Morris County is spending $22.3 million and anticipating savings of $2.3 million over 15 years.  Rutgers spent $10 million to have “7,600 panels convert sunlight into electricity, saving some $200,000 in energy costs this year.”  Now Union County wants to bond for $45 million to put solar panels on 49 buildings they’ve identified.

Even ignoring the time value of money it would take Rutgers 50 years and Morris County 145 years to turn a profit.  So what’s so hot about solar panels?

In the case of Union County, it’s all about vested interests seeing green, $233,819 to date, for a project they believe they can embarrass taxpayers into funding, no questions asked.  They tried in Cranford with the library and it didn’t work, as I was told.

As I understand it, the deal is that $45 million in bonds will be sold to pay private firms to install the panels.  Those firms will then pay off the debt service with money they get from charging the towns that sign up for electricity, which the towns would be obligated to purchase from those firms, for a fee high enough to pay off the debt and turn a profit.

It is a scheme that makes absolutely no fiscal sense except for DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick or anyone seeking campaign contributions from DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick*, which the executive director of the Union County Improvement Authority certainly is in her other job as Chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee.

See the light now?
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* Not to pick on DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick.  There are plenty of others, like the PMK/BSG Group which has so far billed $149,350 for this project.  They were formed in 2008 by the merger of two major campaign donors, PMK Group and Birdsall Services Group, which at about the time this scheme was being hatched by the all-Democratic Union County freeholder board gave $7,800 to the Union County Democratic candidates.

“The redactions were made so as not to reveal details of matters protected by the attorney-client privilege and/or relating to personnel matters and on-going investigation.”

On March 10, 2008, the Union County Watchdog Association requested two legal bills from a Union County Improvement Authority law firm, DeCotiis, FiztPatrick, Cole & Wisler dated 12/10/07 and 1/22/08 in the amount of $36,095.30 and $28,529.66 respectively.

On March 17, 2008, the UCIA records custodian responded to the request, and provided two heavily redacted invoices. Specifically, the “Date,” “Description,” and “Hours” fields were completely blotted out. In a rather obvious violation of the Open Public Records Act, the Records Custodian did not say why the records were redacted; she merely stated that “You will note that information has been redacted.”

A complaint was then filed with the State’s Government Records Council where it slowly meandered along with the GRC ordering in camera inspections of the records, etc. On September 30, 2009 the GRC voted unanimously that the custodian’s “deemed” denial of access appears negligent and heedless since she is vested with the legal responsibility of granting and denying access in accordance with the law.

My attorney, Walter Luers, settled with the UCIA and they will pay $900.00 in legal fees to him.

At this time I do not know how much DeCotiis, FiztPatrick, Cole & Wisler charged the taxpayers for handling this matter, nor do I know what all the costs are involving the attorney-client privilege and/or relating to personnel matters and the on-going investigation involved in this records dispute. Let’s just say Charlotte DeFilippo, the Union County Democrat Committee along with their secrecy and contempt for the public is all too much for overburdened taxpayers to have to put up with and leave it at that - for now. As far as I’m aware the investigation is still on-going; I’ll wait until it’s concluded to total all the costs to taxpayers.

Complaint and exhibits

Previosly reported: Charlotte Snared in Her Web

UNION COUNTY—The campaign treasurer accused of stealing money from the election fund of a former state assemblyman was admitted into a pretrial intervention (PTI) program over the objections of the state Attorney General’s office.

Rosemary McClave, 66, of Hillside, was indicted on March 23 with one count of third-degree theft by deception and six counts of third-degree tampering with public records.

READ MORE

Last Tuesday The Star-Ledger reported that Senator Raymond Lesniak and Nicholas Scaturi (both D-Union) questioned Attorney General’s Milligram’s nomination for N.J. civil rights chief. This gem of a quote was within the article:
“(Milgram is) choosing her personal friends for this position and not even considering New Jersey lawyers,” Lesniak said. “It’s worse than patronage. She’s practicing cronyism.”

Web definition of cronyism:
Favoritism shown to friends and associates (as by appointing them to positions without regard for their qualifications)

Definition in context:
The Union County Republican Committee questioned Salena Carroll’s qualifications to the post of Union County’s Emergency Management Planer; in a short time she was promoted from the title of “Community organization specialist” to “special assistant to the deputy county manager”. According to her Linkeden Page she is a Bureau Chief in charge of over 200 employees. There was no job posting or candidate search done for this position whose job duties include having to evacuate Union County residents if there should be a terrorist attack. Lesniak referred to Carroll as his girlfriend in a blog post.

