Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky and the Town's attorney Russell Finestein state that they did not know of any investigation into the purchase of the Westfield Police Department's emergency mobile command center. Westfield Police Chief David Wayman has denied any knowledge of an investigation. Ignorance and denial do not mean that there was no investigation.
While the politicians prefer to lead you to believe there was no investigation, I attach a letter from the Prosecutor of Union County previously released by Westfield Town Attorney R. Finestein which blatantly shows everyone that there was, in FACT, an investigation.
Just because the prosecutor did not find criminal activity, this does not mean that everything was done properly. That will be determined by another authority.
Can you say "whitewash"
ReplyDeleteThis investigation was doomed from the minute it arrived at the UCPO.
Contact the state.
Here's a question...while this investigation may not have, ahem, revealed any criminal activity...did it reveal and impropriety or violation of town procedures? Under this tyrant's watch, many officers have been suspended, lost time without pay, received negative discipline, etc for actions or behavior that was non criminal in nature. If there were any policy or procedure violations, will those involved be held to the same standard of punishment that they routinely mete out to others? Just asking...
DeleteHad Westfield Police Chief Dave Wayman been held to the same standards when he was a patrol officer, detective, sergeant and lieutenant, that he now holds the rank and file to, he would have been terminated long ago. Witness tampering, theft of property, racism, false information to obtain search warrants are just a few of the blemishes of his career wiped clean by his rabbi Barney Tracy.
DeleteThe mayor's denial of an investigation having taken place is suspect, even more so, with the existence of this letter from the prosecutor's office. I'm willing to accept that everything involving the mobile command center purchase may have been done perfectly, by the book, but there has been a lot of "smoke" coming out of this transaction-- there may very well be an underlying "fire" that the mayor does not want Westfield's taxpayers/citizens to know about. Need to get the state involved.
ReplyDeleteThis letter simply states that town officials weren't aware of an investigation...the mayor, nor the town's attorney didn't deny that there was an investigation. The letter back to A. John Blake is very funny...noting all the follow-ups A. John has been sending to the prosecurtor's office...hysteria at its finest.
ReplyDeleteWhere does it say, in the letter, that town officials weren't aware of an investigation? The mayor, the town attorney, and the police chief, all denied knowledge of an investigation. Their responses were documented by TV 36, the Westfield Leader newspaper, and the Alternative Press.
DeleteAgain, they are just stating they weren't aware of an investigation. They are not making a statement that there was no investigation. This a trivial and pathetic attempt of parsing words...and for what? You're trying to make news out of nothing because the Union Cty prosectors office found that no criminal actions had been taken...oh but wait. Now you're going to say...just because they couldn't prove something doesn't mean they didn't do something. Please, get a job and stop wasting everyone's time.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you, but I would consider "representatives" of the town of Westfield to be one of the following if not all:
DeleteMayor Andrew Skibitsky
Town Administrator James Gildea
Town Attorney Russell Finestien
Police Chief David Wayman
Each of the above denied knowledge.
DeleteAs a taxpayer, managing my tax dollars is one of my "jobs."
There was no crime because there was no bribe. However, that does not mean there wasn't a backroom deal made, to get a better price on the emergency mobile command center. How do you explain the emergency mobile command center showing up at a police expo in Atlantic City at the expense of the Westfield tax payer and to the benefit of the manufacturer who was there using Westfield's equipment as as a demo model.
If you have read previous stories posted on this site, you would have seen pictures of the mobile command center's tow vehicle, a Ford F-350 truck, parked hidden inside Sevell's garage on South Ave. With Westfield Police decals on it long before the town council voted to purchase the equipment which is supposed to be done through a bidding process.
That process includes the town advertising for bids to be submitted based on specs drawn up on what the town is looking to purchase.
The mobile command center arrived in Westfield before the council voted on a bond ordinance to put the purchase of emergency equipment out to bid.
The put the proverbial cart before the horse.
The specs drawn up by Westfield, and advertised in an April edition of the Westfield Leader newspaper, matched the emergency mobile command center that was being hidden at Sevell's.
The "deal" to purchase the equipment was made long before the bid process started. The bid process was a facade.
That process, while at face value may appear to be "non-criminal," wasn't ethical.
That is not for the county prosecutor to decide.
Anonymous,
DeleteYour myopic attitude is typical of the ignorant Skibitsky follower.
AMEN to that! Move on man - isn't there a traffic light somewhere in town you want to dispute or something? Seems you have the time.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor would love nothing more than for me to "move on" and out. That's not happening. Until the mayor answers factual questions with factual answers, practices the transparency he preaches and understands he will be held accountable for his decisions, this site will continue.
DeleteJust cause the UCPO didnt find any criminal action, doesnt mean they didnt violate town policy or other ordinance.........just so you know
ReplyDeleteNew Jersey has a bidding process and it is governed by the lawmakers in Trenton. The Union County Prosecutors Office does not enforce those laws.
Delete