Court denies Bryan’s reinstatement request; prosecutor takes over internal affairs

A Superior Court judge today denied EPD chief Thomas Bryan’s request to be immediately reinstated.  An April 15 disciplinary hearing will go forward as scheduled.  The April 15 hearing will come the morning after the township council’s nighttime meeting where it has subpoenaed the mayor and her aides to answer questions.

In other news, the Middlesex County Prosecutor has taken over, or superseded, the EPD Internal Affairs Department.  County prosecutors have been known to take over an entire police department, or parts of it, when needed to ensure justice is being served.

Star Ledger coverage here. Home News coverage here with photo.

Committee of the Whole scheduled

The Next Special Council Meeting, which is a meeting of its Committee of the Whole, is scheduled for Thursday, April 14, 2011 at Herbert Hoover Middle School, 174 Jackson Avenue, at 6:00 P.M.

This is the second of a potentially long series of meetings where the council questions mayor Antonia Ricigliano and two of her aides, management specialist Bill Stephens and business administrator Dennis Gonzalez about township business.

Legislative redistricting (updated)

Round 1 of the legislative redistricting process is now complete.  Now we wait to see whether the Republicans, Tea Partiers, minority voting coalitions, or others, will sue to invalidate the map.

Assuming the map holds, it will not have a substantial impact on Edison, which is in the 18th Legislative District (now represented by Barbara Buono, Peter Barnes III and Patrick Diegnan).  The 18th will remain as-is, except it will lose  Spotswood and gain Highland Park.

This decision avoids the absolute mess that an earlier version of the map had proposed: merging Edison and Woodbridge, and leaving Buono to face Joseph Vitale in a Senate primary.

On the other hand, this shift makes the district slightly more progressive, which is good for Buono but which may make things more difficult for the pro-life Peter Barnes.

Interestingly, Highland Park was formed out of Raritan Township (as Edison was then known) in 1905.  With this new map, Edison and Highland Park will again have a political connection.

We won’t know until April 11 whether there will be any partisan challengers to the Buono-Barnes-Diegnan team.  That’s the day nominating petitions are due for Democrats and Republicans seeking seats in the Legislature (and all other county and local offices, for that matter).  Independents who want to make a run for the seat have until June 7, the day of the primary election, to file petitions.

Edison man sentenced for money laundering

From the U.S. Attorney:

Nilesh Dasondi, owner of Sterling System LLC (formerly Cygate Software & Consulting) and a former member of the Edison Township Zoning Board, was sentenced today to six months in prison for money laundering in connection with the trafficking in immigration documents used to procure H-1B Visas and Green Cards for ineligible or unqualified Indian nationals, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

More information is available from the U.S. Attorney website.

SUBPOENAS! (updated)

The Star-Ledger is reporting that the FBI has served subpoenas on 4 Edison officials about “two people who sued the township under a prior administration.”

Link here.

A copy of the subpoena can be found as an attachment to this letter.

Edison High School Choir to host fundraiser for competition trip

EDISON, NJ: The Edison High School Choir will be hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 7p.m. at the Edison High School choir room in Edison, New Jersey. The Edison High School Choir is raising money to fly to Chicago, Illinois to compete in “Festivals of Music National Choir Competition.”

The fundraiser will consist of a concert featuring Edison High School alumni, Justin Pollinger, Abena Mensah-Bonsu, and Community Theatre favorites Joseph Nelan and Ali Gleason as well as members of the Edison High School Choir. The performers will take part in a compilation of musical theatre solos, duets, trios, and ensemble pieces. Refreshments will be offered as well as fun games and prizes, all in exchange of a $5 donation per person. Groups of 10 get discounted rate of $4 per person.

“I’m happy to be back in my second home, and help raise funds for the choir,” says Justin Pollinger, of Edison High School’s 2007 class. “It is going to be a couple of hours of fun and entertainment, musical theatre, a performance from the choir, refreshments, and games! What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?” Patricia Vazquez, fundraiser coordinator states, “It’s a family event, both adults and children will have a great time!”

Nine candidates file for Board of Education seats

The following people have filed petitions seeking the three open seats on the Board of Education this year:

William F. Brunner
Arthur Esposito
Anu Garrison
Frank Heelan
Anthony F. Massaro
Gene I. Maeroff (inc.)
Sapana Shah
William H. Van Pelt (inc.)
Lois Yukna

Incumbent Aimee Szilagyi did not file a petition seeking re-election. The vote will be held on April 27. If you need to register to vote or get a mail-in ballot for this election, please follow the links on the right.

Spicuzzo charged with misconduct, resigns as MCDO chair

Joe Spicuzzo, the long-time Middlesex County sheriff who left the post last year after 30 years on the job, was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint today with pattern of official misconduct and bribery.  Each charges carries a maximum of sentence of 10 years in prison, with a five-year minimum.

The charges allege that

on two or more occasions from 2007 to 2008, while serving as county sheriff, Spicuzzo demanded that different individuals pay him bribes in return for him appointing them as new sheriff’s investigators or promoting them within the sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s officers are hired through the civil service system, but sheriff’s investigators are appointed by the sheriff. It is alleged that Spicuzzo solicited and accepted individual bribes of up to $25,000 from new hires for investigator positions. He allegedly took bribes totaling at least $50,000.

By early afternoon, Spicuzzo resigned his position as chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, a position he had held for 16 years.  Helen Gottlieb of Edison, the vice-chair, has assumed leadership of the organization.

The press release from the Attorney General’s office announcing the charges can be found here.

Star-Ledger coverage of the developments can be found here and here.

The charges and allegations against Spicuzzo contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

WAR – EXECUTIVE vs. LEGISLATIVE!

The showdown between Edison mayor Antonia Ricigliano and the Edison Council will occur on February 28, 2011 at 7pm in the Council meeting room, at 100 Municipal Blvd., Edison.

For more coverage, see here and here.

School board elections 2011

Candidates considering running for Edison Board of Education in 2010 have until Tuesday, March 8, 2011, to file their nominating petitions.

Each nominating petition, available from the Board of Education, only has to have 10 valid signatures from voters registered in Edison.  To run, a candidate must be a registered voter and a resident of Edison for 1 year.

Incumbents Gene Maeroff, William Van Pelt and Aimee Szilagyi are coming to the end of their 3 year terms. It is unknown whether any or all of them will be running for re-election.

Potential candidates and voters can obtain more information from the NJ School Boards Association or the Edison Board of Education.