Definition of nepotism: Favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)
Definition in context:
Senator Raymond Lesniak’s nephew was appointed to the position of Union County manager, after having had two part-time positions created for him at the county. No candidate search was done for any of these positions.

Lesniak must be a bit cranky with the Attorney General, why else would he be embarrassing a Democratic Governor whose in the heat of a tough re-election campaign?

Politickernj.com reported that Lesniak has taken up a collection for the Union County Democratic Chair, Charlotte DeFilippo’s defense fund. The attorney general has been investigating DeFilippo. Her close associate Rosemary McClave’s trial is set to start next week. Attorney General Anne Milgram charged the 66-year old McClave, former Assemblyman Neil Cohen’s campaign treasurer, with stealing money from his election fund to use for personal expenses.

If there is to be an indictment of DeFilippo it will happen before September 10th, which is the Thursday after Labor Day. This is unofficially the cut off date for indicting political figures before Election Day.

It would be a priceless piece of campaign front page news if Corzine can stand alongside his AG and announce the indictment of a major Democratic power broker. Especially in light of the F.B.I.’s stunning performance on this front last week. Corzine’s press conference where he stood alongside Milgram denouncing corruption, seemingly to take credit for the F.B.I. sting, was just a reminder of what a poor job Corzine has done in the fight against corruption.

The heat is on and Ray lesniak let us see him sweat.

A former Union County employee of 18 years, Robert Travisano, is claiming in a law suit that he was forced to retire in lieu of termination. The county manager is singularly left if the case and has two remaining causes of action against him pending: aiding and abetting discrimination and political affiliation discrimination. The judge let the “Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders” out of the case because he found that they were not the employer here, the County of Union was.

Perhaps the judge didn’t take into account Union County’s particular form of government, which is the county manager form. The freeholders appoint the county manager in this case, therefore wouldn’t everyone at the county work for them?

The trial will begin on Monday, March 30, and it is promising to be a real soap opra with a long list of witnesses scheduled to take the stand. Testimony will air the dirty laundry of not only the workings of county government, but the behind the closed door policial influense of the Union County Democratic Committee on county government business.

The case will be heard in Morris County after Travisano successfully petitioned the court for a change of venue – which is a must read for a disturbing glimpse into the politics of the Union County courthouse.

This lawsuit has cost the taxpayers to date: $308,354.00

Union County resolutions appropriating funds to date: $219,500
Breakdown: Edward Kologi, Esq. - $60,000; Bauch Zucker Hatfield, LLC - $45,000; Palumbo & Renaud - $40,000; LaCorte, Budy, Varady & Kinsella - $20,000; Schenck, Price, Smith & King, - 54,500

Union County Improvement Authority legal bills paid to date: DeCotiis Fitzpatrick - $88,854

Background info and legal briefs can be found HERE.

Apparently the Elizabeth campus of the Union County Vo-Tech school will be closing at the end of this term. I would link to an article on the closing but I can’t find one. I only learned about it at the Union County freeholder meeting this week when about 40 students attended to protest and wound up getting a lesson in real-world civics.

The state seems to have reduced funding and the school is not high enough on the list of county priorities to merit saving. The students and one teacher made their points very well. The freeholders appeared sympathetic and invited all to a second-floor meeting to discuss it. I hope that made them feel better because that’s all they can hope for with this strategy. Ask Oak Ridge golfers who’ve seen this same dance.

The decision to close Oak Ridge golf course was finalized at a Wednesday night freeholder finance committee meeting. Earlier that same day a group of people interested in preserving the course were granted an audience at the UC Administration building hosted by Parks Director Alfred Faella. Despite some valid points they accomplished nothing.

County manager George Devanney recommended closing the course as part of his 2009 proposed budget based partially on some guidance from the National Golf Course Owners Association. But, as the golfers noted, the NGCOA is an organization of private golf courses that is actively looking to quell competition from public courses. If you have a public course you want closed, they’ve got a study for you.

The golfers also made suggestions at comment time of freeholder meetings. But though their appeals were convincing I couldn’t help but think (even before freeholder Estrada told them flat out that the closing was a ‘done deal’) that they were at the wrong time and months too late. That decisions had already been elsewhere. But where and when?

