Improper Municipal Planning, Zoning Procedures
1972-75

The SCI canceled scheduled public hearings after a one-day session because litigation prevented three key witnesses from testifying about land development in Madison Township in Middlesex County. Although the courts subsequently ruled the witnesses must testify, the Middlesex Prosecutor in the meantime had requested the SCI to postpone its hearings and submit its investigative data for prosecutorial use. In early 1974 the Middlesex Grand Jury indicted three former Madison Township officials for extortion, bribery, misconduct in office and perjury in connection with housing development kickback schemes. In February 1975, a former Township councilman was found guilty of extortion and misconduct in office.

Transcript from the hearing