Calls For 'Respect' Among Bernards Township Planning Board Members After Chairman Leaves

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Longtime member and recent Chairman Paul Damurjian is no longer serving on the Planning Board following a contentious meeting in December that led to the death of an ordinance proposing to create a film studio in Bernards Township.

At the Planning Board Reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Lauren Manduke was the first to bring to light Damurjian's "obvious departure" from the Board.

"I did not like much of what happened last month," said Manduke. "It has all culminated with Paul Damurjian not being here."

Manduke along with Vice Chairman Pro Temp Tyler Seville, Damurjian, and Mayor Jennifer Asay all voted against tabling the review of the film ordinance last month. However, the ordinance was ultimately tabled with the support of Board members John Crane, Daniel Eorio, John Ladyzinski, Andrew McNally, and Board Vice Chairwoman Kathleen Mastrangelo. Read More: Film Studio Ordinance Dies After Bernards Township Planning Board Tables Review

"We are really at a disadvantage without [Damurjian] and his institutional knowledge not being here tonight. I would ask the Board to ask yourselves, 'Why isn’t he here?' Remember we are an autonomous Board. We have been charged with a job to do and while I respect some of my colleagues' opinions as to why we didn’t do the consistency review last month, I think others of my colleagues made a decision based on pressure from sources that should not have been," said Manduke.

John Ladyzinski echoed Manduke's comments.

"I'm sorry [Damurjian] appears to no longer be a part of this Board," said Ladzyinski. "I don’t know why he isn’t here but I was surprised. I was hoping for him to be here but we have lost someone who is very valuable to this Board and it hurts the whole community."

Damurjian didn't give a reason for leaving the Board, according to Township Clerk Christine Kieffer.

Eduardo Rubino called for more respect among Board members moving forward.

"I think what transpired in December is not becoming of the Board and it presents us in a light to the public that really doesn’t mirror who we are supposed to be," said Rubino.

He added that some Board members tried to "bully and strongarm" others into voting their way. Manduke also added that OPRA requests were filed and private emails were shared publicly.

"We should have respect for each other and then after making that decision, that vote, I was messaged by one member on this board - I won't say who - in a very condescending message," said Rubino. "Let's work together and respect each other's opinions."

At the meeting, Kathleen Mastrangelo was named the new Chairperson for 2025 along with Seville as Vice Chairperson and Cuozzo as Vice Chairperson Pro Temp.

" I want to thank Paul Damurjian for stepping up as Chairperson in 2024. I think he did an admirable job and I am sad not to see him here," said Mastrangelo. "I hope that he will at some point revisit us."

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