Years ago in Kenilworth I heard there used to be Saturday morning meetings at Charlie Vitale’s house to set policy. I can’t confirm what happened there since it conflicted (and still does) with my Saturday morning basketball games* but it leaves me with this persistent feeling, whenever I see a resolution or ordinance appear on the agenda which nobody at the ‘official’ meetings ever suggested, that the germination process is off-site.

Maybe the freeholders make choices, beyond steak or chicken, at the dinners before their meetings where they are assured of privacy. More likely the decisions are made for them. But where?

From my outsider perspective of Union County politics it’s either by Democratic Committee Chair Charlotte DeFilippo or state senator Raymond Lesniak (county manager George Devanney’s uncle). If I wanted action on some issue of importance to me I would go to them first just as I would have skipped a Saturday game and invited myself to those Kenilworth meetings.

It’s too late for the golfers but I would encourage those Vo-Tech students to take their case to those who have the real power to do something about it. Hillside is not that far away and Tribeca is worth visiting since DeNiro got that film festival going.
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* We’re playing at 10 at Sports University in Fairfield for the winter (which these days means all year except July and August) and we could some players who still have a few years left (i.e. not too good but not Obama/bowling bad either) to get it back to $10.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Walter Luers, esq., Phone: 908.453.2147, Email: wluers@luerslaw.com
Tina Renna, President, Union County Watchdog Association, Phone: 908-709-0530, Email: tinarenna@unioncountywatchdog.org

UNION COUNTY WATCHDOG ASSOCIATION FILES RECORDS COMPLAINT OVER UNION COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY’S LACK OF RESPONSE TO ROUTINE OPRA REQUEST

The Union County Watchdog Association (“UCWA”) announced that attorney Walter Luers has filed a complaint on their behalf against the Union County Improvement Authority with the states Government Records Council, which is charged with enforcing the provisions of the states Open Public Records Act.

The UCWA routinely requests documents from the UCIA and then uploads them to their website for free public access. The county does not do this on their taxpayer funded site. The complaint filed with the GRC on January 15, 2009 alleges that on November 3, 2008, through its President, Tina Renna, UCWA filed an OPRA request with the Union County Improvement Authority (“UCIA”). In that request, UCWA requested a meeting agenda, 2 meeting minutes and paid bills lists. To date the UCWA has not received a response from the UCIA.

On December 1, 2008, Ms. Renna asked about “the status of her request” via email to the UCIA and attached a copy of the request to the email. She received no response.

On December 3, 2008, Ms. Renna called the UCIA and spoke with an employee who told her that the request had been “received” and that it was “forwarded to the lawyers.”

After receiving no response from the UCIA’s employees or “lawyers” Ms. Renna had no choice but to turn to council. “I regret that this simple clerical task is now going to cost Union County Taxpayers several thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees” stated Ms. Renna.

The UCWA is also asking the GRC to investigate whether the Records Custodian’s actions where knowing and willful and violated OPRA and denied access under the totality of the circumstances, warranting a fine of up to $1,000. “The request here for agendas and bill lists is straightforward and easy to fulfill. No attorney review of these documents should be required” wrote attorney Walter Luers in the complaint. “Even after the Complainant reminded the Records Custodian that this request was outstanding, the Records Custodian took no discernable action to respond to the request. Therefore, the Custodian’s actions here would appear to be greater than mere negligence, and would appear to rise to the level of a knowing and willful violation.”

“This is another red flag waving in the faces of the taxpayers of Union County. We are besieged by incompetence brought on by rampant cronyism. The UCIA is obviously not functioning if it can’t perform simple clerical tasks and has to rely on expensive outside council to process routine OPRA requests” said Tina Renna.

In 1999 the democrats took control of the freeholder board and replaced a part-time Union County Improvement Authority director position with a salary of $40,000. Union County Democratic Chairman Charlotte DeFilippo was hired for the position and her salary in 2000 was set at $104,000. DeFilippo’s current salary is $143, 409.

Despite her $143,410 county position it has been alledged that DeFilippo never leaves her house. An employee lawsuit filed in July of 2007, charges, among other things, that she routinely ordered county department heads to her home to hire and fire employees. “I personally witnessed that there were no working computers at 10 Cherry Street where the Improvement Authority is supposed to be doing business” said Tina Renna. “When I brought this up during public comment at a freeholder meeting I noticed a change on the Improvement Authorities bills list the following month – they started paying for internet service”.

The UCWA has asked the States Government Records Council to find that the county violated the Open Public Records act and award the UCWA a reasonable attorney’s fee. “It is unfortunate that the taxpayers are not only forced to suffer with the county’s irresponsible spending but they are also forced to foot legal bills for the county’s efforts to keep information regarding how their property tax dollars are being spent from them” said Renna.

