Diecidue asked to refrain from vote on warehouses Resident alleges e-mails have clouded Planning Board proceedings BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer UPPER FREEHOLD - Township Committeeman Sal Diecidue was again asked to recuse himself from hearings on the controversial Rockefeller Group warehouse application before the Planning Board. The New York City-based developer wants to build 1.8 million square feet of warehouse space on Breza Road. After months of hearings, the Planning Board is expected to make a decision at its Nov. 30 meeting. Former Mayor Robert Abrams first asked Diecidue, who is a member of the Planning Board, to recuse himself from the hearings at the board's Oct. 24 meeting. Abrams repeated allegations of a possible conflict of interest on Diecidue's part at the Nov. 2 Township Committee meeting. Although Incumbent Stephen Alexander and newcomer Robert Faber defeated Diecidue in his bid for a second term on the Township Committee in the June Republican primary, Diecidue launched a write-in campaign for the November general election. Diecidue has said that although there was a historically high turnout of voters in the primary, many of his supporters did not vote for him because they assumed he was a shoo-in. Abrams has taken issue with recent e-mails about Diecidue's campaign for office from members of Communities United (CU), an anti-warehouse group. One of the e-mails, from Upper Freehold resident Mike Renzulli, stated, "Please consider alternatives on Nov. 7. There are some good choices for write-in candidates that I believe will have a more thoughtful view on quality-of-life issues. Let's vote in someone with an open mind that will consider the best use for the Breza tract while providing the best possible quality of life for neighboring Allentown and Upper Freehold Township residents." Another e-mail, from Allentown resident Micah Rasmussen, stated, "Up until now, it didn't look like there was much we'd be able to do about Mr. Alexander's work against us and his flip-flopping (he used to be against warehouses, but only when they were closer to his neighborhood)." The e-mail continued, "But now I'm reading in last week's papers that we may have an alternative after all." Diecidue has said that neither e-mail included his name as the write-in candidate. At the Township Committee meeting, Abrams cited another e-mail from CU, written by Upper Freehold resident Stephen Coyle. Coyle wrote, "I strongly urge all who are interested in evicting the Rockefeller Group from our town - forever - vote for Sal Diecidue. Sal didn't win the primary so he will have to be a write-in vote. I believe Sal will do the right thing, whatever it is, for Upper Freehold Township. I believe Sal will not vote for the warehouses." Abrams said such e-mails put a cloud over the Plan-ning Board. For the betterment of the township, Abrams said he felt Diecidue should recuse himself from any issues concerning the Rockefeller Group application that are brought before the Planning Board and/or the Township Committee. "I don't know what you promised these people [CU] to get this kind of support, but it is not in the best interests of the township," Abrams said. Jerry Nathanson, a Diecidue supporter, objected to Abrams' remarks, saying that anyone could put out an e-mail and could attribute something to someone else. Abrams noted that Nathanson's name was on the CU list for receipt of the Coyle e-mail. Diecidue did not respond to Abrams' comments during the portion of the meeting when officials respond to questions from the audience. However, in an earlier interview, Diecidue said that he has not done anything to compromise his position on the Planning Board. He said he has always made it clear to residents that he cannot talk about the application.