Pro^ieHy of th< y,ifcUiiAf TKithliif iLiiii 4th of July 2018 Fireworks Guide ^ U n io n C o u n t y ^ This special publication provides liK-al dates, times and information to help everyone enjoy the July 4th fun and festivities which ocal ource KVS» \ h IM<M arc happening throughout L S y., ..... the area. UNIONNEWSDAILY.CQM VOU1Q1 NQ. 25_____ l<ntM V. I mn See inside Letter details prosecutor’s look at Mountainside PD case By Rebecca Panico Thus far, the prosecutor’s office has not confirmed or the police department’s locker room, according to the let Staff Writer denied any investigation. ter. MOUNTAINSIDE — The Union County Prosecutor’s But a letter obtained by LocalSource through an open The letter stated that the pro.secutor’s office made a Office knew of the now-infamous sex toy that was cited in a public records request details what the office investigated "sustained finding" with regard to Hubt'r’s sex toy and toi­ lawsuit by five police officers and a borough employee and recommended made to Attanasio, the chief who the let paper incidents. It made an "unfounded finding" regard about a year before they sued, a newly obtained letter lawsuit identifies as being aware of the behavior and con­ ing Huber's alleged actions in the locker room. shows. doning it. The prosecutor's office recommended that Attanasio The 46-page suit accused Sgt. Andrew Huber of inap­ "consider" administrative or di.sciplinary action for Hulwr, propriately touching others in the department with the sex For related story, see Page 6 who they .say “violated” Mountainside Police Rules and toy, police Chief Allan Attanasio pointing his gun at other Regulations. officers, and additional allegations against other ranking The letter, dated Sept. 28, 2017, was signed by former Mayor Paul Mirabelli previously said in a statement that officers that have rocked the local police department. acting county Prosecutor Thomas Isenhour and written by an unspecified course of action was taken after the investi­ Officers Christopher Feighner, Richard Latargia, acting Assistant Prosecutor John Esmerado. It sheds new gation by the prosecutor's office. Borough attorney .John Thomas Norton, Jeffrey Stinner, James Urban and part- light on what officials say they knew about the allegations Post said he could not detail what disciplinary was taken. time borough employee Amy Colineri filed the suit in May in the lawsuit and when they knew it. “If we felt that we were free to ilivndge this information, against the borough. The borough soon after issued a state­ The prosecutor’s office decided not to criminally indict we would,” Post said in a June 2.5 phone interview. ment noting that the Union County Prosecutor’s Office had Huber for allegedly hitting a civilian in the head with a sex The lawsuit mentions some of the allegations that the already investigated at least some of the claims mentioned toy inside the police station, leaving soiled toilet paper in prosecutor’s office probed, but the civil comj)laint also in the civil complaint. an officer's boot and touching another officer’s genitals in See DOCUMENTS, Page 7 Roselle moves to terminate clerk put on leave six years ago By Rebecca Panico duct, incompetence and other just cause,” Staff Writer was put up for discussion. Although her ROSELLE — The borough council at its name was not disclosed on the meeting June 20 meeting voted to seek the termina­ agenda, borough attorney Karen Brown tion of a municipal clerk who had been said Bluestein wanted to publicly discuss placed on paid administrative leave six the council’s action since she had received years ago. a Rice notice. Rhona Bluestein spoke after a resolu­ A Rice notice serves to alert individuals tion to remove her for “unbecoming con- that issues possibly affecting their employ­ ment maybe discussed at a public meeting. Worrall Media to The council’s vote authorized the filing of a verified complaint with the state Divi­ c/ose on the Fourth sion of Local Government Services to Worrall Media offices will be closed on remove Bluestein, a process mandated by Wednesday, July 4, in observance of the state law since she was a tenured clerk. Independence Day holiday. This closure “I pride myself on being an expert on will alter our deadlines for the issues of the laws of the state of New Jersey and I July 5. The deadlines for the issue of July 5 always did my job according to these laws,” will be: Bluestein said. “Rather than playing poli­ • Editorial: Friday, June 29, at noon. tics, any request that I knew was not in • Legal ads: Thursday, June 28, at compliance with the laws, I did not fulfill or noon. perform. • Display ads: Friday, June 29, at noon. “For these political reasons, one day a • Classified ads: Monday, July 2, at borough official gave me a letter on bor­ Photo by Rebecca Panico noon. ough stationery that stated that I must Rhona Bluestein, former Roselle borough clerk, discusses her employment We wish all our readers a happy and leave borough hall until further notice.” before the Roselle Borough Council passed a resolution to start the process safe holiday. Fly your flag! See ROSELLE, Page 8 • of letting her go. 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KutztownFestival.com/WM (908) ‘dS7 - aS55 Union Count>' LooalSourrv .hine 28, 2018 a Mountainside man arrested at airport after jewelry store robbery By Chuck O’Donnell than accommodating.” Martin said. "Those Staff Writer guys were fabulous, eveiy person we MOUNTAINSIDE - A Mountainside worked with there. I was one of the people man was arrested at Newark Liberty Air­ that called them initially. 1 spoke to the dis­ port last week while attempting to board a patcher there and I got a call back ..