Brian Bergen, an Army veteran and freshman assemblyman, has just picked a fight with one of the towns in his 25th District – Mine Hill.

Everyone involved here is a Republican, so partisan politics is not the issue.

American Legion Post 391 is.

Bergen, who lives a few miles to the east in Denville, is annoyed that the township is trying to collect property taxes on the Legion property on Maple Street. The estimated bill would be slightly more than $16,000 a year.

In a letter to the Mine Hill Council, Bergen says he is the registered agent for the post and that this is no way to treat veterans. And he says it’s “unconscionable” that the township took its action without informing anyone associated with the Legion. He wants the council to “repeal” its attempt to force the Legion to pay taxes.

Like many disputes, this one does not seem so cut and dry.

Bergen acknowledges in his letter that the Legion has had some recent problems, including “allegations of wrongdoing by the (former) post leadership.” He said he was picked to investigate such accusations and that he concluded new leadership is needed.

But now the township wants the Legion to pay property taxes, a move that Bergen says lacks professionalism and common courtesy.

Sam Morris, the mayor of Mine Hill, takes a different approach.

He said that in his mind, the dispute “is not a political matter.”

Morris said that because of past problems alluded to in Bergen’s letter, Post 391 has not functioned as an American Legion Post for years. As a non-profit, the Legion is exempt from paying property taxes.

But Morris said that exemption ends if the non-profit ceases operations for at least one year. So with that being the case with Post 391. the council moved to make the property taxable at its June 18 meeting.

Technically, the council asked the Morris County Tax Board to change the Legion’s tax-exempt status.

The mayor says the township wants the Legion Post to become operational again, but that hasn’t happened to date.

The Post building is also up for sale with a real estate listing price of $339,900.

While this matter in itself may not be “political,” it’s hard to avoid politics when a local assemblyman is criticizing a town council in his district.

Bergen just got elected last fall and Morris’ name has popped up a few times as someone who may be interested in political positions outside the confines of Mine Hill.

So let’s see what, if anything, happens next.