TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council voted unanimously, Sept. 22, to remove Zoning Board of Adjustment member Jeffrey Roberto from his post due over chronic absences in a period of two-plus years.
Attorney Siobhan Spillane Bailey had the council mark a series of documents and council actions into the record prior to the council’s 5-0 vote. These included a July 16 letter council received from Zoning Board of Adjustment Chair Fred Goetz, and a Sept. 10 certified letter sent by Township counsel to alert Roberto to a Sept. 22 public hearing on the removal.
Roberto did return the certified letter green card receipt form, officials said. He neither appeared at the Sept. 22 public hearing nor responded to council resolutions or letters regarding his imminent removal, said Bailey.
Zoning Board Chair Fred Goetz wrote to council, “His last appearance, either in-person or virtually, was 13 months ago with no communication from him during that time. Since remote attendance and participation at meetings has been consistently available electronically through Zoom, the board finds this inconsistent with the responsibilities entrusted to a sitting board member…The Board would request another qualified individual who is prepared to meet the obligations of board membership.”
Bailey said that Roberto had attended six of 33 ZBA meetings since his first year on the board. During that year, he had attended 12 meetings. He was appointed to a four-year term on the board in January 2022; his term expires Dec. 31.
A resolution for Roberto’s removal was approved at the Sept. 8 council meeting. Pascack Press requested and received copies of Goetz’s letter and the township’s certified letter on Sept. 23, less than 12 hours after our public records request.
Zoning approval is the first step required for certain types of construction.
The council agreed on Roberto, a facility engineer, as an alternate during a shakeup at its 2021 reorganization meeting.
In the township, the council appoints Zoning Board members and the mayor appoints Planning Board members. Mayor Calamari told Pascack Press, “When there is a vacancy the council advertises the position, asking for résumés, and then they decide as a body who they want to appoint from the pool of candidates.”
ZBA Sept. 16 highlights
The ZBA, chaired by Fred Goetz, held a hybrid public meeting on Sept. 16. The roster includes Dan D’Agostino, Diane Grimaldi, Les Hanna, Michael LaGratta, Jeff Roberto, and Kevin Zitko, with Alternate #1 Jeyson Rivera and Alternate #2 Mary Ann Ozment. Also scheduled were board attorney Gary Giannantonio, engineer John Yakimik, and secretary Grace Kalish.
- New business: Total Build Solutions, Inc. sought an extension of prior approvals (Res. ZB-24-19) for a new single-family home at 662 Jefferson Ave.
- Old business: Resolution ZB-25-13: approved Brian Collins’ driveway expansion at 891 Manhattan Ave.
- Resolution ZB-25-15: approved an extension for Robert Terzi’s driveway expansion and temporary second shed at 346 Fern St.
Year in Review
The board approved 25 variance applications in 2024, with none denied and two withdrawn, according to its annual zoning report.
Most approvals fell into the “C” bulk variance category, including: Side yard setbacks (six; one withdrawn); rear yard setbacks (two; one withdrawn); front yard setbacks (four); building coverage (five); pool inside yard (one); deck/height (three); garage and driveway expansions (three combined); maximum driveway width (one); maximum lot area (one); minimum street frontage (one); parking space (one, withdrawn); and time extension (one)
Two “D” variances were also considered: one for use and one for height, with one withdrawn.
The board,, at its August meeting, also took a step toward greater transparency in 2025 with Resolution ZB-25-14, committing to livestreaming all meetings and archiving them on the township’s YouTube channel.
— Some reporting by John Snyder