State to Consider West Deptford's $34 Million in Tax Refunding Bonds

West Deptford could have the approval it needs from the state in just days for at least one settlement over property tax disputes at , if a pending lawsuit doesn’t tie things up.

The township has $34 million worth of refunding bonds—including —on the agenda for next week’s state Local Finance Board (LFB) meeting, but the lawsuit could push approval from the LFB back to May or June, township officials said.

“Things are still up in the air,” Mayor Ray Chintall said.

The LFB is scheduled to meet the day before the township has to appear in court and argue against a lawsuit filed by township resident Gary Kuehnapfel—a suit that seeks to nullify the settlement with Sunoco on the grounds the township committee violated the Open Public Meetings Act in making the decision to settle.

Because the suit also targets the LFB and would prevent it from approving the refunding bonds, Chintall said it’s questionable whether anything can happen this go-round, though he said the township hopes to have a better idea by early in the week.

The LFB meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning in Trenton, though West Deptford’s bond application is slated for near the end of the meeting. It’s tentatively scheduled for 11:55 a.m., the 35th hearing of the day.

, a 9 a.m. proceeding in Superior Court in Woodbury, where the township committee will have to bring closed-session meeting information, including transcripts and complete minutes, in response to an order to show cause.

Chintall and township administrator Eric Campo said it’s more likely it’s a matter that will be handled by attorneys for both sides, though Chintall said he and committeeman Sam Cianfarini will be there.

“The entire committee may not have to appear,” Chintall said.