Hamilton official: Councilman's comments 'crossed the line'

"He crossed the line," Michael Angarone, the township's economic development director said of Councilman Kevin Meara's comments.

HAMILTON -- Hamilton's economic development director came to the township's defense Thursday, saying comments by a councilman that called for criminal investigation of a development plan were out of bounds.

"If (Kevin Meara) thinks there was something criminal, he should contact the prosecutor's office," said Michael Angarone, the township's economic development director.

"He crossed the line," Angarone said of Councilman Kevin Meara's comments.

The township council on Tuesday voted 4-1 to approve an ordinance adopting the redevelopment plan for a vacant car dealership on Rt. 33, where a developer is building a Wawa.

Meara voted against the ordinance, saying at the meeting and on Wednesday that the plan had "too many red flags," he did not like the way township officials pushed it through and in the end is not good government.

Meara, who said he voted against the project for two years, also said township officials have streamlined the process for the developer at every turn.

"The way this was done, this is just really bad and it's not the government the residents of Hamilton deserve," Meara said.

Meara had said the entire project, going back to 2013, was worthy of a criminal investigation.

Angarone said Meara appeared to have alleged that an ordinance the council voted to eliminate in April 2013, which had prohibited new gas stations from opening within 1,500 feet of existing stations, was done to make it easier for Delco Development to build a Wawa on the Rt. 33 dealership site.

Angarone said a lawyer on another Wawa project, on Route 130 at the site of the former Harry's Army and Navy store, was the impetus for the council looking at the ordinance.

Although the township had yet to receive plans for the Rt. 33 development when the ordinance was repealed, the developer's website at the time included blueprints for the site featuring a Wawa gas station.

The ordinance's removal also prompted the owner nearby Route 33 gas station to sue Hamilton, alleging the action favored new Wawas. The suit was not successful.

Angarone said Meara's overall allegations and characterizations of township officials' actions in the project are just lies.

"And Kevin knows that," he said.

Angarone also said Meara's comments amounted to an unjust "parting shot," since the councilman is not running for re-election.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.