DMDA Complaint Filed Against Wolfe
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IT 1024 Pg A1 Yellow Red Blue Black Volume 115 Number 41 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2002 60 Cents Reactions DMDA complaint to deer filed against Wolfe numbers rates on the nature of charges By Eveline Speedie levied by Mr. Suskauer and Ms. of The Item Holden in defense of action are mixed This is the second article in a taken by the DMDA June 14. At two-part series. that time, the DMDA terminated By Harry Trumbore The Downtown Millburn De- Ms. Wolfe’s employment in a of The Item velopment Alliance (DMDA) letter, citing her “inability to It appears inevitable that no and one of its former employees work with (her) superior, board matter how the numbers are are facing the prospect of a real- members and the business com- crunched, reactions to the Essex live courtroom drama now that a munity.” County deer management survey complaint has been filed in Essex Adopting the stance that the remain predictable. County Superior Court. action taken was an internal per- In the survey, conducted by Identified as the plaintiffs in a sonnel matter, the DMDA resist- mail during the summer, county complaint dated Oct. 10 are ed since June pressure from its residents were asked to choose Steven Suskauer, president of the general membership and the from three currently available DMDA, and Pat Holden, the or- public to divulge the specific rea- options to manage the deer pop- Staff photo/Jim Connelly ganization’s executive director. sons for its termination of Ms. Wolfe’s employment. ulation: controlled hunting, trap- ACCIDENT SCENE—Township fire department personnel examine an automobile that Charged with eight counts of vi- Ms. Wolfe filed a notice of ping and transferring and allow- struck the porch of a building at the corner of Millburn Avenue and Spring Street shortly olations is Barbara Wolfe, a claim Aug. 27 against Town Hall ing nature to “take its course.” before 9 a.m. on Oct. 17. No one was injured, but two vehicles were towed from the former employee of the DMDA, and five members of the DMDA When the results of the survey scene. See story, another photo on Page 2. who was served Oct. 14 with the were released at the end of Sep- complaint. board, in addition to Mr. tember, opponents of hunting in- Neither the DMDA’s attor- Suskauer and Ms. Holden. The terpreted the results to mean ap- ney—Mark A. Saloman of the notice of claim—which served to proximately 60 percent of county Livingston law firm of Grotta, put the township and the DMDA residents don’t want to see lethal High school enforces ban on hats Glassman & Hoffman—nor Ms. on notice that a lawsuit may be methods employed in controlling It was the appearance, howev- living with friends or relatives, or Wolfe’s attorney—Abraham pending—was filed as a prelude the deer population. By Harry Trumbore er, of gang-style “colors” and even commuting to high school, Borenstein of the firm of Bloom, to a possible $1 million lawsuit. The opposing point of view of The Item fashions that prompted the prin- are investigated every year. Borenstein and Savage, based in As the claimant, Ms. Wolfe Springfield and New York City— must wait a minimum of six claimed combined votes for con- If you listen to some Millburn cipal to enforce the ban on head- Superintendent of Schools trolled hunting and trap and wear, except for religious pur- Richard Brodow said he has in- would comment on the com- months before filing her intended High School students, it’s an out- plaint. Also serving as trial coun- lawsuit. According to the notice transfer show approximately 80 right violation of their civil poses, being worn inside the vestigated “half a dozen” cases percent of residents want the school. of illegal resident students since sel for the plaintiffs is Michael of claim, she may sue the town- rights. ship as well as her former em- county and local government to Although there is no evidence he arrived in the district this Barabander of Grotta, Glassman You can’t wear a cap in school. and Hoffman. ployer due to the fiduciary rela- use lethal and nonlethal means to of actual gang activity in the summer. The same goes for bandanas or “It’s our policy not to com- tionship between the two bodies. remove the deer. township, Dr. Neigel said, some Dr. Neigel does not want a re- doo-rags. ment on active litigation,” Mr. In her notice of claim, Ms. Last week, in a letter to the students have reported several at- currence of what he said were “We didn’t want to make it an Saloman said Monday. Wolfe levied eight grievances editor, Edward Rummel, a tempts at gang recruitment. Pri- tensions between Millburn and issue,” explained Keith Neigel, “You have my