Swim Club Whistleblower Now Faces Violations of His Own

Commercial trailers and other equipment remained parked in the Washington Township Swim & Recreation Club parking lot this week, months after officials issued a cease and desist notice for the practice.

Now the neighbor who complained about the equipment to the town has also received four violations from the town for issues with his own property.

Anthony Conti, whose backyard borders the club's property, said he believed the town had issued the violations for problems with his shed because of his public complaints about equipment stored at the club.

"I think I'm being targeted because of the swim club," Conti said.

The club began bartering for services like landscaping as they have faced financial difficulties, Co-President Christine Murphy previously explained. They have allowed contractors to park trailers and other equipment as part of the deal. 

Township ordinance prohibits large vehicles from being parked in residential zones overnight. The swim club is located just east of the Garden State Parkway in a residential zone.

The resident who Conti said reported the shed issue to the town is listed as a member of the club's board of trustees. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

"If people want to target me and bully me, I will do the same," Conti said. "Now let's take care of this. Clean up the swim club."

Conti also happens to be a bond-holding member of the club.

Conti said his former shed had been destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and he had rebuilt it after a former township employee said it would be OK. It turns out that the shed was too close to the property line and he should have sought approval from township land use officials for the project.

Because the ground is frozen, Conti said he wouldn't be able to correct the violations before the deadline. Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said she would speak to the zoning officer and may grant an extension.

This was the second time in recent months that code violations issued by township officials have been publicly questioned. Greek restaurant Gyros & Goodies was fined $1,000 in November for alleged electrical work before an inspector ever visited the restaurant. That prompted a personnel investigation by township administrator Catherine Navarro-Steinel, which she said Monday had been completed.