JACKSON - The U.S. Justice Department and the New Jersey State Attorney General's Office are investigating whether the township has discriminated against Orthodox Jews in land-use issues, according to Township Attorney Joan Cipriani.

Cipriani made the announcement at Wednesday's township council meeting as she fielded questions about a resolution aimed at curtailing one legal battle. Township officials signed off on an interim settlement allowing members of the Orthodox Jewish community to seek permission from utility companies to build eruvin – key religious symbols allowed in public rights of way with little fanfare in many other communities. Jackson had previously banned such construction. The video above explains what an eruv is and why they significantly affect life in the Orthodox Jewish community.

"The township has been involved in a fair amount of litigation," said Cipriani, who did not elaborate on the inquiries. "There’s investigations by the Department of Justice and the Attorney General's Office all pertaining to these land issues in town."

More:Jackson OKs eruv deal for Orthodox Jewish community

More:Jackson eruv can be built, Orthodox Jews still hope for school

Avi Schnall, state director for Augadath Israel, an Orthodox Jewish advocacy nonprofit, said he welcomed the news about the federal and state investigations. He declined to answer whether he had been contacted by investigators.

“Jackson Township has definitely introduced some ordinances over the past few years that are quite questionable and we are sort of comforted in knowing that the Attorney General is looking into it," Schnall said.

The township's turnabout was not unexpected. In October, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino filed suit against Mahwah, contending that a pair of township ordinances discriminated against Orthodox Jews. One of the measures banned the posting of “lechis,” little plastic strips denoting the boundary of an eruv. In announcing the suit, Porrino made plain that other local governments could be targeted.

“In addition to being on the wrong side of history, the conduct of Mahwah’s Township Council is legally wrong, and we intend to hold them accountable for it,” Porrino said in a statement. “To think that there are local governments here in New Jersey, in 2017, making laws on the basis of some archaic, fear-driven and discriminatory mindset is deeply disappointing and shocking to many, but it is exactly what we are alleging in this case. Of course, in this case we allege the target of the small-minded bias is not African-Americans, but Orthodox Jews. Nonetheless, the hateful message is the same.”

More:Jackson eruv ban motivated by anti-Semitism, lawsuit says

More:Orthodox Jewish eruvs won't be regulated in Toms River

The interim settlement authorized Wednesday also allows the township to open negotiations about Orthodox Jewish schools and dormitories, both the subject of bans.

The settlement resolution passed, 4 to 1, with Councilman Scott Martin being the only vote against it.

Martin said he didn't oppose eruvin, saying they did nothing to "affect others' quality of life," but said he was concerned about a portion of the settlement resolution that allowed for discussion about the possibility of building schools with dormitories in town. "I can't envision myself being in favor of schools with dorms," Martin said.

To the naked eye an eruv is simply a wire, usually strung between multiple utility poles that have strips of plastic piping attached to it.

In Jewish law, the wires symbolically extend the boundaries of the home to the surrounding area – allowing Orthodox Jews to push stroller and carry everything from keys to children.

Without eruvin or lechis, practicing Jews can only carry such objects within the home itself on the Sabbath and certain holidays.

More:Jackson looks at background checks after Zoning Board resignations

More:Jackson zoning board member resigns, online anti-Semitism disclosed

Several speakers lined up Wednesday evening to oppose the eruv resolution, including Bob Skinner, 52.

"If you do cave in, I'm very fearful that the ordinances of the town, the quasi-borders that we have in our town and virtually everything else we do including having our master plan (for land use) in place will be deemed useless or very weak," Skinner said.

Over the last few years, clashes over changing culture have intensified in Jackson as its Orthodox Jewish community continues to expand.

Discussions about real estate solicitations, a Lakewood-based first aid squad and construction of schools and dormitories have boiled over into hot-button issues at public meetings and social media forums.

June 2014: The Zoning Board rejected plans for an all-girls' Orthodox high school. A state judge upheld the rejection last year.

The Zoning Board rejected plans for an all-girls' Orthodox high school. A state judge upheld the rejection last year. August 2015: The council strengthened its "no-knock" ordinance after residents complained of aggressive real estate solicitors – identified as Orthodox Jews – who wouldn't take no for an answer.

The council strengthened its "no-knock" ordinance after residents complained of aggressive real estate solicitors – identified as Orthodox Jews – who wouldn't take no for an answer. August 2016: The township filed a blockbusting complaint with the state and federal Justice Departments after video of a rabbi calling on Orthodox Jews to be "shtickle pioneers" and settle in Jackson went viral within the community.

The township filed a blockbusting complaint with the state and federal Justice Departments after video of a rabbi calling on Orthodox Jews to be "shtickle pioneers" and settle in Jackson went viral within the community. July 2017: The township banned the construction of all schools and dormitories except in a few tiny areas, drawing a lawsuit from Agudath Israel. Many Jewish schools rely on such dormitories as a matter of course.

The Attorney General's Office and the Department of Justice could not be immediately reached for comment.

Mordechai Burnstein, president of the Jackson Eruv Association, said he was surprised to hear the news about the investigation. "I hope that everything works out for the Greater Jackson community as a whole. I trust authorities to do their job. … I’m hoping the divisions in town can be healed."

While welcoming the state and federal inquiries, Schnall said the council action Wednesday could mark a turning point for Jackson.

He said "we are very encouraged by the action taken by the council taken last night regarding the eruv ordinance. Much has done in the past, but the council is recognizing perhaps that the mistakes were made. We definitely are appreciative of their gesture last night on voting for a new resolution that would allow eruvin."

Staff writer Mike Davis contributed to this report. Austin Bogues 732-643-4009; abogues@gannettnj.com