Zoning Board Meetings - Regular Meeting

Good to go?

Good to go.

I won't start from the beginning. You had that or not when the announcement for the meeting?

I would start over again.

Sparta Zoning Board meeting for Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 is called to order. The meeting is also being live streamed on YouTube. No new business or testimony will be conducted after 9.30 p.m. And the meeting will be adjourned at 10 PM, which I think will not apply here tonight. Also formal action may or may not be taken on applications to be heard here tonight, which does not apply tonight. Advocate notice of this meeting was provided in Jersey. Harold. It was also posted on the Sparta township website and its bulletin board in accordance with all provisions of the open public meetings act. If everyone is so kind to stand and salute the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You could please call the roll, Marissa.

Chairman Kenneth Lowry.

Here.

Michael Leondi.

Here.

Rich LaRuffa.

Here.

Michael Josipic.

Here.

Richard Rohrabacher.

Here.

Michael Steinberg.

Here.

Brian Minowski. Here. Isabella Artisom.

Thank you. On the public agenda tonight are two resolutions relating to the termination of professional services for the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Also a motion to appoint our conflict attorney, Elise Hubbard Esquire, as our counsel of record. Also as a matter of policy and practice, this board does not discuss the reasons for its personnel decisions, but it has an obligation under the Open Public Meetings Act to place an official vote and or decision on the public record, which we are doing so this evening. When we get to the public section tonight for the hearing, the public will be free to ask questions related to the resolutions and only the resolutions. The board has no obligation to and will not publicly discuss these resolutions. So I thank you for understanding that. It'll just be in regards to the resolutions we read in the record, not the reasons why we got to that point. And again, legally, we have no obligations to discuss that. The first resolution of the Township of Slaughter Zoning Board of Adjustment, whereas the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Slaughter is authorized pursuant to its inherent powers and pursuant to NJSA 40 colon 55-71, to appoint and terminate legal counsel, professional planners, and other professional staff and experts at its shall deemed necessary end. Whereas, at a special executive session of this Zoning Board of Adjustment held on August 4th, 2026, the Zoning Board discussed the services of its legal counsel Glenn Keens, Esquire of the law firm Wiener Law Group, LLP, and upon said discussion, decided to terminate the services of the Wiener Law Group. And now, therefore, it be resolved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Sparta, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, that the decision to terminate the services of the Wiener Law Group is affirmed. and has been placed on the record at the Zoning Board's regular meeting and open session here tonight, August 12th, 2026. After a duly called motion and passed by a majority vote to terminate the aforementioned services of the Wiener Group, the foregoing decision of this Board is hereby and will be memorialized through this resolution of the Zoning Board of Adjustment as of this 12th day of August 2026. The Chair will entertain a motion.

So move.

Do I have a second, please? Second. Marissa, please call the roll.

Chairman Kenneth Lowry.

Yes.

Michael Leondi.

Yes.

Richard LaRuffa.

Yes.

Michael Josipic.

Yes.

Richard Rohrbacher.

Yes.

Michael Steinberg.

Yes.

Brian Minowski.

Yes.

Well, now let's have all the full members. Do we need Brian's vote now since Michael and Rich voted?

Well, Jen's not here, so Jennifer wasn't here, so we're good.

Thank you. Resolution of the Township of Sparta Zoning Board of Adjustment, whereas the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Sparta is authorized pursuant to its inherent powers and pursuant to the NJSA 40 colon 55-71 to appoint and terminate legal counsel, professional planners, and other professional staff and experts as it shall deem necessary. Whereas, at a special executive session of the Zoning Board of Adjustment held on August 4th, 2026, Zoning Board discussed the services of its professional planner, the Neglia Group, and upon said discussion decided to terminate the services of the Neglia Group. Now, therefore, be resolved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Florida, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, That the decision to terminate the services of the negative group is now affirmed has been placed on the record of the zoning boards regular meeting and open session tonight on August 12th, 2026. After duly called motion and passed by majority vote to terminate the aforementioned services of the negative group. Foregoing decision of this board is hereby memorialized through this resolution of the zoning Board of Adjustment as of this 12th day of August 2026 the chair will entertain a motion a Second please second Marissa, please call the roll Chairman Kenneth Larry.

