Inside: Time Off's Restaurant Guide Franklin News-Record Vol. 36, No. 12 Thursday, March 21, 1991 50 0 NEWS Chemical cloud still has officials perplexed By Laurie Lynn Strasser over how its source —• a leaky been in business two years, needs no because it's too dangerous," said said, because a deposit upon purchase Staff Writer container of hydrogen chloride — DEP operating permit because it is Somerset Recycling's owner, Bud usually serves as incentive for BRIEFS wound up at Somerset Recycling, not a full-scale recycling facility, Mr. Flynn. "We didn't find the tanks empties to be returned to the com- State officials have yet to de- located at 921 Route 27, in the first Staples said, adding that the only until Saturday when we were clean- pany that distributes them. termine who is accountable for a place. laws pertaining to a situation such as ing a pile of steel to ship out to a If the company that made them caustic chemical cloud that exuded Hydrogen chloride gas reacts with this come "after the fact." shredder in Newark." were still in business, Mr. Flynn said. from a Franklin junkyard, hovered Spring rec moisture, cither in the atmosphere or "Our emergency response people Purchasing metal by the truckload it would be responsible for disposal. over town and wafted into New in living organisms, to form have referred the matter to the can be like buying strawberries in the But in this case, he speculated, what- Brunswick for seven hours Saturday. Franklin Township's Depart- hydrochloric acid, which can irritate Division of Environmental Quality to supermarket, Mr. Flynn explained. ever firm owned the cannister or- ment of Parks and Recreation Three Franklin firefighters were or burn exposed tissue. determine whether there was an air "Sometimes it looks good on top, but iginally and whatever firm used the will begin its Saturday Recrea- hospitalized after exposure to fumes, To date, no charges have been violation, and also to the division of we don't know what's underneath," chemicals inside could both be de- tion spring session on April 13 at residents within a half-mile radius pressed against the scrap yard, Hazardous Waste Management to de- he said. "And sometimes when we're funct. Conerly Road School. The pro- were advised to evacuate their homes though the matter is still under in- termine whether there was a violation busy we don't have enough man- "We get people who go around gram, which is open to children and emergency workers labored vestigation, said Jim Staples, in that category," Mr. Staples said. power to run over and sec what's cleaning up factories when they in grades K-6, runs through May through the night March 16 until the spokesman for the state Department "But there's still an clement of coming out of every truck." close," he said, adding that the 18 and will meet from 10 vapor dissipated. of Environmental Protection. accident." Chemical tanks usually don't crop a.m.-noon. But state officials arc still in the fog Somerset Recycling, which has "We don't normally buy that stuff up in scrap metal heaps, Mr. Staples See CLOUD, Page 4A The program will offer sports and games, arts and crafts and special projects. A therapeutic recreation supervisor is available to work with handicapped chil- Mother claims cops dren to mainstream them into regular program activities. The fee is $6. Pre-registration mistreated her son is required and will begin March 25 at the recreation office on By Laurie Lynn Strasser "On the evening he was arrested, Route 27 in Franklin Park; the Staff Writer she complained to officers verbally office will be open from 8:30 about her son," the chief said. "We a.m.-6 p.m. on March 25. Claiming her son was mistreated immediately interviewed all three in- Mail-in registrations will be ac- by local police, a Franklin mother is dividuals that were arrested. There cepted beginning March 26 and organizing a protest group for anyone was no indication in their statements will be processed on a who has suffered "harassment, or those of theater personnel of this first-come, first-serve basis. Re- physical abuse, racial slurs, false type of activity." servations can not be made by charges or other unfair treatment" at "The chief said my son said he telephone. For further infor- the hands of Franklin Police. wasn't mistreated. That's an outright mation: (908) 297-7330. "There is harassment against black lie," Mrs. Godfrey said. "The chief youth in this community," said De- needs to be investigated to go along nisc Godfrey, who filed disorderly with this." Amateur hour persons charges March 13 against "1 can only go by what's in the two Franklin patrolmen. The officers