Extra Counsel Hired in Al Falah Lawsuit

In a special meeting on Thursday, the Bridgewater Township council approved a resolution to hire a special co-counsel to help represent the township in litigation filed by the .

The contract is with Kevin J. Coakley Esq., and is for $275 per hour for Coakley and $220 per hour for associates. The contract extends through Dec. 31.

Township administrator Robert Bogart said the special attorney was hired to assist the lead counsel with additional expertise.

The Al Falah Center filed a lawsuit in April stemming from an original application before the planning board to build a on Mountain Top Road.

The complaint was filed by the Al Falah Center against the township, township council, planning board, Mayor Patricia Flannery and individual members of both the board and council.

It is based on the township’s approval of an ordinance not allowing for houses of worship on non-major roads, which effectively stopped the application by the center for the mosque. The ordinance was approved after the application had already been submitted to the planning board, and required it to instead go before the zoning board.

An application has not been put before the zoning board while litigation continues.