The Millburn Township Committee will go behind closed doors Tuesday, July 14, for the 10th time since January to discuss a cluster of lawsuits and negotiations over affordable housing obligations, downtown governance, and religious land use.
The special meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Millburn Education Center, 434 Millburn Ave. The agenda indicates a public comment period before the committee votes to enter closed session under Resolution 26-172.
The closed session covers the same four matters the committee has discussed in special meetings roughly every two weeks since January 20:
Fair Share Housing and RPM Development: The township is locked in litigation with Fair Share Housing Center and RPM Development, LLC over Millburn's third- and fourth-round affordable housing obligations. The original dispute centered on a proposed redevelopment of the township's Department of Public Works site on Main Street. To resolve it, the committee introduced Bond Ordinance 2752-26 on May 19 to spend $1.75 million acquiring 368 Essex St. as an alternative affordable housing site.
Mayor Frank Saccomandi IV told residents at the May 19 regular meeting that the committee would not comment on settlement negotiations regarding the 9 Main St. project, but that "terms of any settlement agreement would be made public prior to official action being taken."
Bear Properties vs. Millburn: This series of lawsuits challenges the formation and operation of the downtown Special Improvement District. Township Attorney Jarrid Kantor reported at the February 17 regular meeting that courts dismissed two challenges filed by Bear Properties I, though plaintiffs indicated they would appeal. A third lawsuit, Bear Properties III, was filed in late March. Attorney Jeffrey Feld, a Millburn resident, represents the plaintiffs.
At a May 28 SID board meeting, Mayor Saccomandi announced the township will no longer fund lawyers to represent both the SID and the town in the Bear Properties litigation, covering only the town's legal costs.
Chai Center RLUIPA case: The Chai Center for Living Judaism has filed two federal lawsuits against the township and its Planning Board under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The cases (No. 2:23-CV-01833 and No. 2:25-CV-17318) have been discussed in Planning Board executive sessions at every meeting since at least January 7, though the specific land-use dispute underlying the claims has not been detailed in public records.
Because these discussions happen under attorney-client privilege, no decisions will be announced Tuesday night. Under New Jersey's Open Public Meetings Act, the committee must release closed-session minutes once the matters are no longer confidential.
The five committee members are Mayor Saccomandi, Deputy Mayor David Cosgrove, and committee members Michael Cohen, Jamie Serruto, and Ben Stoller.
The July 14 special meeting is separate from the regular Township Committee meeting also scheduled that evening, which covers pedestrian safety and other items. Residents who wish to address the committee on housing and litigation matters should attend the 6 p.m. session at the Education Center, 434 Millburn Ave.