In 2007 the county settled out of court a UCWA complaint which challenged the county’s charging an $8.00 an hour fee when the watchdog group placed an Open Public Records Act request for back up documentation supporting certain county expenditures found in the county check registry. This resulted in the taxpayers having to pay $1,857.45 in legal bills to the UCWA’s attorney. Included in the documents obtained were bills for freeholder meeting refreshments, travel expenses, a catered luncheon, home internet bills, and DunkinDonuts receipts for Sheriff Ralph Frohlich.

A funny debate is going on in Monmouth County where Democrats have taken over the majority of the freeholder seats.

Last week the Asbury Park Press reported that after taking control of the freeholder board Democrats in Monmouth County continued pushing to fund the creation of an inspector general’s office to investigate and resolve complaints of fraud, conflicts of interest, corruption and criminal activities within the government. It’s been reported that high-ranking state Democrats circulated a list last month of Monmouth County government jobs for which they were seeking qualified people, including the inspector general post.

Now here’s the funny part: An e-mail sent by the office of Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, D-Union, who is also the chairman of the Democratic State Committee, to Rutgers officials — in seeking help to find candidates for the various county positions — stated that the inspector general would be paid between $95,000 and $105,000 and would need experience in “law enforcement or judicial activities.”

If Assemblyman Cryan used his legislative office to conduct a job search for Monmouth County wouldn’t that be a misuse of his public office? And by the way, when Assemblyman Cryan applied for his Union County Undersheriff’s position did he beat out anyone with law enforcement experience?

Republican Monmouth county freeholders said they wanted to review any job applications collected by Cryan’s office, but the Democratic freeholders said they wanted the hiring process to be handled completely by the freeholder board. How does Cryan find time to be an honorary member of the Monmouth County freeholder board?

At least two other New Jersey counties, Mercer and Middlesex, have their own inspectors general. Somehow I don’t think an Inspector General hired by the freeholders and the appointed county manager, who is Senator Raymond Lesniak’s nephew, would turn up anything here in Union County. This person would be reporting to the same people that have power over the position and in a politically charged atmosphere it stands to reason it would be used as a weapon against enemies, and they already have Prosecutor Romankow.

If the Union County Prosecutor’s office has a unit that specializes in public corruption I’ve never heard from them. But to be fair, I’ve never trusted the office to ask them to investigate anything beyond whether the freeholders were violating the Open Public Meetings Act, and the prosecutor’s office did find that they were.

We don’t need no stinkin’ badges here in Union County to ferret out waste, a forensic audit conducted by an outside firm of Union County departments would do the trick. It only makes sense doesn’t it? Assemblyman Joseph Cryan should ask for one pronto and it would be perfectly above board if he did it from his Union County Undersheriff’s office.

Imagine if Union County had an Inspector General, hired by the all-Democrat controlled freeholder board (a.k.a. Charlotte DeFilippo). Would the Inspector investigate how many hours Assemblyman Joseph Cryan puts in at his county job and if he is performing non-county business while there? How does a man hold down a full-time job as an undersheriff, hold an elective office as an assemblyman, be chair to the State Democratic committee as well as Union Township’s, where it’s been reported he handles the hiring of employees there as well, and yet still find time to job search for Monmouth County and be an honorary member of their freeholder board? Fantastic isn’t he!

In 1999 the democrats took control of the freeholder board and replaced a part-time Union County Improvement Authority director position with a salary of $40,000. Union County Democratic Chairman Charlotte DeFilippo was hired for the position and her salary in 2000 was set at $104,000. Charlotte’s current salary is $143, 409.

Since Assemblyman Cryan is so concerned about corruption and waste in Monmouth county you would think he’d have a ready explanation as to why his Sheriff’s department last year added 6 new captain positions. Coincidently DeFilippo’s daughter-in-law scored 7th on the Lieutenant’s exam and she needed a spot to move up to. The promotions waiting list was replaced with a new one. A public explanation was never given as to why we needed these new captains’ positions. which added approximately $300,000 annually to the payroll.

Despite her $143,410 county position it has been said that DeFilippo never leaves her house. An employee lawsuit charges, among other things, that she routinely ordered county department heads to her home to hire and fire employees. I personally witnessed that there were no working computers at 10 Cherry Street where the Improvement Authority is supposed to be doing business. When I brought this up during public comment at a freeholder meeting I noticed a change on the Improvement Authorities bills list the following month – they started paying for internet service.

