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Colts Neck approves $478,266 in vouchers amid concerns over affordable-housing legal bills
Summary
The committee approved vouchers totaling $478,266.42 and highlighted line items including $27,126 to the school board, $57,523 to T&M Engineering and $41,719 in legal fees; one member criticized cumulative spending on affordable-housing counsel and signaled a no vote on specific bills.
The Colts Neck Township Committee approved monthly vouchers totaling $478,266.42 after the finance chair summarized major expenses and a committee member raised concerns about cumulative legal fees related to affordable-housing work.
Finance chair Pezzetta reviewed the voucher list, noting payments that included $27,126 to the Colts Neck Board of Education for debt service, $57,523 to T&M Engineering for road repairs and inspection, $41,719 for legal services in May and several $40,000 payments that together total $240,000. "They totaled $478,266.42," the finance chair said when presenting the vouchers.
A committee member criticized the legal-fees expense associated with affordable-housing counsel, saying the township has spent more than a quarter-million dollars with the firm over recent years and that the guidance had not always been prudent. That member said they would vote no on the bill related to those fees and on certain related payouts. Other committee members indicated exceptions to their approvals but the roll call approved the vouchers overall.
The committee's action authorized payment of the listed vouchers; the dissenting remarks underscore ongoing concern among some members about legal costs tied to affordable-housing litigation and related consultancies.
Committee members asked for continued transparency about invoices and legal strategy as round-4 affordable-housing matters continue to move forward.
