Pinelands Commission authorizes staff and DAG to enter mediation on pending litigation

The Pinelands Commission returned to open session and approved a resolution authorizing its staff member and its DAG to engage in mediation on a pending litigation matter, then moved to adjourn.

Stacy Rolfe told the commission it had "went into closed session to discuss a current litigation matter, where we are now moving into mediation," and outlined a resolution authorizing staff and the DAG to participate in mediation and present positions consistent with parameters discussed in closed session. She said the nature of the closed-session discussion "will be disclosed at the time of that mediation that litigation is completed, and the items discussed are no longer confidential."

Unidentified members moved and seconded the resolution, and the chair called for a voice vote. The transcript records a sequence of "Aye" responses and no recorded opposing votes; the motion was recorded in the transcript as approved. The commission did not provide details about the litigation, the parties involved, or the specific mediation parameters in open session.

After approving the mediation authorization, members moved and seconded to adjourn. The chair called for a final voice vote; an "Aye" was recorded and the transcript notes there were "abstentions," but the record does not identify which members abstained or provide a numerical tally for that vote.

The commission's public record in this meeting does not include statutes, case names, or other legal citations related to the litigation. The commission said it will disclose the closed-session details when mediation concludes and the matter is no longer confidential.