T>UJRSDA^ULY18^013 UNlONNEWSDAILY.COM VOL. 96 NO. 28 50 CENTS SID leader in Union to retire at end of month By Cheryl Hehl no decision was made about looking for replace Minitelli, merely stating that for him go," said the administrator, adding Staff Writer another director, or putting someone tem­ the remainder of the year they would be that it was "a sad and happy day" for UNION - For years business owners in porarily in the position. In fact, according "evaluating" things. Minitelli. the Special Improvement District have to Township Administrator Ron Manzella "I'm not sure what they are going to do," Although the SID board opted not to questioned why the center needed a Special who attended the meeting, for the remain­ the administrator said, but admitted he is replace Minitelli at this time, there are Improvement District and what Director der of the year any issues or upcoming not part of the SID board, only attending events coming up, including the Festival on Michael Minitelli actually did for the events involving the SID will be handled by the meeting because it was Minitelli's last. the Green in September. However, Manzel­ $55,000 a year he received to oversee it. SID secretary Natalie Silva or, when need­ Manzella did praise the executive director la said that anything involving this event They can stop wondering because the SID ed, a consultant. for the work he did for the SID, pointing could be handled by Silva, or the vendors director is retiring at the end of the month. Manzella said the board did not say why out that he would be missed. involved. He did not say who would be Tuesday morning the SID board met but they decided not to take any action to "I think the board was very sad to see See DIRECTOR, Page 17 Judge files complaint claiming wrongful termination from bench By Cheryl Hehl Staff Writer LINDEN — Former city municipal judge Louis DiLeo is suing the city and Mayor Rich Gerbounka for wrongfully and improperly terminating him last year after sitting on the local bench since 2003. The lawsuit, filed last week in Elizabeth Superior Court, alleged that starting in 2008 city officials "conspired and dis­ criminated” against the municipal judge, depriving him of his civil rights. DiLeo, 59, a practicing attorney in Linden and a Westfield resident, said in the 35-page complaint obtained by Local- Source that as a highly experienced and dedicated public ser­ vant, he worked "diligently, effectively and exhaustively." He also handled an ever-growing and, at times, almost impossible caseload of municipal court matters, he said in the complaint. By doing so, DiLeo's attorney Patrick Toscano, Jr. said DiLeo was able to increase annual court revenues for the city from $850,000 to more than $2.6 million under his leadership. But then things took a downturn when in 2007 Gerbounka was elected as mayor and rumors he wanted to replace DiLeo sur­ faced. Toscano said at this time DiLeo was handling an average of 300 cases a week, which led to staff overload and court sessions extending late into the day or evening, often without breaks. At this point, Toscano said, DiLeo went to Gerbounka ask­ GUNNING FOR SUCCESS — Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter, Union County Acting ing to expand his days beyond the one daytime court and two night court sessions and appoint part-time judges to assist him. Prosecutor Grace H. Park, Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and New Jersey Acting Attorney Gen­ But, he said, the mayor "summarily and without careful eral John J. Hoffman joined law enforcement officials and church leaders recently at a state-spon­ thought or deliberation refused." DiLeo then went to the Union sored gun buyback program at The New Zion Baptist Church in Elizabeth. See MAYOR, Page 6 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY Are You Disabled & Unable to Work? You M ay Be GAIL A. 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Union County LocalSource — July 18, 2013 — 3 ‘One Stop’ voting County considers buying shelter available to Union to house its large fleet of vehicles County voters By Cheryl Hehl Earlier this year the county put out a Request for Proposals and for Vote-By-Mail actually zeroed in on one suitable site located in Roselle Park at the Staff Writer Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi corner of North Avenue and Chestnut Street, but that deal failed to The county may have to find another place to house their vehi­ announces that a "One-Stop" service is cle fleet and print shop if the deal to buy the property they have pan out. Finding another site has been difficult, D'Elia said, available for Union County voters at the been leasing since 1999 falls through. because the land has to be large enough to hold the county vehicle Westfield and Elizabeth offices of the The county has been leasing the Smith Cadillac property on fleet, garage and print shop. County Clerk. West Grand Street since 1998 for $360,000 a year because of its "That has proved difficult, especially since the present site is "Eligible voters are able to apply for a proximity to other county buildings in Elizabeth. But when the centrally located to where our main buildings are located," the pub­ Vote-By-Mail ballot for the U.S. Senate lease was up the end of 2012 it became apparent that renewing it lic information director said. Special Primary Election in person at either might be too costly for the county, and it might be time to exercise The county did have the Grand Street site appraised and while one of my offices, receive their ballot and the "option to buy" clause. Since then the county has been renting the value was set at $3 million, D'Elia said he did not know if the cast the ballot at the same time," Rajoppi the site on a month to month basis from the owner, Smith Realty property value was lower or higher for the present market value of said. "This one-stop voting service is avail­ Motors Realty, Inc., while negotiating to buy the site. However, the other similar sites in the area. He was also unaware if any would be able at my Westfield office as well as at the month to month lease increased the rent by $111,909.60 a year, suitable for the county's needs. main office in Elizabeth." which was an incentive for the county to move the purchase along D'Elia said any conjecture on what the freeholder board planned "With the important Aug. 13 Special Pri­ if possible. to do was premature at this point, but he did say the county had to mary Election for a U.S. Senate seat According to Communication Director Sebastian D'Elia, the have a place to house the fleet, and this left them with few alterna­ approaching quickly, my office is working county did approve a resolution recently allocating up to $4.3 mil­ tives at this point other than to negotiate to buy the site they are to make the voting process fast and con­ lion to purchase the Grand Street 6oo-foot by 200-fo0t parcel of now using. venient,” Rajoppi added. land, but they are open to looking at other areas if and when any are Prior to the county moving fleet operations to the Grand Street The deadline to apply by mail for a Vote- presented. address, the print shop and garage were all in separate locations. By-Mail ballot is Tuesday, Aug. 6. To "The county is not actively looking right now for another site The problem with finding the right location at this juncture is the obtain an application form, voters also may because they are still negotiating with the owner of the former size. pick up the form at their local municipal Smith Cadillac site, but if something did come up they would look While there are parcels of land available for sale, so far none building; they can download the form at into it," D'Elia said late last week. have suited what the county needs.