MS BOE Pres. Kress Summoned to Supreme Court Disciplinary Bd
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, January 9, 2003 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 113th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 18-113 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] FIFTY CENTS 37 UNION COUNTY ATTORNEYS WERE INVESTIGATED IN 2001; 10 REPRIMANDED MS BOE Pres. Kress Summoned To Supreme Court Disciplinary Bd. By LAUREN S. PASS charges, Mr. Kress states that all three process typically takes place within In 2001, 37 grievances were dock- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader parties were aware of the fact that he the district. Union County is part of eted for attorneys in Union County. Mountainside resident and Presi- represented each of them and that, “at the 12th District. The DRB, how- In the same year, 10 Union County dent of the Mountainside Board of no time was there ever a misrepresen- ever, handles all cases for the state. attorneys were disciplined by the New Education, Richard Kress, has been tation made in respect to assignment The DRB is comprised of attor- Jersey Supreme Court. called to appear before the Supreme of the mortgage.” neys as well as members of the pub- Attorney George Mandle, Jr. was Court Disciplinary Review Board Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader When a grievance against an attor- lic and is an open process, much like suspended for gross negligence and PROUD MOMENTS…Above, Mayor Gregory McDermott is sworn in by his (DRB) this year. ney is filed, it is read by a secretary regular court proceedings. later reprimanded for lack of dili- father, former Senate President Frank McDermott, for his second term as Mayor An attorney with offices in Clark, at the Office of Attorney Ethics who Mr. Kress was previously sus- gence, while Mark Rennie was dis- while his wife Andrea and their children look on. Below, Second Ward Councilman Mr. Kress has been cited for fraud by determines if the matter should be pended from practice for a period of barred by consent for misappropriat- Rafael Betancourt, second from right, poses for a photo with his family and Judge the Office of Attorney Ethics for the docketed or not. If the matter is dock- three months in 1992 when he was a ing trust funds. John Triarsi, right, after being sworn in. 12th District. According to a repre- eted, an investigation takes place municipal prosecutor in Rahway af- John D’Allesandro was repri- sentative from that office, it was and then the investigator makes a ter the “improper dismissal of a manded for improper use of a notary, recommended to the DRB that Mr. recommendation as to whether or charge of driving while intoxicated.” Richard Thuring was disbarred by Kress be suspended. not a breach of conduct has occurred. In 1996, Mr. Kress was repri- consent for misappropriating trust The ethics committee alleges that, If a breach has occurred a formal manded by the Supreme Court for funds, and Kevin Daly was suspend “various transactions instituted a complaint is filed, and the attorney failure to disclose fees to a client. for lack of diligence and then dis- clear conflict of interest” when Mr. in question is asked to respond. According to the head of the Union barred for gross negligence. Kress represented three separate cli- Next, a hearing is held before a County Bar Association, Jay Lavroff, the Angela Delfon was admonished for ents, Luparella, Ridilla and Ridge panel of two attorneys and a member Bar Association has no role in disciplin- Funding Group, in 1997. gross negligence, Casandra Corbett of the public and the panel makes a ary actions. Mr. Kress is not a member of was admonished for negligent misap- The committee also states that Mr. recommendation to the DRB. This the Union County Bar Association. Kress “intentionally and purpose- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 fully misrepresented to various par- ties and attorneys involved in the transactions that the Ridilla mort- gage on Luparella property had been assigned to Ridge Funding Group in an attempt to avoid payment of sums to the trustee in bankruptcy.” In his written response to the MAYOR, COUNCIL SWORN IN AT REORGANIZATION MEETING WF Mayor Resolves to Improve Parks; Raises for Admin., Chiefs Approved By LAUREN S. PASS Clerk Bernard Heeney swore Incum- mittee will be Councilman Skibitsky Specially Written for The Westfield Leader bent Fourth Ward Democrat Council- and Councilman Caruana will head On Tuesday evening, the Westfield man Lawrence Goldman into office. up the Personnel Policy Committee. Town Council held their annual Second Ward Councilman Matt Councilwoman Jacobson remains reorganizational meeting during Albano was appointed as Acting the Chairwoman of the Solid Waste which Republicans regained the Mayor and Councilman Goldman Committee, Councilman Goldman reigns of power with a 6-3 majority, was