I think Mr. Weinstien has forgotten his role as a PR man as it seems HE is atempting to now spin this item for personal gain.  Interestingly I met with a former member of CC last year who told us that she made the referal to the firm not the Chamber of Commerce. You can make what you will of that but it is interesting to see Weinstien attempt to spin this for his personal gain.  Further, there is a great difference between an advertising firm and a PR firm  - Mr. Weinstein is really stretching to try to keep this story in the news, it is clear that he has no idea what the leagal process is and how is is actually making his client look like a big bully.

11/12/04 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom
Mayor: Chairman acted properly

By Rob Jennings, Daily Record

ROCKAWAY TWP. - The environmental commission chairman who stepped aside from future Christ Church hearings did nothing wrong in attending an opposition group's fundraiser but made the right decision in recusing himself, Mayor Louis Sceusi said Thursday.

"I don't believe anything he did was a conflict of interest," said Sceusi, explaining that commission Chairman Pat Matarazzo voluntarily opted for a recusal "to avoid even the appearance of impropriety."

Matarazzo said Wednesday that he visited the Voices of Rockaway Township fundraiser on Oct. 17 solely to loan the group, at its request, a copy of the church's site plan.

Voices of Rockaway Township was formed last year to oppose the 5,000-member, Montclair-based church's building plan, which includes a 2,512-seat sanctuary, private K-5 school and other facilities for the 107-acre, former Agilent Technologies site on Green Pond Road.

Though Matarazzo said he contributed no money to the group, church spokesman Marc Weinstein characterized his visit as inappropriate and evidence that township officials have prejudged the controversial mega-church proposal.

Sceusi disagreed, saying, "We've done everything we can to treat this with impartiality."

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Deborah Kole, an attorney for the state League of Municipalities, said it was unclear whether Matarazzo's actions constituted a conflict of interest.

"It's hard to say. Had he given them money, it becomes more obvious," Kole said Thursday, adding that his recusal was "certainly the careful thing to do."

In response to another statement by Weinstein, Sceusi said he did nothing wrong in attending Voices of Rockaway Township meetings last year. The church's pastor, David Ireland, said last year that Sceusi should step aside from the planning board because of those appearances.

Sceusi said Thursday that he did not attend any of the group's meetings after the board's public hearings began last Dec. 15.

The environmental commission is conducting parallel hearings on drainage, runoff and other issues pertaining to the application.

The mayor added that he had nothing to do with another incident cited by Weinstein - in which the K-8 school district permitted fliers to be sent home with children advertising a Voices of Rockaway Township meeting.

Sceusi questioned Weinstein's motives, noting he is a paid representative for the church and that Weinstein's company, Spring O'Brien, lists a business relationship with Hewlett Packard - whose spin-off company is Agilent - on its Web site.

"He claims to be a spokesman. All I know is he's a PR agent and he's putting a spin on it. I don't think he speaks to the legal issues involved," Sceusi said.

"If Mayor Sceusi believes attacking the messenger is going to accomplish his message," responded Weinstein, "he's barking up the wrong tree."

Weinstein noted that Sceusi is president of Lars & Associates, an advertising company in Rockaway Township whose clients have included prominent developer Morton Salkind.

"Is he worried about the competition?" Weinstein said lightly.

"I could care less," Sceusi shot back.

Weinstein said that Hewlett Packard was a former client and did not play any role in the church's decision to hire Spring O'Brien last year for an undisclosed sum. Weinstein said a church member met him at a Morris County Chamber of Commerce function and made a referral to Ireland.

"Everybody deserves a voice. The church is no different," Weinstein said.

Sceusi said any statements by Weinstein about the church's application were irrelevant.

"The real issues will be decided by their attorney, who is an outstanding attorney who represents them very well, and Reverend Ireland, who at least in my experience has been a gentleman and very straightforward," Sceusi said.