Vernon, New Jersey Development News

Council Members Express Concerns Over Continued Engagement in Burger Road Vacation Dispute

A significant portion of the meeting involved a public comment regarding the Burger Road vacation. A resident, Angelina B., raised concerns about township actions continuing after the council denied a road vacation ordinance (26-2) in February 2026. She presented emails and an invoice ($1,395) for attorney services related to the Burger Road vacation through April 30, 2026, indicating that legal work persisted post-denial. Questions were raised about township actions, decisions made without council approval, responsibility for legal fees potentially borne by taxpayers, and why township engineers and attorneys continued to explore options like auctioning off the right-of-way, which some council members felt was not the town's place and indicated a partial stance. The discussion also touched upon a separate dog-at-large complaint that was dismissed due to lack of probable cause, with concerns raised about the process and the use of a sticky note instead of formal documentation. The mayor and council members debated the township's involvement, the costs incurred, and the distinction between determining ownership via title search versus pursuing an auction. Some council members expressed discomfort with the township's continued engagement and spending on this matter after the initial denial, viewing it as a private property dispute rather than a town issue. The ongoing enforcement of ordinances for the public right-of-way, including issues like dogs at large and blocked roads, was also questioned.