Aberdeen Joins Forces With Other Towns to Fund Legal Action Against JCP&L Power Line Proposal

In a shared services action, the Aberdeen Township Council has approved a plan for the municipality to join forces with other Bayshore towns to fund legal and engineering costs for the fight against Jersey Central Power & Light’s (JCP&L) proposal to construct towering power transmission lines along the North Jersey Coast Line between Aberdeen and Red Bank.

Aberdeen agreed to fund an initial installment of $10,000 for legal and engineering services. The legal services will be performed by Bevan, Mosca & Guiditta, P.C., a Basking Ridge-based firm, whose founding principal, Murray E. Bevan, has successfully advocated for clients before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“BPU”). Earlier in his career, Bevan served a six-year term with the BPU. Supporting engineering services are being handled by the Albany, N.Y. office of Maser Consulting, P.A., which has experience reviewing power transmission line projects in New Jersey.

The township’s commitment to the fund will be 10% of the costs incurred by the joint defense group of towns fighting JCP&L’s proposal. Aberdeen is contributing its share based upon the equalized true market value of all property in the township in comparison to the other towns involved.

“The Aberdeen Council is proud to have joined the other Bayshore towns in this fight against JCP&L’s Monmouth County Reliability project,” said Mayor Fred Tagliarini. “This financial commitment underscores our commitment to this battle, which has also drawn the support of Congressman Frank Pallone and our state representatives, as well as the citizens group Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE).”

Tagliarini went on to note that the towns’ joint action “is focusing on the necessity of the project and whether it will truly accomplish what JCP&L says. Assuming this effort takes more than a year, our Council is committed to providing additional funding under the established shared services formula.”

Aberdeen Deputy Mayor Margaret Montone noted that the financial commitment follows the Council’s unanimous adoption on August 3rd of a resolution opposing the project. Additionally, Tagliarini was among nine Bayshore Mayors signing a joint letter opposing the project. “Our Council has lined up against this project from the beginning and we are committed to doing whatever is needed to defeat it,” she said.

As previously reported, the JCP&L project would use monopoles, some as high as 210 feet, to carry the transmission lines along a 10-mile stretch between electrical substations in Aberdeen and Red Bank. The utility claims the project will enhance reliability of service to the area.

Among other things, Aberdeen’s August 3rd resolution claimed that “less intrusive alternatives have not been given sufficient consideration” and urged the utility to “more fully consider less detrimental means to increase the reliability of its transmission services.”

“The Aberdeen Council is totally committed to this legal battle and pledges to review our financial contribution to the joint fund on an annual basis, as needed,” said Councilman Joseph Martucci.