The Friends of Mercer County Parks is the target of a state Attorney General's Office investigation
MERCER COUNTY -- The nonprofit at the center of an investigation into allegations of official misconduct, corruption of public resources and theft by extortion has close ties to county employees -- even as the county distances itself from the group.
The state Attorney General's Office executed search warrants at the county's historic Hunt House and tennis center Tuesday as part of an investigation into the Friends of Mercer County Parks.
County spokeswoman Julie Willmot said the group is "completely independent from the county" much like other "Friends of" groups that raise money to fund programs and services outside the regular budget for the library branches, the wildlife center and the Howell Living History Farm.
Documents, however, show connections between the group and county officials.
The Friends of Mercer County Parks was formed in 2013 to supplement the Mercer County Park Commission, a semi-autonomous agency that oversees more than 10,000 acres of parks, recreational facilities and open space.
The commission's executive director, Kevin Bannon, and the staff are county employees, the county executive appoints the nine commissioners and the freeholders approve its budget.
The nonprofit's purpose, according to federal tax filings, is to promote awareness of the county park facilities, fund programs that may be outside the limits of the park commission's operating budget and expand its resources through annual fundraising.
Its three-person board of trustees consists of James Moscarello, the daily manager of the county-owned Princeton Country Club; Amy Wargo, a health teacher at Princeton's John Witherspoon Middle School; and Joseph Schmeltz.
Paul Adezio, the county's deputy counsel, is listed as the agent for the service of process, state business records show. Willmot said Adezio was formerly the park commission's attorney and was the agent of record when the group formed in 2013. She said that role is now filled by R. David Blake, who doubles as the park's commission's counsel.
Terry Bannon, whose name is listed on flyers for fundraising events, is a senior project manager at the park commission.
Bannon said at an April 2013 commissioners meeting that the nonprofit's startup money would come from a donation from the Mercer County Sports and Entertainment Commission before it was absorbed by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, a golf outing and a winter event.
"The money raised will be used for items that are not funded in our budget," the meeting minutes read.
Bannon's Linkedin still lists him as the vice president of the MCSEC, which transferred $46,000 in cash to the friends group in 2013, tax records show.
Following the raids, Kevin Bannon retained attorney Jack Furlong, who blasted the state's actions Wednesday.
"The execution of a search warrant in a non-exigent setting is nothing more than law enforcement theater," he said. "The books and records of the Friends of Mercer County Parks exist in multiple forms with multiple agencies. ... All that stuff exists outside of park commission offices and you'd be able to get that on a phone call, let alone a subpoena.
"I guarantee you that the attorney general will find no evidence of personal financial benefit for Kevin Bannon or anyone else from the Friends of Mercer County Parks," he continued.
It was not immediately known why warrants were served at the Hunt House and tennis center, but this year marks the first time that the friends group is hosting the Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame induction dinner. The group took on the responsibility of selecting candidates after the Mercer County Tennis Council dissolved. The Hunt House, meanwhile, became the commission's headquarters in 2010 after undergoing major renovations.
Furlong said the park commission operates on a shoestring budget -- with salaries accounting for a large part of its expenses -- and relies on the friends group to help put on concerts and festivals.
"They are money-losing propositions, but in the 21st century, taxpayers refuse to support governance that subsidize entertainment at the taxpayers' expense," Furlong said. "If you're going to have a concert on the Mercer County Park grounds, you're going to have to raise money privately from your supporters and then spend it on that band, orchestra or caterer and those books and records are available for all to see."
The group's 2014 tax return lists its net assets at $176,835. Its fundraisers, which included a golf outing, summer concert and two other events, brought in $69,113 after expenses were deducted.
The group spent $6,693 to send members of the commission's staff to an association conference with Bannon, whose trip is paid for by the county.
"If the attorney general or a disgruntled county employee has a problem with Kevin taking another senior park commission staff to the national conference, maybe that person should ... call Kevin and express their objection instead of making the cowardly call to a law enforcement agency and claiming that there's something nefarious going on," Furlong said.
"I challenge anyone ... to step forward with actual evidence of some sort of payment or in-kind benefit to any public employee for the Mercer County Park Commission and being allowed to attend a national association event doesn't qualify."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.