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| Councilman Frank Arena |
While Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky paraded his town attorney to the microphone at a recent town council meeting to read a statement from the Union County Prosecutor, which exonerated some from criminal actions regarding the emergency mobile command centers purchase, other state agencies continue to investigate the "procurement" of the apparatus.To no surprise, the Union County Prosecutor found no evidence of bribery which would have been needed to levy criminal charges against town employees involved in the purchase of the emergency mobile command center. Bribery was never alleged by anyone before the prosecutors office stepped in to investigate.
There are those that will continue to question why emergency equipment approved for purchase by the Westfield Town Council, in April of 2013, was found hidden in Sevell's garage in Westfield a month before any manufacturer picked up bid specifications to build the command center.
Westfield Councilman Frank Arena has described a taxpayers right to question the town council as "self serving, ad nauseam, propaganda." Perhaps Councilman Arena isn't accustomed to being questioned and held accountable for his actions. Just answer the questions asked.
TFoTM recommends the good councilman purchase some antiemetics.......but not with Westfield tax dollars.
Can you please post A. John Blake's email to these other government agencies investigating this criminal activity. Would like to see full transparency on your part.
ReplyDeleteA. John Blake is not involved in the other agencies investigating the "procurement" of the emergency mobile command center.
ReplyDeleteThen please share these correspondences from whomever is the source...full transparency goes both ways.
ReplyDeleteYou don't dictate what gets shared or when it is shared.
DeleteThen please publish the correspondences from whomever is providing information to these "agencies". Transparency runs both ways.
ReplyDeleteSince when does transparency go both ways in an investigation? You'll have to wait until the outcome of any investigation being done by another agency.
DeleteAsk Mayor Skibitsky or Town Administrator Jim Gildea for the information, that is of course, if they will admit to an anonymous person that other agencies are investigating.
DeleteElected officials are the ones that promise transparency.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha. Lame excuse. Show us what you have....be open an honest as you request of your public officials!
ReplyDeleteI only request that which public officials promised when they campaigned for elected office.
DeleteThe facts speak for themselves and the town knows what they are. Ask your town officials to reveal to you the correspondence or let them reman in denial.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThis blog is protected by the State from having to divulge sources. This blog was already threatened with a grand jury subpoena and went to court to protect its sources. This blog won.
Do you really think that your petty taunts are gong to get me to reveal voluntarily what Prosecutor Romankow couldn't scare or force me into telling?
Without me and this blog, you would never have known that the emergency mobile command center, flaunted as a bargain due to the negotiating abilities of Police Chief Wayman was in fact a floor model that was "on sale" for a reduced price.
Without this blog you would never know that the floor model sat in Sevell's warehouse for months before the public was even told the Town intended to buy it.
Without this blog, no one would know that the specifications drawn up to set forth the Town's needs in a command center were in fact dictated by the specifications of a floor model we agreed to buy well before any bids were solicited by the Town.
Knowing all this to be facts, why would you care how I inow or who else knows, unless you are somehow defensive of these actions.
If you want transparency, why don't you ask the persons responsible for creating the charade, rather than the blog unmasking it?
Are you serious? So what, they bought a floor model...why is that ground-breaking. Sounds as ridiculous and yoru crossing guard debacle. Seriously...? But I'd certainly like to see the letters you and Blake write to whichever agencies to get them to investigate this Westfield crisis...sharing this shouldn't be a big deal, in fact is would show the hard work you two are performing behidn the scenes that are saving Gotham City.
ReplyDeleteYou almost sound like a member of the Council who is trying to minimize the necessity of honesty in public contracts. If the Town wanted to purchase a used or floor model Command Center, the specs drawn up by the Town should have stated that.
DeleteIf the Town wanted to be honest when it purchased this floor model, the Councilman praising the Chief for his bargaining ability would have mentioned it and not let everyone think this was a Command Center custom made to Westfield's specifications. The fact of the matter is that Westfield's specifications were custom made by the manufacturer to fit its floor model.
Why do you belittle anyone who uncovers the disingenuousness of public officials? Why would you not question the public official who has misled?
Do you find it difficult to understand that public officials are expected and required to tell the truth and to be honest and candid? That is a duty each accepts when he /she runs for office. Why do you attack the messenger who carries proof that the officials may not be correct?
Also, don't forget, in order to effect this purchase, the Town entered into a course of conduct that included an exhibition at the Armory, months before any public mention of the purchase, and had a straw host of that exhibition. If the Town officials were candid and above board, why were the vehicles stored in Sevell's until they legally became the property of the Town months later?
Why did the Town go through the masquerade of seeking bids on what was obviously a "done deal"?
It doesn't take genius status to understand that your questions are misplaced and most probably on purpose. You are trying to deflect the same way the Council does--- shoot the messenger.
Show us the correspondence to these agencies. Too easy being you...isn't it. Making up conspiracy theories and allegations.....just show us what you've been doing on our behalf.
ReplyDeleteNo Sir, it is not easy standing up for the rules in which you believe. It was not easy to fight a Grand Jury subpoena when the only thing that was sought was my source. It was not easy but I won. it is not easy to give up personal time to go before a Council of elected officials and ask them where the Command Center is and be told it was at the Super Bowl when you have documented and photographic proof that it was guarding a curling concession on a pier in Hoboken when that city was trying to cash in on the Super Bowl. It is not easy to to ask a factual question of an elected official and have him/her dissemble, divert and then attack the messenger. It is not easy to stand up for a right.
DeleteWho is the "us" for whom you speak? Why is important to know if further complaints have been made and to whom? Wouldn't it be more important to know the results?
Do you have any care that you seem to be satisfied with the half-truths and disingenuous comments of your elected and appointed officials?
You may ask until the cows come home. What I went to Court to protect against the unwarranted attack by Mr. Romankow's "special investigations unit" I will certainly not willingly give up to you.
I think it is far more instructive that you ignore the transgression in order to find out to whom it was disclosed. Are you that protective of the Establishment that you try to bait me into disclosure? Forget it.
Such a martyr you are...delusional, but I guess that's what happens when one has so much time on his hands.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
DeleteMartyr. Let me see. According to your definition, a martyr would be someone about whom you would complain because he gave the lions indigestion. Or is a martyr the man who was so rude as to tell the King he had no clothes? Martyrs are bad because, according to your way of thinking, they aggravated someone into killing them. it is all the fault of the martyr.
@Anonymous- Kasko is the guy who speaks up and says "The Emperor/King has no clothes." For that, he provides a great service to the citizens/taxpayers of this town. Feel free to put your head in the sand but don't say you haven't been told of what goes on in and around city hall.
ReplyDeleteYet Anonymous you continue to check this blog to see what is posted! If the Mayor and Council have nothing to hide why can't they speak the truth? It will truly set them free.
ReplyDelete