FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Municipal officials are taking action to increase the number of alternate members who may serve on the Planning Board.
On Aug. 15, the Township Committee introduced an ordinance that, if adopted, will increase the number of alternate members on the Freehold Township Planning Board from two to four.
The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and adoption on Sept. 26.
The ordinance will designate the committee, instead of the mayor, as the entity responsible for appointing the alternate members. Officials said that move is required by statute.
The number of alternate members who are appointed to the board is being increased due to quorum issues, according to the members of the governing body.
In Freehold Township, the Planning Board functions as a planning board and as a zoning board of adjustment. The board presently consists of nine regular members and two alternate members. The regular members include the mayor and one other member of the Township Committee.
On zoning applications that seek a use variance, the mayor and the second member of the Township Committee – for 2017 that is Mayor Lester Preston and Committeeman Anthony Ammiano – must recuse themselves from hearing the application.
Once Preston and Ammiano step down, that leaves seven regular members and two alternates to hear a use variance application.
If some of the remaining board members have a conflict with an application and have to recuse themselves, or if for other reasons members are not present at a meeting, an applicant may face a more difficult task to gain the five affirmative votes that are needed to obtain a use variance.
Adding two alternate members to the Planning Board will create a pool of 13 board members who could be available hear an application.