appointed as the alternate. remains the Chairman of Public Works including the reappointment of After his swearing in, Councilman and Councilman Betancourt will Mayor Gregory McDermott. Betancourt left the meeting to attend continue as Chairman of the Trans- During the pre-meeting conference a football dinner with his family. portation, Parking and Traffic Com- session, Town Administrator James Town Attorney Robert Cockren and mittee. Gildea stated that Commerce Na- Labor Attorney Frederick Danser, 3rd Mayor McDermott discussed the tional, the Risk Manager approved in were both reappointed for one-year need for parking, pedestrian safety a party line vote last month, has with- MR. AND MRS. PALATUCCI GO TO WASHINGTON...Bill and Laura Palatucci of Westfield were recent guests of terms. Christine Nugent was ap- and field improvements during his President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House Christmas Party. Mr. Palatucci served as a drawn their offer. pointed to a one-year term as Munici- annual State of the Town Address. senior advisor to the President’s successful presidential campaign in 2000 and has known President Bush since working Mr. Gildea explained that this left pal Prosecutor, Mr. Ciarrocca for one He announced that eight firms have for his father in 1988 and 1992. Mr. Palatucci is a Finance Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and the town without a Risk Manager, year as Public Defender and former answered the Town’s RFQs, and they he also served on the National Finance Committee of Bush-Cheney 2000. “The President and Mrs. Bush are warm and and that he has been in touch with the Municipal Prosecutor Brenda Cuba will be interviewed this year. gracious hosts,” said Mr. Palatucci. “It’s a wonderful experience to be in the White House during the holidays and one Town’s Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) was appointed as the Municipal Court “I anticipate that there will be a that Laura and I thoroughly enjoy.” representatives to confirm that the Judge. shovel in the ground this year but it town has no loss of coverage. Third Ward Democrat Council- will not be for a parking deck – it will He added that the Request For Pro- man Kevin Walsh, Councilman be for a structure that incorporates the posals (RFP) would have to be adver- Goldman and Councilwoman varied economic and aesthetic ele- Borough Community Center tised again, and new proposals would Jacobson voted against the appoint- ments that best serve the needs of this have to be reviewed. ments for Municipal Judge and community now and in the years to Fourth Ward Democrat Council- Public Defender. come,” the mayor said. woman Susan Jacobson questioned Councilman Goldman stressed Mayor McDermott stated that the Proposed By Mayor Viglianti if the language would be changed in that his vote was not against the fields in town can be improved with the new RFP, regarding the percent- people being appointed, but was a innovative ideas and that the town By MARY RONK Turner, Officer Stinner, Officer Urban, dents. age that a firm is paid by the town. “tribute” to Michael Diamond and could be fiscally responsible about Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Detective Jackson, and Sergeant Some past accomplishments over Mr. Gildea said that the new RFP Judge William Brennan who previ- it. He also said that different fertil- The Borough of Mountainside held Giannuzzi all received sincere thanks recent years have been raising slightly will include new language. ously held the two positions. Coun- izers have been used in Town parks its annual 2003 reorganization meet- from James Debbie, Chief of Police, over $500,000 in funds for commu- The Council Chambers was stand- cilwoman Jacobson echoed his re- that were more cost effective and ing this past Thursday evening. It was as well as the mayor and council. nity projects such as improved roads, ing room only when Mayor marks. less toxic. an event with great heartfelt thanks The Mountainside Fire Department revamping the Mountainside Pool McDermott was sworn into office for Councilman Goldman also com- “There are no greater natural re- and promise for the New Year. was also recognized on Thursday and Town Center. Additionally, get- a three-year term by his father, former mended the mayor for appointing Mr. sources in our community than our Mayor Robert Viglianti began by night and received a tribute from the ting the state of N.J. to fund a mod- President of the State Senate, Frank Gildea to a three-year term. parks. And there are no human re- thanking many of the loyal borough mayor and council as well. ernized traffic light on New Provi- McDermott. Mayor McDermott announced the sources more valuable to us then our employees for years of service and Mayor Viglianti talked of great dence Road and Route 22 with no Newly-elected Republican First committee chairs for 2003 with Third children.