Contest J I Bowl the night away far charily See page 6 1 See page 10 THE COMMERCIAL Wisdom begins in wonder: 254 ~Socrates leabet THURSDAY, JUNE 10,1999 OF LYNDHURST Who is accountable for grant foul up? D02 dav afternoon BY BOB JOHNSON C5 «7 It may not be as highly publicized township in 1991 had been cheated budget including the state aid with as the Starr investigation, but it is out of density aid, which was a K-9 trainer honored by mayor and LPD the okay of the -county By LAI RIN BAKOOIH just as politically motivated and took categorical assistance program Superintendent of Schools, who is a longer to produce. After five years created by Gov. Jim Florio's state appointee. A few days later then of delay a state Grand Jury administration to assist heavily school Superintendent Joseph Abate investigating the infamous $1.5 populated and mostly Democratic received a call from, the county million state grant to Lyndhurst in communities. ~ superintendent saying the budget early 1991 has concluded its findings Although Lyndhurst is 'heavily had to be resubmitted without the Blood screening - and according to one of the targets populated and did receive density aid $15 million in state aid. of the inquiry — "it's not worth the in 1990, it did not receive the same Abate would ultimately he indicted The Lyndhurst Health Depart- paper it was printed on." aid in 1991. says Stellato. who for submitting a false budget, even ment is holding a blood screening Former Democratic State Sen. testified before the Grand Jury. The though that budget was never on June 12 from 8 am. to 12 p.m. by Gabe Ambrosio, who engineered the mayor said he complained to the approved by the local school board appointment only. For more infor- grant for the town, said the state Division of Community Affairs or presented to the public, lie and manon call Annette 804-2500 investigation by George Kugler, is about the loss of funding and was former Business Administrator nothing more than a political told the town did not receive density Donald Travisano who was also Reunion time for '89 document "that is dead on arrival." aid because it had too much open indicted were (he only officials lo Lyndhurst High School Class of' 89 Ambrosio says Kugler, a former space and did not qualify as denseK ever be prosecuted loi wrongdoing is having their 10-year reunion Nov. Republican Attorney General acting populated. in the entire affair Both entered pre- 27 at Hilton Hasbrouck Heights from as a special prosecutor a la Kenneth But says Stellato the 442 acres of trial intervention programs and their 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Cost is $75 per Starr embarked on a political witch open space located in the records are now clean. No slate personJanine Lopinto, 973-77S-1982. hunt to try to embarrass Democrats. Meadow lands that the state cited lor officials were ever pi osecuted and in The former senator says the refusing the density aid "is mostly fact, immunity was granted to both Hawaiian Luau set recommendations in the report for under water I told them that those lawmakers and bureaucrats. The Ladies Auxiliary of the changes in the way the state Senate 442 acres are no good to us," said "Unfortunately tor me. I was the Lyndhurst Fire Department will hold operates are overreaching and go Stellato. "But they're just looking at set up guy." says Abate now. "But a Hawaiian Luau on Saturday, June beyond what Kugler was asked to do. a map, what do they know." God Bless America that I was 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse on "This report is another example of While Stellato was fighting for provided the wherewithal and the It's a dog's life - Shown are K-9 trainer Robert Gierla from Metro K-9 Delafield Avenue. why there should never be another restoration of density aicf, the state opportunity to pull out of this." Academy, left, and Lyndhurst K-9 Police Officer Scott Hild with Zack The cost is $25 per person and in- special prosecutor anywhere in this Senate was passing an education The local taxpayers also share some Are K-9 units a part of the job or a of his endless donated time and dedi- cludes music, hot and cold buffet, country," says Ambrosio, who is measure known as the Quality of the pain felt by /* bate and way of life? cation. beer, wine, soda and a fountain of barred from saying too much about Education Act. Ambrosio supported Travisano. For the Lyndhurst Police Depart- Hild said that the award was well Hawaiian drinks. Palm trees, pine- the five-year probe because of a court the measure because he thought it Sterlato said he and the ment and Officer Scott Hild, it's more deserved. Especially