Board hires new planner and attorney
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD- The township's Planning Board has a new attorney and a new planner.

The board unanimously voted at its Feb. 26 meeting to appoint Dennis Collins, of Collins, Vella and Casello LLC in Farmingdale, as its new attorney. In a 7-2 vote, the board approved BanischAssociates in Flemington as the new planner.

Collins, who replaces longtime board attorney Frank Armenante, appeared before the board twice before. He represented Ronald Taft's 94-lot subdivision at the corner of Route 539 and Davis Station Road and the 37-lot Providence Estates subdivision off Route 537.

According to his law firm's Web site, Collins has represented theBorough ofMonmouth Beach since 2002, the Eatontown Board of Education since 1992, the Boonton Board ofEducation since 1999 and theMarlboro Township Planning Board since 1993. He formerly represented theHowell andHazlet planning boards, the Hazlet Zoning Board and the Borough of Keansburg.

Collins has also represented the New Jersey American Water Co. on statewide land usematters and theMonmouthCounty Joint Insurance Fund in defense litigation.

Collins, who lives in Manasquan, grew up inHolmdel.He graduated fromChristian Brothers Academy in Upper Freehold in 1981, the University of Virginia in 1985 and Seton Hall University Law School in 1989. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1989 and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court in New Jersey.

Collins said he does not ordinarily represent developers and has specialized in representingMonmouth Countymunicipalities and planning and zoning boards throughout his career. He said Upper Freehold is the most rural town he has ever represented and that it reminds him of how Holmdel looked when he was growing up.

In the vote to approve Banisch Associates as the new planner, board members Richard Stern and J. DavidHolmes cast the dissenting votes.

The Township Committee has also approved Banisch Associates as its planner. Charles Newcomb will primarily represent the firm in Upper Freehold matters.

According to the company's Web site, Newcomb's primary focus is assisting municipalities with implementing Smart Growth planning techniques and processes into planning activities.He also represents a number of planning boards and boards of adjustment during subdivision reviews and site plan and variance matters.

Newcomb has represented a number of private clients in variance matters, housing certifications in builder's remedy cases and zoning issues, and has served as a court master in affordable housing cases. He served as the governor's representative to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission,which he chaired for two years, and served as a member of the Pinelands Commission from 1982 to 1985. He is a licensed professional planner in New Jersey and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is a graduate of Rutgers University, where he earned a Master of City and Regional Planning degree.

Newcomb replaces former plannerMark Remsa, who asked not to be considered for re-appointment this year.