Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, December 1, 2005 OUR 115th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 48-2005 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Policeman Files Suit Against Westfield and Former Chief By PAUL J. PEYTON department computers to conduct ille- contacted Officer Kasko about the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader gal background checks in 2004 on alleged illegal background checks. WESTFIELD – A Westfield police several town residents and alleged re- Officer Kasko questioned officers on officer has filed a lawsuit against the taliation the officer faced when he whether they knew of inappropriate town on allegations that he was ha- attempted to look into the validity of use of the police computer systems to rassed and retaliated against after he the illegal background checks. run criminal histories of any town reported information to town offi- “During a telephone conversation residents. cials per the town’s “whistle blower” with the editor of a local Westfield Upon learning of Officer Kasko’s policy. newspaper (The Westfield Leader), inquiries, Chief Tracy ordered a de- Officer Gregory Kasko filed a law- Chief Tracy advised the editor that he tailed report from Officer Kasko ex- suit on November 14 in U.S. District maintained files on certain Westfield plaining “why (the) plaintiff had not Court in Newark, a suit assigned to residents, which contained illegal personally advised him (Chief Tracy) Judge William Martini. The three- criminal background checks that he of the matter,” the suit charges. count suit names Town Administra- had run on these residents. During While preparing a police report on tor Jim Gildea and former Police Chief that conversation, Chief Tracy pro- October 28, 2004 detailing the alle- Bernard Tracy as co-defendants along vided the names of a number of the gations of illegal background checks with the town. residents,” the lawsuit charges. by Chief Tracy and other Westfield The Kasko lawsuit stems from alle- One of the residents reportedly in- police officers as reportedly ordered gations concerning misuse of police vestigated, local attorney John Blake, by the chief, Officer Kasko became ill with a rapid heart rate that led the Westfield Rescue Squad to respond to his home, according to the lawsuit. “Despite the plaintiff’s (Officer David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader FAN TRADITION…A few thousand football fans enjoy the 101st meeting between Westfield and Plainfield high schools Kasko’s) condition, Chief Tracy in- at Kehler Stadium on Thanksgiving morning. Plainfield won the game 9-0 in a spirited contest, making the series now 50- sisted upon the plaintiff’s return to 44-7 in favor of Westfield. headquarters, which the plaintiff was unable to do,” Officer Kasko charged in his lawsuit. The officer reportedly went to see WF Introduces Ordinances Mr. Gildea on November 3 to report “harassment and anticipated retalia- tion” against him by Chief Tracy. The officer alleged in his suit that Mr. Addressing Traffic Hot Spots Gildea refused to take the harassment By MICHAEL POLLACK As the road is currently constituted, awarded “a contract plus alternates” complaint against Chief Tracy and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader there is no uniformity to its paving for environmental remediation for ordered him (Kasko) out of his office. WESTFIELD – The November and width. Some parts of the street are parking lot no. 8, located on Prospect Officer Kasko was instead advised to 22 Westfield Council conference as narrow as 18 feet, while some are Street. fill out a complaint, which he did on meeting focused on various road closer to 24 feet, although Mr. Marsh “We need to inspect the gasoline November 4, 2004. improvements, debate on Scutter said one advantage to uniformity is tanks under the ground. The good Officer Kasko charged that Mr. Road paving and an update on the better drainage. news is that we received a favorable Michael Pollack for The Westfield Leader Gildea and his assistants wrote memos remediation of the Prospect Street Mr. Macaloon told The Leader that price for not only the bid, but also the RECOUNT CONFIRMED…At the Westfield Fourth Ward recount, Council- man Rafael Betancourt scrutinizes a voter’s entry after his address was missing. on Officer Kasko’s visit to the parking lot. if the decision were up to him exclu- alternate (removals, repairs, storage, Looking on are former councilman Neil Sullivan, Westfield GOP Chair Asm. Jon administrator’s office, identifying him The town introduced a tripartite sively, he would not put the curbs in, replacing sidewalk, landscaping). It’s Bramnick, Mr. Betancourt, Michael Moussalem of the Board of Elections, as the source of the harassment and ordinance, which changes three sec- speaking of the restrictive nature of a very attractive bid price,” Mr. Gildea