The Fact of The Matter has obtained information from a source that attended a D.P.W. Holiday Party. We have learned that (3 days) before the post-Christmas debacle of mismanaged snow removal, the D.P.W. gave itself a Christmas party.
The Town of Westfield has been sitting on the information that while the party was on-going at the Westfield D.P.W. building on North Ave., a minor was allegedly served so many alcoholic beverages that he got drunk.
How is it that there is no supervision at a party such as this on town property? Why wouldn't Westfield Town Administrator James Gildea impress upon his head of this department the need to carefully oversee such events?
The Mayor and Westfield Town Council should ask Mr. Gildea when he knew about the accident, the charges, and the source of the alcohol allegedly consumed by a minor on Town property. If he didn't know, why not?
The Mayor and Town Council should ask Mr. Gildea what sanction has been levied on Claude Shaffer, head of the D.P.W. for allowing this to occur..
Has any sanction been levied? If not, why not?
Is it possible that reading this blog might be the first time the Mayor and Town Council have heard of this? If it is, they should look no further than the mirror for their mismanagement.How much taxpayer money will be spent in defending the Town of Westfield against a possible civil suit by the occupant(s) of the vehicle struck by the alleged underage drunk driver that consumed alcohol on town property?
**The Fact of The Matter is in the process of receiving photos. Our attempt to authenticate them continues.
Questions:
1. What did Richard Ruhl state to police, as the last location he consumed alcohol? (The paperwork the police fill out when administering tests requires this question to be asked.)
2. Where was D.P.W. Supt. Claude Shaffer when the underage person was served and consumed alcohol on town property?
3. What Westfield Town Policy allows for the consumption of "any" alcohol by "anyone" on town property?
4. How much money will the Town of Westfield be forced to spend to defend the Town's position if
a lawsuit is filed against the Town and its employees as a result of the auto accident?
**The Fact of The Matter is in the process of receiving photos. Our attempt to authenticate them continues.
Questions:
1. What did Richard Ruhl state to police, as the last location he consumed alcohol? (The paperwork the police fill out when administering tests requires this question to be asked.)
2. Where was D.P.W. Supt. Claude Shaffer when the underage person was served and consumed alcohol on town property?
3. What Westfield Town Policy allows for the consumption of "any" alcohol by "anyone" on town property?
4. How much money will the Town of Westfield be forced to spend to defend the Town's position if
a lawsuit is filed against the Town and its employees as a result of the auto accident?
I'm in shock. Was this an afternoon party on Christmas eve? And is Ruhl an employee of DPW? What was he doing there? Anyone snap a photo of this party? Please share if you did.
ReplyDeleteThe Asbury Park Press Data Universe lookup of the last name "Ruhl" working for Westfield, N.J. in 2009 revealed one match for that last name. The First name didn't match. If you copy and paste the following link into the address bar of the the internet, the information is public record.
ReplyDeletehttp://php.app.com/NJpublicemployees10/results.php?lastn=ruhl&firstn=&location=WESTFIELD+TOWN&fundname=Public+Employees+Retirement+System&Submit=Search
Wow you're like Jimmy Olsen. I applaud your passion. But I gotta tell you.....you're the only one who cares. Keep it up though, very entertaining in a you know, fictional sorta way!
ReplyDeleteWe here at The Fact of The Matter would like to thank you for your interest in this blog. You cared enough to log on and post a comment. With over 23,000 "hits" to this site in a little over 6 weeks, there must be someone else who cares.
ReplyDeletePS.....Jimmy Olsen was a photographer. Clark Kent was a reporter, but please don't call me Superman.
Hey- Jimmy Olsen, in response to the comment above- Keep it up! You are not the only one that cares. New information outlets are formed everyday with the decline of the daily newspaper.
ReplyDeleteYou have accurate information.
You have a medium to distribute this information.
Thus, You have traffic. It must matter to someone other then yourself.
This is my first post on this site. Thanks and keep it up.
I agree with the dude above-was this a party held on "tax payer" time?
ReplyDeleteIt is unknown at this time if the party was funded by the Town of Westfield which is subsidized by the "Taxpayers" of Westfield.
ReplyDeleteIt is also unknown if the party took place during working hours or "after hours" when DPW employees were "off-duty".
Regardless:
What is known is that the party took place on Town Property and that the Town has policy and the State of N.J. has laws that forbid the serving of and/or the consumption of alcohol by underage persons.
I wonder how many of the hits are Davy, John, John R., Nicole, Rice and the Misses?????
ReplyDeleteYou ask questions so I will as well.
ReplyDelete1) Does or did Ruhl work for Westfield DPW at the time of the party?
2) Was the party held during operational hours of those in attendance?
If the answer is no, or we will never know, then this is dead. Why? Because I bet there are cops who drink on the job. Trying to get to the bottom of a holiday party gone wrong when no employees were involved is a pointless effort.
Does it bother me as a Westfield Resident? Yes.
Should you continue to raise these problems? Yes.
Thanks for shining a light on things most people can't see for themselves.
You ask some relevant questions.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a Ruhl that works for the DPW at the time of the party. However, the Ruhl that was involved in the motor vehicle accident appears to be the son of the current DPW worker.
The party was held during the normal working hours of the Westfield DPW. Unless all those that were in attendance were "clocked out" of work at the time of the party on town property, then it is safe to assume that the party was held during operational hours.
If the answer is "no" with regards to was the party held during operational hours, it still does not excuse the fact that alcohol was served on town property to those in attendance of which Richard Ruhl was included. Richard Ruhl is underage.
Trying to get to the bottom of a holiday party gone wrong is paramount since it included township employees, on town property, including alcohol, an underage person who left and got into a motor vehicle accident and was subsequently charged with driving while intoxicated.
Your accusation of "I bet there are cops that drink on the job" is an opinion unless you have proof. Unless, of course, you have proof that there were police officers in attendance at the DPW party and they consumed alcohol while on-duty. The Fact of The Matter has not received any information to support that accusation.
The proof here is that:
1. a party was held on Town property
2. alcohol was served and consumed
3. an underage person was in attendance and consumed alcohol
4. the underage person left the party and got into an auto accident
5. The Westfield Police charged Richard Ruhl with D.W.I.
If the police can issue a summons to an adult that provides alcohol to an underage person, shouldn't someone at the party be issued a summons? Shouldn't the town of Westfield be issued a summons? Who is in charge in this town?
ReplyDeleteI was at the scene of the accident. The Ruhl who works for the town was present at the accident and appeared twice as drunk as his son. Oh did I mention the even younger Ruhl son driving the fathers jeep following the other son(accident having son) while stinking of alcohol. I assume the father was too drunk to drive either of his cars.
ReplyDelete