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Resident raises conflict-of-interest question about township attorney representing board member
Summary
During public comment, Christopher Raymond asked why the township attorney would represent a board member in a board matter and said the arrangement could be a conflict of interest and a misuse of taxpayer funds.
During the public-comment portion, resident Christopher Raymond (who identified himself and provided an address) asked the board why the township attorney, Mr. Burke, was representing a board member (Matarazzo) in a board matter and called the practice a potential conflict of interest.
Raymond said he believed the township attorney should not represent a board of education member because the attorney is employed by the township and not by the board, and said, "It would, to me, be a conflict of interest" and that taxpayers' dollars should not be used to represent a board member in that context. He said he planned to raise the issue at the next township council meeting.
Why it matters: a public question about legal representation and potential conflicts was entered on the public record; the board did not debate the matter during the meeting (the board's public-comment rules preclude a back-and-forth with members during comment). The comment may prompt follow-up with counsel or a future agenda item.