County GOP Director Anthony Attanasio, Beth Nilsen, Attorney Kraig Dowd, retaliation complaint against Chief tions of traffic laws in town. One the curbing in terms of openness and said. councilman-elect Tom Bigosinski and county clerk Joanne Rajoppi. Tracy. The memos were reportedly ordinance designates Florida Street emergency vehicle access. In addi- The exact price, Mr. Gildea told sent to the Westfield Police as a through street and will place stop tion, he mentioned the character of The Leader, is slightly more than Department’s (WPD) Internal Affairs signs at the intersections of Ayliffe the Wilson School area. He noted that $64,000, which was lower than the Department. Avenue and Florida Street, Florida if one were to look around the area, council expected and means the town Officials Recertify On November 15, Officer Kasko and Wyoming Street and Pinegrove there is little to no Belgian block and will not need to appropriate any new was notified that he was under inves- and Ayliffe Avenues. the residents, most likely, would not money. tigation by the WPD’s Internal Af- Town Engineer Ken Marsh ex- want it. “We’re charging this to special or- Bigosinski As Winner fairs Department for “insubordina- plained, “These amendments are di- At Tuesday’s meeting, Second Ward dinance 2031, which was money ap- tion, false or incomplete reporting rectly related to the hot spots and Councilwoman Jo Ann Neylan stated propriated for environmental work By MICHAEL J. POLLACK listed on his ballot. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and conduct subversive of good order recommendations by (the town’s traf- her intentions to meet with residents on a parking deck,” Mr. Gildea added. It was suggested at the recount that and discipline of the department,” fic consultant) Gordon (Meth).” of the aforementioned streets to de- “Since we will not proceed on that WESTFIELD – On Monday, the poll worker at the site might have according to the lawsuit. Other recommendations will in- termine a general consensus and how (the deck), that means no new money county elections officials recertified been neglectful in forgetting to de- When contacted Monday by The clude making Wychwood Road and payment will be handled — whether will be needed.” Democrat Tom Bigosinski the win- mand an address. Westfield Leader, Mr. Gildea said the Woodland and Kimball Avenues the town pays or assesses. The town introduced another ordi- ner by one vote over Eric Leuthold – Election Board Deputy Administra- town was served with the lawsuit on through streets, and forcing four-way In other business, Town Adminis- nance Tuesday night to accept im- 1,469 to 1,468 – in the race for the tor Michael Moussalem told The November 23. He said the Suburban stops at the intersections of trator Jim Gildea said the town CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 fourth-ward seat on the town council. Westfield Leader the issue of a poll Joint Municipal Fund, of which Wychwood and Kimball, Wychwood County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi con- worker not verifying an address is not Westfield is a member, was contacted and Woodland and Kimball and ducted the recount at the voting ma- uncommon. “Most are senior citizens, to see if the town is covered through Woodland. The state Department of chine warehouse in Scotch Plains. realistically. It’s a nationwide prob- its employee liability insurance Transportation must be contacted, and MS BOE Deliberates On the recount, Mr. Bigosinski said, “I lem and it’s not easy to recruit poll policy. The town’s labor attorney was “if there’s no approval, we must think have always agreed that a recount was a workers.” also contacted. The lawsuit was on of a different way to achieve the four- good idea to ensure that every vote was Mr. Moussalem said the county of- the agenda to be discussed in execu- way stops,” Mr. Marsh said. Rehiring Musial Arch. properly counted, especially in such a fers 12 to 15 “intense” poll-working tive session at the town council’s Tues- Concerning the four-way stops, close race. And now that the recount is training classes and a person must day night meeting. Kris Macaloon, assistant town engi- By BETSEY BURGDORF contractor Ciro Randazzo was sup- complete, and I have officially been de- attend every two years. To entice people “We will proceed accordingly,” said neer, told The Westfield Leader the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader plying arose. clared the winner for a second time, it’s a to work the polls, he said the compen- Mr. Gildea. “Obviously there is only town will be “reversing conditions” MOUNTAINSIDE – The The building sat unattended and relief to know that the process was sound sation rose from $125 to $200. one side that has presented at this on the roads and is conducting traffic Mountainside Board of Education unprotected from the elements due to and the result accurate.