What to Know for Tonight's Council Meeting

Looking for a sneak preview of tonight’s township council meeting? You’ve come to the right place. 

The following is a sampling of what’s expected to take place during the meeting:

• Council is expected to discuss in closed session the repercussions of . Bookbinder denied STEM's (Save the Environment of Moorestown) request to bar the township from , but did not throw out the case. This leaves the township with a bit of a conundrum: It can spend the money from the fund, but if it does, and then the judge rules in STEM's favor, it could be forced to put that money back. Mayor John Button said he's inclined to wait for Bookbinder's final ruling before going forward. "I don't anticipate any action on that particular issue when we come out (of closed session)," Button said. The mayor added if the judge rules in STEM's favor—in favor of a strict interpretation of the Open Space ordinance, limiting the Trust Fund's use to acquiring land and maintaining land bought with the fund—it could be "catastrophic in some ways financially" for municipalities (as well as counties) across the state.

• Council will vote on awarding four liquor licenses, . PREIT submitted four proposals for licenses at $1,000,005 apiece. Button said he doesn't expect any snags in awarding the licenses. By doing so, the proper authorities (e.g. the ) can begin the process of verification, involving background checks, fingerprinting and the like. Though township attorney Thomas Coleman had previously indicated PREIT would be in attendance at tonight's meeting, Button said he does not believe anyone from the Moorestown Mall owner would be coming. East Gate Square also turned in a $1,030,000 proposal for a license. (Aug. 15) regarding that case.

• The township received a $250,000 recreation grant for the at and parks, which will cost $455,000 total. Council is set to consider resolutions tonight to bond the project and use money from the Trust Fund to pay off the debt service. But with Bookbinder's decision on the STEM suit still looming, Button said council may hold off on a decision. 

The council meeting begins at 7:30 tonight in the IT room at .