JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP - The all-Republican council in this rural town is under legal attack - but by whom?

Ah, that's the question.

A group called "Concerned Citizens for a Better Jefferson" recently filed suit against the township and two of its employees.

The allegations are legitimate. The suit claims that the council violated both the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the Open Public Meetings Act or Sunshine Law.

These maneuvers, the suit suggests, enabled the council to award salaries to some employees in excess of the town's own salary guide.

Broadly speaking, anyone who follows New Jersey politics knows that stuff like this can happen - especially in towns dominated by one party, which is quite common in the state.

At the same time, should not the individuals making the accusation identify themselves by name?

After all, the term, "Concerned Citizens ..." does not tell you much.

Just about everyone is concerned about something.

This was the main point made by Judge Stuart Minkowitz during a brief hearing on the case in state Superior Court, Morristown, on Monday afternoon. He called it a "threshold issue."

Marco DiStefano, the plaintiff's attorney, began  by speaking about a "pervasive pattern" of non-compliance by the council, but the judge quickly stopped him.

The lawyer for the township, Leslie A. Parikh, argued that an anonymous plaintiff does not have "standing."

Trying to get his case back on track, DiStefano said he was prepared to identify the plaintiffs.

This brings up an interesting point. Jefferson is not a metropolis.

There is no doubt that the council and everyone who cares about this knows who the plaintiff is. Officially, however, the plaintiffs are anonymous. Go figure.

A problem soon developed.

The judge said he was not sure DiStefano could amend the complaint by identifying the plaintiff at this junction in the proceedings.

He could have dismissed the case outright, but instead, Minkowitz gave DiStefano time to research the topic and submit a brief in time for a future hearing.

Just for the record, Eric Wilsusen, the township's mayor, released a statement after the suit was filed.

Here's a key part of what he said:

"As mayor, I recognize that public trust is essential and take all concerns from our community seriously. My administration will continue to operate with transparency and accountability while vigorously defending against claims we believe are inaccurate or mischaracterized. I think it is important to note that, as indicated in the lawsuit documents, the group that filed this matter has requested to remain anonymous as they claim to 'face a real and credible threat of political retaliation.'

I believe this civil action is politically motivated, an attempt to embarrass me and my administration for future political ambitions. I find it ironic that a group of supposed “Concerned Citizens” who claim to be concerned about fiscal accountability and transparency would go to the extreme of filing a civil lawsuit, which will incur significant legal fees, only to use taxpayer dollars to defend and then request anonymity. To date, no one has brought any of these alleged issues to my attention in an attempt to remedy them first."