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Residents press council on alleged affordable-housing conflict and waterfront pollution; mayor pledges follow-up
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Summary
During public comment at the November meeting, a resident alleged the borough attorney's firm represented both the borough and a property owner central to the affordable-housing plan, and another speaker asked the council to drop a trespassing charge and investigate alleged pollution tied to a waterfront vessel. The borough attorney said the office would recuse from matters involving that property; staff agreed to follow up and involve NJDEP if appropriate.
At the public-comment portion of the November 2025 Sayreville mayor and borough council meeting, two residents raised separate but consequential concerns: a potential conflict of interest involving the borough's attorney and allegations of selective enforcement and pollution at a waterfront property.
Jim Robinson, who identified himself as a Parlin resident, asked whether a settlement conference with the Fair Share Coalition occurred and repeatedly pushed for disclosure of who represented the borough. Robinson asserted that the law firm serving as borough counsel also represented property owner Peter Mocco and said that Mocco's 40 acres are central to the borough's affordable-housing plan. "We were told there would be a recusal. We were lied to," Robinson said on the record, adding that residents are tired of perceived conflicts and lack of accountability.
In response, a representative identified in the record as Joseph Sardillo stated the office did not believe there was an actual conflict but said, "to avoid the appearance of impropriety, we will recuse ourselves from any dealings involving the Mocco property." The meeting record shows the borough attorney later clarified that the borough attorney's office represented the borough at the settlement conference.
Later in the public-comment period, Vinny of Garden State Accountability urged the council to drop a trespassing charge against a YouTuber identified as Matthew (channel: '2 Feet Outdoors'), saying video evidence shows 'No Trespassing' signs were not present at the time of his visit and that the signs appeared only after a summons. Vinny additionally alleged that a vessel tied to property owner Kristen Court Bowe has been polluting local waterways and requested a borough-led environmental investigation and that the borough drop the trespass charge. "The residents deserve the truth," he said.
The mayor said the trespass case must proceed through the courts and that the borough would follow its course; staff and the engineer noted that environmental complaints can be forwarded to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and that borough offices would check for any filed complaints and send them onward as appropriate. Staff agreed to have personnel inspect the site and follow up with the complainant.
What remains unresolved: Robinson's assertions about representation at the settlement conference and any possible ethical implications were addressed with a pledge to recuse on future matters involving the Mocco property, but the record does not show further detail about past representation or whether an independent review was requested. Vinny's requests for dropping criminal charges and launching a long-term environmental probe were met with procedural responses — court processes and a staff/DEP referral — rather than immediate administrative decisions.
(Attributions: direct quotes and paraphrases are taken from public commenters and mayoral/staff responses recorded during the meeting.)
