Judges rule councilman had a conflict of interest when voting for bonds to purchase Lion Gate property

An Appellate Division court ruled in favor of four Bloomfield residents who alleged that 2nd Ward Councilman Nicholas Joanow had a conflict-of-interest when he voted for a $10 million bonding ordinance to finance the purchase of a tract of land which is contiguous to his property.

In the brief of their Oct. 17, 2016, decision, the three-judge panel said Joanow’s motives to  purchase a 12-acre plot, for a proposed park, were immaterial, but he should not have voted to avoid any possibility of self-interest. The land in question is on Lion Gate Drive. A developer had begun construction on a proposed residential project but stopped to sell the property to the township.

The judges asserted that “development of the Lion Gate property, as a park rather than a 104-unit townhouse project, clearly would have have a financial impact on Joanow’s property, whether it be good, bad or whatever.”

When contacted, Joanow had no comment on the decision. The four Bloomfield residents are Russell Mollica, James Wollner, Chris Stanziale and former Mayor Raymond McCarthy.