of Township Attorney Michael Herbert Mr. Morgan announced he would not seek re-election to the council in November and would be moving to Florida.
The council did not approve that $10,000 because it wished to see a report of expenses from Mayor Hsueh’s attorney, Ryan Secare. But the resolution will likely reappear on the agenda at its meeting on Monday.
Administrator Bob Hary was requesting the additional appropriation because the township has already overspent its first $10,000 appropriation by $3,100. About $15,628 has been spent to date, he said. Mr. Secare is being paid $165 an hour and all reimbursable expenses.
In late May, Mr. Morgan filed a second civil suit against the mayor, alleging that he ignored a request for information and thus violated state statute and township code. Mr. Morgan filed the suit after his first suit of the same nature and the subsequent appeal were dismissed in the Mercer County Superior Court earlier this year.
As Mr. Morgan discussed his point of view on specifics of the new suit, Mr. Herbert called his comments “political speech” and “way out of line.”
”You’re in litigation and you can’t make these contentions in court and bring them here,” Mr. Herbert said to him. “You’re acting illegally.”
Mr. Morgan said he wanted to respond because “people are shooting at me” and the documents are public record. He said most people who have criticized him publicly have never called or contacted him. “You owe me the courtesy of getting your facts right before you say things that aren’t true,” he said.
About a dozen members of the public spoke about the lawsuit.
”Instead of wasting time and money, the council president should launch an investigation as to why the mayor isn’t providing information,” said Virginia Manzari. “Either he’s hiding something or he’s playing games and preventing a council member from doing his job.”
Lindsay Diehl said she collected 135 signatures from residents urging the councilman to drop the suit and to repay lost tax money. Rita Shaha said, “Differences among the council should be settled without using taxpayer time or money. It doesn’t matter who is wrong or right. We’re all losing out.”
Andrew Bromberg asked Mr. Morgan “to be a good contributor” to West Windsor. “Please, Charlie, I just don’t know what to do. I beg you. We’re all begging you to stop,” he said.
Those standing behind Mr. Morgan agreed with his right to file a suit and suggested that if the mayor and administration were doing their jobs properly, the problem wouldn’t exist. Others accused the mayor of not being transparent or forthcoming and one resident made a personal attack on the mayor by accusing him of being unfamiliar with the American values of free speech and free access to information.
The mayor, who has been an American citizen for more than 30 years, responded to the remarks after the meeting as “frustrating and discouraging.”
”I would never expect to get that treatment in this community where diversity is celebrated,” he said.
Again, council members suggested an informal mediation for the councilman and mayor to discuss their issues outside court. Mr. Morgan said he had already submitted a proposed settlement to the mayor but said he has been ignored. Mayor Hsueh responded that he would be open to mediation but not until Mr. Morgan drops the suit.
”He has an interpretation and I have mine but the council is not the venue to discuss these issues,” the mayor said.