for Gierla's dedi- apple trees and gift baskets will be imposed gag order. would have meant approximately commissioners had to raise $1.5 like a way of life. cation, effort, and the constant do- raffled. The presentment accuses $1.7 million in aid for Lyndhurst. million over two years to help fund For the past 3 1/2 years, Hild has nation of Ins time. His valuable assis- For tickets and more information call Ambrosio of interfering in the Three days after the vote, the senator repayment of the grant. That money been working wilh Robert Gierla, tance and direction made the 939-3»52or 939-1015 investigation process, but the former was told there was a computer error sat in a "special account until this trainer at the Metro K-9 Academy Lyndhurst K-9 Unit what it is today. senator, who was ultimately defeated and the local school district would spring when rights to the money Gierla helped introduce a K-9 unit to "The dogs are bred to do what Teachers, life guard by former Republican Sen. John not be getting anywhere near that were settled. The agreement the LPD and has transformed Zack they do. When the officers are in uni- Scott, says the report "criticizes me much money. negotiated by the new mayor James the dog into a top asset to the de- form and the dogs know they are go- needed for Day Camp for working hard to represent my Ambrosio said after the school Guida calls for the state to take $ 1 partment. With tasks like school dem- ing to work, they start bouncing off Commissioner Paul Passamano. Jr., district." district lost the money he began million of the money and the onstrations, searching cars and the walls," said Gierla. of the Lyndhurst Recreation Depart- Former Lyndhurst Mayor Louis lobbying the State Department of township gets to keep the $500,000 houses and sniffing out narcotics, But bouncing off the walls is just ment announces that his department Stellato says the investigation into Community Affairs to make up for that was spent last year by the Zack has an important job and knows part of Zack's enthusiasm for life. Not is interested in hiring teachers and a the grant is really an indictment of the lost revenue to his town. Stellato municipality to offset taxes, when it is time to work. only is he busy in the field alongside certified life guard who would like to the state bureaucracy, not of any local also claims he loo contacted DCA ttf As a result of the I yndhursl affair. Taking Zack from an 8-week-old Hild. he also has an active family life work in the Summer Day Camp office holder or individual. find a way to offset the lost density state procedures regarding grants puppy to a-high-pcrformance K-9 with the Hild family Day Camp will run from Tuesday, "They just don't get it," said aid, which the previous year have been streamlined and took a lot of dedicated training, and Jury 6 through and including Friday. Stellato of Kugler and the state amounted to nearly $700,000. standardized to avoid another such Mayor James Guida, in conjunction "Zack i'. a member of Ihe family. He August 13 at the Bergen County Park investigators. Ultimately, says the former mayor incident. But foi most of this decade with the LI'D, took a moment to rec- lives with my wife, seven kids, and area which is located at the foot of "No one really understands what the township received a $ 1.5 million Lyndhurst has become synonymous ognize the man behind the dog. Rob- me," said Hild, who sayslie is very Valley Brook and Riverside Avenues happened," said Stellato in an discretionary grant. Stellato says he with the politicalization of state ert (iierla was given a plaque in honor attached to the dog. from 9 am to 3 pm. interview this week. The former and the commissioners at the time grants and reputations were ruined Please call the Recreation Depart- mayor who held office when the gave the money to the local school because of a grant foul up that no ment af-804-2482 for more informa- grant was issued said the problem board to fill a hole in their budget. one on the state level seems to He tion. stemmed from the fact that the The school board prepared a draft accountable for. What should be done Want to see a Broadway show? From relays to moonwalks it's Olympic about Rt. 3 dilemma? Commissioner Paul Passamano, Jr., BY ht nit v WlNTCU time at Roosevelt School in Lyndhurst Ask someone about the Rutherloid/ mssed lengthening slowdown lanes Director of the Department of Parks BY LAUREN BAROODV and Recreation has secured tickets I .yndhurst area of Route 1 and ever) - to exits, improving sight lanes a;nd for the following Broadway shows: one is on the same page: Something constructing retaining walls.