New policies would shed light on approval process

Recommendations issued last week by the Monroe Township Ethics Panel represent a major step forward for Monroe in placing strict, new standards on those who make some of the township's most important decisions. In fact, leaders of other communities in Middlesex County and New Jersey as a whole should take note as Monroe embarks on this journey to make its government more transparent.

The panel was formed by Mayor Richard Pucci last summer after the mayor's private business dealings were called into question. The mayor, who sits on the Planning Board and appoints its members, was working as a paid consultant for a political action committee (PAC) that received funding from developer Jack Morris, whose Edgewood Properties company has had applications before the Monroe Planning Board and who is also said to have an interest in the major Route 33 concept plan known as Monroe Marketplace.

Pucci, vowing that he always acted aboveboard and in the township's best interest, responded to the reports in part by ending his consulting work for the PAC, and forming the ethics panel. These were both good moves on his part. Though it is apparent that he did not break the law, the link to the developer's money, if nothing else, raised some serious questions and cast the mayor in a rather poor light.

The ethics panel released its initial recommendations at a public meeting last week, and is currently accepting feedback via the township's Web site. Its recommendations seek far more disclosure among members of the planning and zoning boards, and land use applicants. In some cases they call for recusals from applications, even when not required by law. The policies would, in part, require board members to state whether they have business or even social dealings with applicants or their professionals, and force an applicant to disclose his political contributions, as well as those of his attorney, engineer and other professionals.

The new rules would not necessarily affect the outcome of any major development plan. But without a doubt, they would shed greater light on the people and relationships involved in the building application process. In so doing, there will be far fewer questions about potentially improper dealings. By the same token, it will raise questions and bring about answers when there is a potential conflict of interest.