Open Public Meetings Act Lawsuit Continues Against Lacey School Board

LACEY, NJ — A lawsuit filed against the Lacey Township Board of Education, claiming that the board violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act, will continue after a judge denied a motion to dismiss it.

The lawsuit, filed by former board member Regina Discenza and former board candidate/open government advocate Gavin Rozzi, is connected to several current ethics cases against the board. They all relate to claims that the school board improperly used resources to investigate Discenza and held secret meetings in 2019.

One of these cases found that the board's former president violated the School Ethics Act by directing the attorney to research Discenza the day after he lost the bid for re-election. Read more: Ex-Lacey School Board President Violated Ethics Act, Commission Finds

These ethics hearings brought the "clandestine meetings" to light, Rozzi and Discenza said in a statement.

Board members admitted to these meetings in their filings for the ethics cases.

In a Sept. 15, 2023 decision, the Honorable Valter H. Must, J.S.C. refused to dismiss the lawsuit, finding that Rozzi and Discenza have stated a claim for violations of the “Sunshine Law” as well as the New Jersey Civil Rights Act. Rozzi and Discenza are arguing the case pro se, while the defendants are represented by Capehart Scatchard.

"These ‘serial meetings’ are emblematic of the kind of backdoor dealings that erode public trust," Rozzi said. "When decisions are made in the shadows, it's the public that's left in the dark."

"It's not just about us. It's about setting a precedent that ensures every decision made by public officials can stand up to scrutiny. There should be no expenditures of public funds without proper public discussion, vote and disclosure," Discenza said.