Reader Submitted
To the editor:
After months of township meetings in which the township lawyer often answered questions directed to township committee members from members of the community, and in which so much of the township’s business seemed to be deliberated in closed executive sessions, it has come to light that the township’s lawyer, William Willard, has charged thousands of dollars for work associated to politically related items.
For instance, there were approximately 30 billing entries for legal time at $150 per hour for political or routine inquiries. There are many line items with descriptions such as Free Speech and Assembly, Sanctuary Cities, Political Caucuses, Affordable Housing and Ethics Law. Really? We have a certified Clerk, an Administrator, and elected officials who should know basic freedom of speech and right to assembly law. Why do they need to consult with a lawyer at taxpayer expense? Was it to try and stop citizens from exercising their freedom of speech at a rally that was scheduled the next day?
In addition, there are entries related to OPRA (Open Public Records Act) inquiries, which our clerk is fully certified to handle. These OPRA requests are individually identified as if they are “cases” in and of themselves. The number of hours billed by the attorney shows that the intention is to deny rather than to facilitate. Is this legal advice an attempt to prevent the disclosure of public information to citizens or the press? Almost every entry is connected with preparing an email or having a phone conversation with township staff that they should be perfectly qualified to handle themselves. For example, does the attorney have to be involved in an audit response when we have a highly-certificated CFO?
These are not the sum total of the billing even for Willard alone. We retain another lawyer for the planning board who has his own billing. So why is Willard involved in contract negotiations for the Apex Sports & Events development behind closed doors when it should be an issue for the planning board attorney?
The number of entries regarding EMS transition is staggering including a zoning permit application for RWJUH that was originally denied by the zoning office. Why is the township attorney reviewing permits on behalf of RWJUH? Do Hillsborough homeowners get the same benefit from the township attorney?
This outrageous billing comes to Hillsborough from the law firm of former Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco and current State Senator Kip Bateman, who is running for re-election this November. These are people claiming to be in public service, but are only enriching themselves. And his law firm charges an outrageous 12 percent interest on bills not paid in 14 days. No wonder the township committee had to vote to appropriate an additional $100,000 for legal expenses only half way through the year.
The township attorney should not be doing the job that the staff was hired to do and he certainly should not be used to satisfy a partisan agenda at the expense of the taxpayer.
John Beggiato
Hillsborough
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