Washington Township Council Grapples with Auditor Change Amid Housing and Infrastructure Debates

The Washington Township Council meeting on June 23, 2025, was marked by discussions over the appointment of a new auditing firm, alongside significant deliberations on the township’s housing strategy and infrastructure improvements. The transition from the previous auditor, Lumé, to Sup Clooney raised concerns about transparency and procedural integrity, overshadowing other agenda items such as the fair share housing plan and equipment acquisitions for municipal services.

57:58A focal point of the meeting was the discussion regarding the transition to a new auditing firm, Sup Clooney, following the departure of Lumé. Council members expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of information provided about Sup Clooney, questioning the firm’s capabilities and reputation. One member openly admitted discomfort, citing the absence of details about the new auditors and the inaccessibility of Lumé’s website. The council’s ability to make an informed decision was hindered by the limited time they had to review information about the new firm, with one member highlighting the last-minute notification as an issue. Concerns were also raised about Colleen, an auditor previously affiliated with Lumé, and whether her contributions to the audit would be duly recognized under Sup Clooney’s oversight.

01:19:56The debate extended to the procedural aspects of the auditor transition, with some council members advocating for a formal resignation letter from Lumé before voting on the new appointment. This suggestion aimed to ensure clarity and adherence to contractual obligations. There was a consensus to postpone the final decision until the next meeting, allowing members to gather more information and ensure the transition complied with professional and legal standards.

27:48In parallel, the council engaged in discussions on Resolution 25-257, which involved the endorsement of the township’s 2025 housing element and fair share plan. The resolution, important for shaping the township’s housing policy over the next decade, faced scrutiny due to concerns about the availability of necessary documents. A council member voiced unease about the lack of access to the complete and corrected fair share housing report, which had been approved by the planning board but not disseminated to all council members. The discussion revealed that the required housing units had increased from eight to eleven, prompting detailed examination of potential development sites and affordable housing obligations. Members highlighted the need for transparency and thorough evaluation, particularly in light of past development plans where property owners were unaware of their land’s inclusion.

48:55Infrastructure and equipment acquisitions also featured prominently in the meeting. Resolution 25-263 authorized the purchase of a new front-end loader, with the cost offset by a trade-in credit for an obsolete loader. Similarly, the council approved the acquisition of a new garbage truck, underlining the necessity of timely action to avoid escalating costs. However, the operational status of another garbage truck, which required significant repairs, prompted discussions on whether it should be retained for seasonal use or sold at auction.

39:10Resolution 25-259, concerning the awarding of a contract for tree services, sparked a debate about the bidding process and fairness. The decision to award the contract to Downree Service Company, Inc. instead of the previously engaged Amaroso, who did not submit a bid, led to questions about the potential advantage gained by Downree from seeing Amaroso’s estimates. The council’s decision to rebid the contract highlighted the importance of maintaining transparency and fairness in municipal procurement.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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