Township Council rejects Camp Sussex petition

VERNON — The Vernon Township Council on Monday decided to send the petition calling for the halt to the possible purchase of Camp Sussx and to require future purchases made with Open Space funds to the courts.

The council sent the petition to the Nov. 4 ballot by a unanimous vote.

Township Attorney Kevin Kelly recommended the petition be sent to the court for a declatory judgment based on the possibility that it was potentially, legally invalid.

Kelly said that such initiatives are favored by the court, however, he pointed out that the Open Space fund ordinance had already been passed, which specified a plan to use those funds, which superceded this petition and that the petition had no limitation on the length of time it was to be enforced.

The validity of the petition was argued by petitioner Sally Rinker, stating the new ordinance would have a length limitation of three years as most do and that it had nothing to do with the plan set forth with the original Open Space fund ordinance.

“This petition is about the money.” Rinker said, “It’s giving the voters the right to spend the money how they want.”

However, the Council determined that it would take direction from Kelly’s recommendation and voted to pose the question to the courts.

That measure passed by a 3-2 vote. Councilman Dan Kadish and Councilwoman Jean Murphy voted against it.