officers' detailed reports," Chief Amateur Talent Day, a benefit had arrested her son during a dis- Blazakis said. "Now it's in the hands for the Muscular Dystrophy As- turbance at the Rutgers Plaza Cinema of the court to make a determina- sociation, will take place Satur- on March 9. tion." day, May 18 at the Sampson G. Karon Godfrey, 20, was one of Seeking to unite with others who Smith School auditorium, three individuals singled out by may have been mistreated by police, Amwell Road, Somerset- Franklin police Saturday, March 9, Mrs. Godfrey posted 150 livers to The winner of the best talent when an angry mob of about 125 advertise a meeting, which was to competition "will perform on the people gathered at the F.aston Avenue take place at her home in the New York segment of the Jerry theater for a showing of "New Jack Edgcmere apartment complex last Lewis Labor Day Telethon and Saturday. "1 invited young and old, City" — a film that has sparked Stall photo by Jodi Levinson w*tl"*e- escorted to Hie TV nationwide violence, including sev- black and white," she said, "to call studios of WWOR Channel 9 by eral deaths for an investigation of the actions of limousine. the police department." Whoa, big fella People were "standing around Winner of the most money Hut somebody tore down the post- Instructor Kim Thornton, of Heads Up Special Riders — an organization for handicapped railed over $500 wil also appear outside with numerous arguments go- ers, she said, and no one showed up. horseback riders — helps introduce student Sue Tillet to her riding partner, with the assistance on the New York segment of the ing on," police reported. "Patrols Undaunted, Mrs. Godfrey is or- telethon. All finalists will appear began to disperse the crowd and the chestrating a second meeting in the of volunteer Rebecca Grounds, right. The organization has operated out of Kingston's Hasty on C-Tec Cable Channel 8 in a crowd became disorderly." near future. Acres since September. For a story, see Page 3A. special talent show performance. Claiming he "attempted to agitate "If there's so much dissatisfaction, Contestants who raise the mini- the crowd," township police arrested why didn't anybody show up at her mum entry fee of $50 or more in Mr. Godfrey. He pleaded not guilty meeting?" Chief Ulazakis asked. donations will receive a special Monday, March II. to charges of "Our doors arc open 24 hours a day. Talent Day T-shirt. assault on a police officer, resisting Anybody with a complaint on an Ward re-alignment may damage Talent show hopefuls can pick arrest, obstruction of justice, failure officer's conduct is encouraged to up a pledge kit and information to disperse and disorderly conduct. complete a form at the desk and packet at the Somerset Holiday On the contrary, Mr. Godfrey said return it to us, and there will be an this week. He claims he was trying to unison, condo candidates claim Inn on Davidson Avenue be- investigation. That procedure has tween 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, break up a fight rather than incite been in existence here for many April 13 and from 1-4 p.m. violence. years. It provides us the ability to be By Laurie Lynn Strasser will be most effective," said Leo same constituency," he said. "Small Sunday, April 14. Insisting that over 50 witnesses can responsive to the concerns of the Staff Writer "Rocky" Lee, vice president of the associations should remain within the For further information, call corroborate her son's story. Mrs. citizens." local chapter of the Coalition of same district, and large ones, within Godfrey lodged a counter-complaint Local townhome owners' voices Franklin Township MDA "There arc times when I might Associations for Political Action the same ward." on his behalf against Franklin Patrol- could be gerrymandered out of politi- co-chairman Bill Grippo at (908) need the police," Mrs. Godfrey said, (CAPA) — a statewide townhome For example. Mr. Lee Mid, the 873-1227. man Patrick Albani for allegedly cal unison, their champions worry, "but their badge and gun doesn't give owners' lobby. 136-unil Trcndmakcrs subdivision is swearing at and shoving him, and when Franklin's five council wards them the right to be he-men. They're Mr. Lee is running for the Town- already split between two districts against Patrolman Jeffrey Carter for ure redrawn this spring, as required not all bad, but even gixxl officers ship Council this spring as an inde- Of 567 municipalities in New Jer- intimidating him with a trained drug by state law. A helping hand should step forward to stop the ones pendent non-partisan. "We'd like to sey, Franklin Township is one ol W dog.