Trucking issues still motoring at town hall

BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

East Brunswick EAST BRUNSWICK — A trucking operation on McGuire Street has not shut down, despite a township’s order to do so.

In addition, the matter has left a couple of outspoken residents exchanging words with Township Attorney Michael Baker.

Nieroda Transport Inc. has been running an electronics shipping operation on a leased McGuire Street site since December, but the township has sent a letter to the company’s landlord saying the trucking use is not permitted in the zone and that it must cease. Township Business administrator James White said during Monday’s Township Council meeting, however, that the property owner was “unresponsive” and that a summons has been issued and a court date scheduled.

Residents were pleased that the township took action to stop the use, but animosity lingers.

During an Aug. 8 council meeting, Coury had questioned why it took the township so long before enforcing the zoning law that prohibits trucking uses. Baker answered some of Coury’s questions during the public portion of the meeting. But he appeared to become frustrated when Coury asked why it took the township so long to move on the issue, telling Coury that he should have “quit while he was ahead.”

Later, during the Good of the Cause segment of the meeting, Baker said Coury, who had by that time left the meeting, has a political agenda that he brings to council meetings. He said Coury is a perpetual Republican candidate and a regular at council meetings.

Coury, speaking at this week’s meeting, defended himself, saying he began going to council meetings many years ago when he moved to the township. He denied that he was motivated by political aspirations, although he continues to run for office.

He was also miffed that Baker waited until the Good of the Cause to make the comments, and Baker responded that he would have made the comments in front of Coury if he had not left the meeting.

Baker said he is entitled to his opinion of Coury’s actions and feels that, as with many differing opinions, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Coury is a former GOP state assemblyman and has run unsuccessfully for East Brunswick Township Council and county freeholder.

Coury brought up another issue that some residents have made note of at times, pointing out that Baker often responds to nonlegal questions when the issue is political or controversial, instead of the elected officials. Baker served in the 1980s as a Democratic councilman in East Brunswick, and later as a Democratic state assemblyman.

Coury noted that council meetings are governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, which state that the attorney is only to comment on matters of legal interpretation.

Coury went down a list of the causes he’s been involved with over the years, attempting to show why he has been vocal and why he has attended so many council meetings. He pointed out that this was the third time a trucking company has been allowed to operate, against zoning laws in the area where he lives. The first time was during a different township administration.

Another resident who frequently attends meetings, Michael DeLucia, echoed Coury’s sentiments and said Baker should only speak on matters that concern him.

“It’s not appropriate for him to speak during the Good of the Cause,” he said.

DeLucia said officials should not criticize people who complain at meetings, and pointed out that Mayor William Neary and Councilman Donald Klemp started out the same way. When the Republican administration was in power and the council was all or largely Republican, Klemp and Neary used “to complain all the time,” he said.

Neither Neary nor any council members responded to the comments at the meeting.