A mayor in Burlington County, New Jersey, is defending his actions after a heated confrontation with a resident during a township council meeting Wednesday night was caught on video. Pemberton Township Mayor Matthew Bianchini was seen storming across the front of the podium toward resident Michae l Sawka during a council meeting. The confrontation happened as the township’s director of community development was appealing his termination to council. Some residents opposed the firing and became vocal during the meeting. Bianchini said tensions escalated when two people in the audience began taunting him and one allegedly made a gesture toward his daughter. “The breaking point for me was when he turned around and looked at my daughter and did a hand gesture toward her where I stood up. He looked at me, gave me a smile, gave me the finger and I just snapped,” Bianchini said. Cellphone video obtained by the Pine Barrens Tribune shows the mayor being carried out of the room while shouting toward Sawka. “I’m getting you! I’m (expletive) getting you,” Bianchini can be heard saying in the video. Sawka immediately called for police to intervene. “He just threatened me! That’s on video! That’s on audio! I want the police here to arrest him for that threat. That’s assault!” Sawka said. Resident files complaint against mayor NBC10 spoke with Sawka outside the Pemberton Township Municipal Complex on Thursday afternoon. Sawka, who works as a part-time lawyer, said he remained upset about the confrontation and had filed a formal court complaint alleging assault and terroristic threats. “If he’s gonna do that in public, being like that, that’s kind of crazy. So, I did just file a court complaint for assault and terroristic threats against him. So, we’ll let that happen,” Sawka said. Sawka said he wants Bianchini to resign and stay out of politics. “I want to see him resign. I want to see him sign something that he’ll never be in politics again,” Sawka said. When asked whether he would consider withdrawing his complaint if Bianchini resigned, Sawka said he might. “Well, if he resigns, I might back out on that because that’s basically saying that he’s been wrong and ok,” Sawka said. Mayor says he won’t resign Bianchini acknowledged that his behavior was wrong but maintained that he believed his reaction was justified. “Was it wrong? Absolutely. Was it justified? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Absolutely,” Bianchini said. The mayor also said he does not believe his actions warrant criminal charges. “I don’t apologize for last night at all,” Bianchini said. Bianchini, who was appointed mayor by township council earlier this year, is running in November’s election. He said he has no intention of resigning. NBC10 reached out to the Pemberton Township Police Department on Thursday to ask whether charges would be filed. We have not yet received a response. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less