The new district management corporation could be in operation as early as June 1.
FLEMINGTON -- Borough Council once again unanimously approved an ordinance to establish a new district management corporation for the borough's special improvement at its regular meeting Monday night.
The ordinance, was previously vetoed by Mayor Phil Greiner following allegations that some council members violated the Open Public Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law, by meeting privately on Feb. 21.
To eliminate any "cloud" hanging over the vote, Borough Council began the process again to approve the ordinance, which establishes a new corporation called the Flemington Improvement District that will pave the way for a new board to oversee the borough's special improvement district.
Additionally, the borough hired consultants Beth Lippman and Stuart Z. Koperweis of Administrative Resources, Inc. to assist in creating bylaws for the new board and a budget for 2016.
Koperweis and Lippman were first hired for $6,000 for January through March, and will now be paid a $4,000 monthly fee that could cost the borough up to $24,000.
BID lays off 3, including executive director
Three incorporators were also named, and will select the rest of the new board.
They are Dr. Karen Monroy, whose nonprofit Ability 2 Work runs Baker's Treat in Flemington; Dr. Paul Marciano, who has worked in the field of organizational development for 25 years, and Councilman Brian Swingle.
The new district management corporation could then be in operation as early as June 1, Swingle said.
During the meeting, council was asked by residents in the audience what is expected to happen with the existing Flemington BID board following de-designation as the district management corporation, but there were few answers.
Swingle, who serves as liaison, said the BID board's plans have not been disclosed to the public, and no meetings have been held to vote on either dissolving the district management corporation or fighting council's decision.
Battle lines drawn over control of Flemington's downtown
With roughly $156,000 remaining from 2015 surplus and revenue, the board was asked by the consultants to create an operating budget to meet obligations, such as event sponsorship and rent.
Ahead of council's meeting, the BID board announced that it has laid off its staff, including two part-time office employees and its Executive Director Megan Jones-Holt as a measure to conserve its remaining funds.
Whether the BID board will be legally required to return any remaining funds is a gray area, Borough Attorney Barry Goodman said in an interview after the meeting, but returning the money to the borough would reduce the risk of losing any to legal fees spent fighting over it.
"They need to do what's best for Flemington," Swingle said.
Executive BID board members Susan Peterson, Robert Shore, Deborah Gutschmidt and Roseanna Dimarzio were not present at the meeting and not immediately available for comment.
Stay with NJ.com for more on the public comments from this meeting.
Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.