Politics & Government

Washington Twp. Councilman Questions Lack of Discussion on Board Attorney

Washington Township Councilman Joe D'Urso said the Planning Board should have discussed their decision before picking a new board attorney.

The Washington Township Planning Board voted 7-1 to appoint a new attorney during their first meeting of the year Wednesday night.

The board appointed attorney Robert Wertalik to the position at a rate of $110 per hour. Wertalik previously held the positon "for many years," according to Chairman Gus Calamari.

No mention was made of former board attorney Scott Mooney.

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Councilman Joseph D'Urso, who also sits on the planning board and voted against the appointment, questioned why there was no discussion among board members beforehand.

"It's not the way our charter reads," D'Urso said.

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D'Urso said he believed the board should have held a discussion and had the paperwork ready before the meeting.

D'Urso had also raised the issue at the previous council meeting, saying there should be more "transparency" in the process. The decision was made by just the chairman and mayor, according to D'Urso.

"I think it should be a board decision," D'Urso said at that meeting.

Calamari said Wednesday they made the decision the same way they normally do.

"I'm following the procedure that the planning board has used for 30 years," Calamari said.

Chairman Calamari and Vice Chairman Bernard Golick were both reappointed to their positions during the board's meeting this week.

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