West Deptford's Refunding Bonds for Sunoco Settlement Put on Hold

West Deptford and the state Tuesday pulled $34 million in tax refunding bonds—including on the —from the April Local Finance Board (LFB) meeting, opting to defer the issue to board's May meeting.

The move comes as the township committee prepares for an order to show cause hearing , who is alleging the township committee violated the state Open Public Meetings Act in approving the settlement with Sunoco.

That proceeding is set for Thursday morning, and West Deptford Mayor Ray Chintall said the committee is taking a conservative approach to the settlement ahead of that court date.

Kuehnapfel's suit aims to stop both the township committee from going ahead with the settlement and the LFB from taking any action on the bond ordinances that would fund the deal.

At the Thursday court proceeding, the township committee will have to produce records of the closed-session meetings that resulted in the settlement for review by Superior Court Judge Eugene McCaffrey Jr.

Kuehnapfel's suit also on a potential settlement over a similar property tax dispute with Coastal/El Paso, the former owners of Eagle Point, last week.