'Outright lies': Dueling letters by Sussex GOP continue war of words over food pantry

NEWTON — Sussex County's divided Republican politics, and accusations about a food pantry program that a county official called "outright lies," again dominated the latest county commissioners' meeting Thursday.

The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter to the state Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney for northern New Jersey asking for any information about an alleged investigation of the food distribution program run out of the county-owned warehouse in Newton.

The letter, approved by the all-Republican board, was a response to a news release issued earlier in the week by Sparta attorney Robert Kovic, a candidate in the June 4 GOP primary for one of two nominations for this year's commissioner's race.

The motion to send the letter and a packet of supplemental information and documents to the state and federal officials was moved by Commissioner William Hayden, who went public with accusations against the pantry last year − allegations that commissioner's director Jill Space has called baseless.

"There is something morally and ethically wrong with people who target a volunteer run food pantry that feeds 46,000 just to try to win a political office or settle a political score," Space told the New Jersey Herald after the meeting.

In addition to being a candidate, Kovic is also former executive director of the county GOP. He has also spoken to the media in recent months on behalf of Hayden and a lawsuit he filed against county officials, after Hayden was censured by his fellow commissioners for allegedly fabricating his military record during his campaign.

As usual, Hayden left quickly after the meeting and did not stop to answer questions about his vote Thursday.

Kovic did not attend the meeting. In his letter, addressed to county Administrator Ron Tappan but also emailed to local media outlets, he requested a meeting to discuss the food pantry.

"It is my understanding that the FBI is in possession of several documents and currently collecting more background information on the matter and also about past and current officials and individuals involved in what could become a full investigation," he writes.

Kovic's wrote that he had "spoken with the agent assigned to this matter" twice in recent weeks. He did not provide any names or other documentation of those communications.

The pantry "insured by the County of Sussex, operated using county government equipment and by county personnel, does not follow routine health and safety protocols," Kovic wote to Tappan. "As I am sure you all agree, failing to follow basic food safety testing regimes endangers both the health of those who receive food products from the county food pantry, as well as the taxpayers of Sussex County who would ultimately be responsible for any legal liabilities."

Messages left with the FBI's Newark office on Friday were not immediately returned. The bureau, as a policy, typically does not comment on ongoing or potential cases to the media. A spokesman for state Attorney General Matthew Platkin declined to comment earlier this month, citing a similar policy.

While called a food pantry, the facility located at the rear of 83 Spring St. in Newton donates little of the food it receives directly to the public, although there is a sign at the rear entrance which gives instructions on how someone can get food in an emergency.

Instead, the pantry serves most often as a distribution center, storing non-perishable canned and boxed goods and sending them out to smaller pantries operated by municipalities or not-for-profit organizations such as churches.

Space, in her letter, said the program annually provides about 21,000 adult meals and 25,000 for children, including infant formula and baby food. Each week, between $8,000 to $10,000 worth of groceries is delivered, she said.

Since there is no perishable food nor any food preparation at the pantry, the facility is not subject to health inspections, Space said, just as the stockroom at a grocery store is not inspected by the health department.

While housed in a county facility, possibly since the 1950s, the operation is staffed by volunteers. Some of those volunteers are also county employees but are not paid by the county for their work there.

Much of the food is delivered weekly, directly by ShopRite trucks from the grocery chain's own warehouses. The volunteers in the facility have been given a ShopRite credit card to pay for those shipments. The credit card has been in use for several years and is in the name of a donor organization which pays the bills.

Last year, Hayden cited what he called irregularities and possible illegalities in the pantry's operations.

Hayden has made public accusations that the donor made cash payments to the county that have not been recorded. But the county says no cash is involved, just credit card receipts, ShopRite order forms and invoices for what is delivered.

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Space said in her letter that the commissioner board has been cautious in how it responds to the accusations, except to note that they are unaware of any contact between county employees and federal or state investigators. Several times in recent months, Space has asked board attorney Douglas Steinhardt if he was aware of any such inquiries. Steinhardt, who is also a state Senator, has said he knew of no contacts involving an investigation. (Steinhardt represents the 23rd legislative district, which does not include Sussex County.)

Space, in her comments after the meeting, again criticized Hayden, saying his "political career is built on half truths and outright lies about the food pantry."

Email: bscruton@njherald.com Twitter/X: @brucescrutonNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sussex official decries 'outright lies' about food pantry program