New Jersey Herald
WANTAGE —The township Land Use Board's approval for one of its members to operate a soil processing facility on Route 565 has been voided by a judge who said the process was tainted by conflicts of interest and attempts to influence by then-Mayor Ron Bassani and the board's former chairman.
Superior Court Judge Stuart Minkowitz has ordered a new hearing.
Bassani, who is now deputy mayor, and Michael Cecchini, who was Land Use Board chairman at the time of the vote, both recused themselves from deliberations and the vote due to a conflict of interest. However, Minkowitz found both later improperly attempted to sway the vote despite their recusal.