Yes Michael Leone D. Yes Richard LaRuffa. Yes Michael Josephic. Yes Richard Rohr backer.

Yes

Michael Steinberg.

Yes. Thank you. Also one last motion to appoint our conflict attorney, Elise Hubbard Esquire as the council of record for the zoning board of adjustment in the pending litigation with 66 Woodport LLC versus the township of Sparta and or others. The chair will entertain a motion.

So moved.

Second, please. Second. Marissa, please call the roll.

Chairman Kenneth Larry.

Yes.

Michael Leondi. Yes. Richard LaRuffa.

Yes.

Michael Josaphic.

Yes.

Richard Rohrbacher.

Yes.

Michael Steinberg.

Yes.

Brian Romanowski.

Yes. Thank you. I'll now open the hearing to the public for any questions and comments they may have. Please come forward. Give your name and address to the board secretary, please.

JUST ONE QUICK THING. DID YOU NEED BRIAN'S VOTE ON THAT?

I THINK ON THE SECOND RESOLUTION YOU MISSED A VOTE.

I DIDN'T GET TO CALL BRIAN. I APOLOGIZE. AFFIRMATIVE YES. THANK YOU.

What is the process that you're going to undertake and have already been started to replace these professionals?

Yes, that process is ongoing now with individuals filling out the RPs. And once they have completed that, this board will interview them when we call them before us to speak with them and again get their knowledge and credentials, et cetera.

So you have already started the RP process?

With the RPs, yes. I don't know that, Jenny, unfortunately. I know it's a time limit on it, as you know. As soon as possible, before the next meeting. That's in September, as you know, the second Wednesday, so hopefully we'll have individuals up and running by that time. Of course, this board will have to meet before then to interview them, comments and questions from the board.

assemble the applicants and then make a recommendation or several recommendations yes yes no i'm not familiar with that since it's a township thing but yes one last question uh you did appoint elise hubbard as council temporarily uh what about the planning services

We have individuals lined up for that, too, in terms of the planner.

Yes, they're not officially yet.

They had applied through the RP and then hopefully we'll interview them.

And what I'm saying is you appointed covered as your attorney for until you hire somebody. Is there someone similar who will fill in for the planning position?

No. No, we don't have one. Yeah.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Michael, you have any questions? Please come forward.

Just one. Sure. I'm not sure if it's answerable or not.

Right. I don't know the nature of your... I'd like your official name and address. Oh, sorry.

Mike Devine, Sparta. I don't know what the nature of the agreement was with the planner and the attorney. The question is, are you terminating at the end of a term contract? Do you pay them as they appear?

No, they're terminated immediately, and it was, I believe, on monthly compensation. But again, they've been terminated now, officially, so there was no reason to... Not likely to be incurred contractual penalties or anything?

No.

No penalties or anything that's in the original contracts at will. They could quit anytime they want in that 30-day span, and we could terminate them in that 30-day span. Got it. Thank you. You're welcome. See no one else in the public. It's now closed to the public and back to the board. Does anyone have any questions on the process going forward in regards of what we're doing? in terms of litigation and new planner and new attorney. Because you all will be involved once we get the information from these individuals and we'll all make a collective decision on who we want to hire. Brian, can you speak a little closer to the microphone?

Yes, I'm sorry. Will the interim counsel serve to represent the township's interest with regard to pending litigation?

Elise Hubbard, yes. Any other questions?

I have a quick question. Yeah, thank you, Mike. As far as the resume services are concerned, will we see everyone that applies, or will there be a filter before it gets to us for the best?

No, everyone.

Okay.

Everyone. I don't think we'll have too many, but hopefully.

Never say never in this economy, you know?

But everyone will see anyone that applies to the RP stuff. Okay. And we'll all be involved in that. It's very important.

So if no other questions, the chair will entertain a motion adjourning the meeting. So moved.

Second, please. Second. All those in favor?

Aye.

No nays. The meeting is adjourned. I want to thank everyone for coming out again tonight. I appreciate it.