MONTVILLE - The battle of Montville may not be over.

Reports say the township committee plans to appeal a court decision, thereby continuing a legal fight with its own board of adjustment.

Yes, this is a board made up of people appointed by the township committee.

In a statement read at a recent committee meeting, the mayor, Matthew Kayne, said this is "not a case about the township being in suit with itself."

Of course, it certainly is precisely that.

The board of adjustment is part of township government. It is not an independent entity.

As such, taxpayers are presumably paying legal fees for both sides.

The core issue is about development - always a flash point.

Specifically, the adjustment board approved variances to sanction construction of a senior citizen project (266 units) near Routes 202 and 287.

It is no surprise that there was opposition. There is opposition to just about everything these days.

The "story" here is not the opposition, but that the committee sued its own board.

A Superior Court ruling earlier this summer dismissed the suit, saying the board acted properly.

Here's a key point.

The obligation of the board of adjustment is to do its job and follow the law. It is not to do what the township committee wants.

Nonetheless, it looks like the committee will take the case to the state Appellate Division.

There is politics everywhere, although it may be muted a bit here.

None of the five members on the all-Republican committee are seeking reelection.

The two Republicans running, Chris Fano and Daria Senaldi, won a close primary.

Democrats have been more or less an afterthought in township politics for some time.

But this episode, at least, gives them an issue to talk about.