Highlands Council chairman steps down due to 'personal issues'

Roxbury Councilman Jim Rilee stepped down as chairman of the Highlands Council Thursday, after seven years on the state board that oversees protection of the water supply for 5.4 million New Jersey Highlands Region residents.

Rilee, appointed in 2011 by then-Gov. Chris Christie, announced his resignation at the council's meeting in Chester Township.

"It's been a long time coming," Rilee said. "I was planning to step down last year, but I was hoping to get some of the regional master plan review work done that we were working on."

Rilee is one of eight Christie holdovers on the unpaid 15-seat council that frequently deals with the controversial balance between safety of the water supply and the rights of land owners in the area. 

He informed Gov. Phil Murphy of his intentions last month via letter.

"I would assume [Murphy] would want to appoint the chair, as he is entitled and should be entitled to do," Rilee said.

Politcs, though, did not factor into his decision. Rilee and his wife recently took custody of their granddaughter, Annabelle, 9. Annabelle is the daughter of Rilee's daughter, Jody Rilee-Wilson, who was found dead nine years ago in Oklahoma. Her husband, Donald Lee Bocephus "Bo" Wilson, will stand trial for her murder in the summer.

"It's more about personal issues," Rilee said about his resignation. "My granddaughter is living with us now and it's really about spending more time with family."

Rilee continues to sit on the Roxbury Township Council, where he has also served several terms as mayor over the past 18 years.

Murphy's office said the governor was out of town and unavailable for comment. Council Vice Chairman Kurt Alstede has assumed the chairmanship on an interim basis.

"Kurt's more in tune with the Act than anyone I've known," Rilee said. "He has been there since Day 1. I have zero concern about Kurt Alstede."

"I want to thank Jim for the time he's given to the council," said Alstede, owner-operator of Alstede Farms in Chester Township. "It's a huge task. None of the council members are paid and it can often be a thankless role. To Jim's credit, he stuck in that role through seven years and some pretty tough issues."

The Highlands Water and Protection Act, signed into law in 2004 by then-Gov. James McGreevey restricts development in the region, which includes most of Morris County and crosses into Passaic, Bergen, Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex and Somerset counties.

The restrictions are designed to protect the water supply and biodiversity in the region, but critics say it unduly restricts the development rights of land owners in the region.

"That's a difficult council and it's grappling with issues that affect the value of people's property, which has been a sore subject for many of us for many years since the Highlands Act was enacted," said Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, "So many people's property was rendered undevelopable without any kind of compensation."

Rilee listed among his proudest accomplishments on the council a permanent protection of more than 1,000 Highlands acres and providing more than $13.7 million to property owners through HDC program.

Council critics including Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, say the Christie appointees did more to help developers than protect the environment.

“Christie said he wanted to get rid of the Highlands Act. The Legislature wouldn’t let him, so he appointed people on the council to weaken the plan,” Tittel said. “With this replacement on the council, Gov. Murphy can appoint someone who will support the Highlands law.”

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Bucco said he sees the issue differently, and feels Rilee's efforts were merited.

"They were able to help relax some of the regulations to allow development, but nothing near what the property values were worth before the Highlands was enacted," Bucco said. "There's still a long, long way to go, and the state still has not lived up to its obligations to be able to compensate people for what they lost. But Jim was able to lead the board in that direction, recognizing that fact."

"I didn't get done as much as I would like to have done, but we were able to put some money into protecting home owners' pockets," Rilee said. "Not nearly enough, but we don't have the ability to raise funds."

Alstede has no expectations that Murphy will keep him on as chairman, but said he hopes to continue on the council. With one seat already open, and Rilee's resignation, 13 people remain on the 15-seat board, which requires eight votes to pass measures. Alstede expects at least one more council member to resign shortly.

One of two founding members of the council, Alstede was appointed by McGreevey in 2004.

"I recognize that my acting role could be extremely short-lived," Alstede said. "[Murphy] could appoint someone on Monday for all I know. On the other hand, I'm happy to do it."

"While there are several opinions on the intent and outcome of the Act, one of my key goals was to help provide fair compensation for values lost on land in the preservation area and the severe financial impact it had on the property owners," Rilee wrote in his resignation letter to Murphy. "I hope that your office will take this into consideration as you and your staff moves forward with actions in the region and appointments to the council."

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.