response,” Mr. against the township and the member of the deer management vately, school and police officials Madison students in the mid- principal of Millburn High Borenstein said, referring to his DMDA, including failure to pay task force, broke down the say they are concerned about ac- 1990s, but township police said School. “It’s not caps; it’s exag- comment last week that he overtime, failure to pay mini- survey results from Millburn and counts of gang activity in nearby the atmosphere then was more gerated hats.” would “respond in due course.” mum wage, the existence of a Short Hills. Mr. Rummel wrote Although rules in the student suburban towns. personal than gang related. The 26-page complaint elabo- Continued on Page 24 that figures given at a recent task handbook have long prohibited A good school system attracts “We haven’t seen it yet, but we force meeting showed Short wearing hats inside the school, illegal students, Dr. Neigel said, have something in place to track Hills residents voted 925 for Dr. Neigel said, recent trends and while many of these students gang activity,” said Detective controlled hunting, 414 for trap have students wearing hats at are seeking a better education, Capt. Greg Weber of the town- and transfer and 148 for nature’s every angle, sometimes inside they are often from neighbor- ship police department. If the in- course. Millburn residents, he out or upside down. Students hoods where gangs have made terrogation of a juvenile accused wrote, voted 328 for hunting, even began wearing big, over- inroads. Approximately 10 to 15 of a crime turns up evidence of 249 for trapping and 105 for sized hats in classes. cases of nonresident students Continued on Page 31 nature’s course. But similar to the county re- sults, the figures specific to Mill- burn and Short Hills drew some Town reviews municipal issues mixed reactions. Gordon turned first to the town- are going before that county’s Mr. Rummel maintained the By Anne L. Malyska ship’s deer management pro- Board of Freeholders Wednes- figures show 58 percent of town- of The Item gram. Municipal officials sub- day, Nov. 6, to make their case ship residents favor controlled Township Committee mem- mitted a deer management plan for secession. hunting. Adding hunting and bers last week received their last month to the state Division The conference meeting is trapping numbers together, he most recent update this year on of Fish, Game and Wildlife, and scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the wrote, shows an overwhelming issues affecting the township. are currently waiting on ap- Knox Conference Room on the number in favor of removing the In his “issues management” proval. Essex County submitted fifth floor of the Morris County deer by either means. presentation, Timothy Gordon, its plan with Millburn’s again Administration and Records Like Mr. Rummel, township township business administrator, this year. Building on Court Street in Mor- officials say the figures show outlined the local government’s The township already has ristown. An evening meeting fol- support for the third year of a overall goals and also shared in- completed two deer management lows at 7:30 p.m. in the freehold- programs in the 2000-01 and ers’ public meeting room on the Continued on Page 24 formation on specific ongoing projects through a computer pre- 2001-02 seasons, which included same floor in the same building. sentation. Listed among the gen- both a controlled hunt and trap- At the Committee’s meeting Kusz may eral objectives were the follow- ping and transferring of deer. Of- Oct. 15, Mayor Thomas C. Mc- ing: ficials expect word on the 2002- Dermott warned parking at the Photo courtesy of Fran Ciolino fill special “Maintain municipal budget 03 plan next month. county building is sparse, and NIGHT OF UNDERSTANDING—Millburn High School with minimum tax increases; Millburn’s secession task recommended calling ahead to freshman Katelyn Ciolino, center, was one of the speakers continue to protect and enhance force, which formed last year to the county clerk’s office to make at a benefit dinner for Facing History and Ourselves Oct. 17 services post quality of life in the township; review the pros and cons of leav- arrangements. in New York City. Attending the dinner with Katelyn were maintain/improve delivery of ing Essex County, reported back Morris County freeholders her eighth grade teacher Mary Vazquez, left, and Danielle By Harry Trumbore services in the most cost effec- to the Committee last spring. It must approve legislation to Nyman, supervisor of the school district’s social studies of The Item tive manner.” recommended a move to Morris accept Millburn before the department. See story on Page 10.