No inspector general needed here – the County Watchers are volunteering their services as investigators and any county law enforcement personnel can sweep in and clean up Union County government any minute now. That’s a laugh riot isn’t it?

Will the Monmouth County Inspector General be instructed by the freeholder board to investigate nepotism and cronyism and set her to find out why the State Democratic Chairman is involved with county hiring’s? Will the State Democratic Chairman push Union County government to follow Monmouth county’s lead and start cracking down on themselves? These and so many other mysteries are waiting to be solved. Stay tuned to the same blog channel.

When you push for someone’s silence via a lawsuit, you had better have nothing to hide. When you sue someone that gives that person the opportunity to conduct discovery. Depositions give the person you’re suing a chance to have their attorneys question you under oath.

A libel lawsuit was thrown out recently; it was filed by the county spokesperson Sebastian D’Elia, he is the public information officer for the Union County Freeholders. The suit was against me, Patricia Quattrocchi and the Elizabeth Reporter. Although being involved in a lawsuit is unpleasant, the upside was I could ask all about D’Elia’s involvement with freeholder campaigns and D’Elia didn’t disappoint. He confirmed my suspicions and admitted to working on campaigns during work hours.

County employees can be seen all over on Election Day, on the campaign trail when freeholders give interviews to the press and at campaign debates. They can also be found on ELEC reports getting paid for campaign work.

I’ve compared the Union County Public Information department to other county’s and found that Union is spending the most, some counties do without this department. I’ve counted up Union County press releases churned out by this department, which they consider public information, and found that the lions share in any particular year features the three freeholders that are up for re-election.

During a deposition the county spokesperson admitted to working on campaigns during work hours.

The county spokesperson verbally communicates his intentions to take time off, including vacation days, personal days and comp time to the county manager. He doesn’t submit a form, nor did he mention email. The process is all verbal. The county manager is George Devanney, former State Democratic Chairman and Senator Raymond Lesniak’s nephew.

An OPRA request in 2005 seeking the county spokesperson’s days off came with a disclaimer from the clerk “this record may contain errors or omissions”. When I questioned this, I received a letter from county council which stated in part “there appear to be duplicative and/or incorrect entries in the attendance records of Sebastian D’Elia (missing data)”. Therefore there is no accountability of when D’Elia is on campaign time or taxpayer time.

The county spokesperson admitted to a wide variety of campaign activities including prepping freeholders for their debates. “I’ve distributed flyers. I’ve stuffed envelops I’ve made phone calls. I’ve got out the vote, knocked on doors.”

The county spokesperson stated that he does not use his county issued computer to work on partisan political campaign materials, he uses his personal laptop, which he brings into the office in the Union County Administration Building. He stated he doesn’t use his laptop inside the building. When asked “What would be the reason you would bring your laptop to the office?” He replied “I – well, I always carry my laptop around with me, in case I have to leave the office and do – do work, you know, someplace else. I don’t have a county laptop, so I can use that laptop in case I need to have something around during emergency.”

The county spokesperson also admitted to writing for campaigns, although he didn’t have a copy of what he described as a letter where he “Just talked about some of the accomplishments the Board did. That was it.”

In 2005 a letter tailored to each town was mailed to all residents, it talked about some of the accomplishments the Board did. The letter was printed in the County print shop and was mailed using county postage.

When asked who instructed him on where to go on one Election Day he replied in part “I asked Charlotte DeFilippo where she needed me.” Charlotte DeFilippo is the Chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee

D’Elia’s present annual salary is $107,135. The county manager outlined a justification for a promotion in 2005.

Excerpts from the deposition of Sebastian D’Elia, begins with question regarding compensation for working on campaigns

Previously posted:
Chronicle of Harassment

Charlotte DeFilippo will not be hosting the Union County Democratic Committee’s annual League of Municipalities party in her hotel suite this year. This is when all her fans literally stand in a line to pay homage to her greatness. Chatter is that Charlotte will be indicted any minute now. To date there is no party scheduled for the county dems in AC this year.

Details are sketchy, but some sort of re-organization occurred at last nights Union County Improvement Authority meeting. Employee’s Shawn Faun and Ron Zuber were switched from the Authorities payroll to the county’s Parks and Recreation payroll.

However, the beat goes on for Lesniak’s nephew. A county vendor supplied tickets to county manager George Devanney and 4 of his buddies, all county employees, to the Who concert last week.