Even as former County Executive Robert Janiszewski pleads with federal court for mercy to get his 41-month sentence to federal prison reduced, for two men in Hudson County, justice for Janiszewski has been long coming: Attorney John Frohling and former Social Services Supervisor for Meadowview Geriatric Hospital Harry Stewart.
In 1995, Frohling and Stewart railed against the privatizing of the county senior citizen facility in Secaucus, pointing to a host of questions about the new providers that had gone unanswered in the rush to downsize county government so that Janiszewski could win re-election that year.
Hundreds of longtime county employees got the ax, many losing pensions as they found themselves back in the job market after believing their jobs with government were secure.
During the last 10 years, both Frohling and Stewart waited to be proven right in their claims. And over those 10 years, their predictions in 1995 slowly came true. Progressive Healthcare, which took over the operations, was proven to be as irresponsible as Frohling and Stewart claimed, eventually being thrown out of the facility, with one owner charged and convicted of pilfering money from the patients.
Janiszewski – who faced sentencing in March and received what U. S District Judge Pisano called “a very favorable plea bargain” with a maximum of 41 months in jail – admitted to taking bribes connected with some contracts dealing with county patients.
For Stewart, who has lived within eyesight of the Meadowview Hospital facility for the last decade, other ghosts remain, the spirits of the patients that died in the aftermath of the takeover when the staff had been reduced. The death by heart attack of a nurse there just after the takeover in 1995 still haunts him.
“If the county was still running the place, there would have been a doctor there to help her,” Stewart recalled. But the privatized facility had doctors on call, reachable by pager, and not immediately available for that nurse. “I’ve always sought justice, not revenge,” Stewart said. “I remember how hurtful that downsizing was to all those people who lost their jobs. As the social worker supervisor, it was my job to fight for the rights of the residents. In fighting the downsizing, that’s what I did. But everybody that stood up and fought got hurt, and it broke my heart to see it. Janiszewski got justice. That’s all I’ve ever asked for.”
In hearing the sentence of the court last month, Frohling pumped his fist into the air and shouted, “We got him!”
Secaucus DPW chief may see job chopped up
Although not yet put out of his position as superintendent of the Department of Public Works in Secaucus, Michael Gonnelli may see his job broken into pieces and doled out to people more politically acceptable to Mayor Dennis Elwell.
Gonnelli, who was named to head the DPW by former Mayor Anthony Just in the early 1990s, had combined several departments that will be broken out again once the battle over his retirement package concludes and Gonnelli moves on to greener and less hostile pastures elsewhere.
Recreation Director John Voli appears to have the edge for operating buildings and grounds, since this would include taking care of sports fields throughout the town. Voli would get an extra stipend for his additional chores.
George Jensen, transportation coordinator for senior and town shuttles, will likely take over maintenance and mechanics in the garage.
DPW worker Dave McAdam, Gonnelli’s one-time friend turned ardent opponent will likely get recycling supervisor. This is a bit of a twist since McAdam filed employee complaints against Gonnelli, the mayor, and the town administrator during his multi-year battle to regain his duties at the town’s ice rink.
But don’t think Town Hall is giving him this bone for no reason. McAdam’s wife, Dawn, gave seasoned 1st Ward Councilman Michael Grecco a run for his money in an election bid three years ago. She could pose a serious threat to newcomer Richard Kane, who is running with Elwell this year. The bone may be to keep her from running.
Gonnelli’s title as superintendent is still up from grabs, although will likely go to one of a handful of longtime DPW supervisors. But you can pretty much count out supervisor Chuck Snyder, whose loyalty to Gonnelli would put him on the wrong side of the political fence.
What the heck is the Roberts campaign doing?
To further illustrate the assumption of last week’s column that the Hoboken campaign for mayor is incumbent Mayor Dave Roberts’ to lose, a glimpse at his poll numbers show he had an advantage over all his challengers. A source says that Roberts’ poll showed that 38 percent of likely voters would select him over his challengers, Councilwoman Carol Marsh, Councilman Michael Russo, and businessman Frank Raia.
While these are hardly overwhelming numbers for an incumbent mayor – especially with an undecided percentage at 42 – Roberts was far ahead of the field at the start of the campaign because (according to his consultants) Marsh and Russo came in with 8 percent each and Raia with 3 percent.
With no dramatic campaign surprise, Roberts merely had to get 12 percent of the undecided voters for a first round election victory, leaving the others to divide the rest.
With all the heavy issues on the table, such as development, pay to play, and city finances, and the city budget already passed, this should have been an easy victory.
But insiders fear that a negative campaign on Roberts’ behalf could alter the election landscape, giving Roberts’ opponents’ issues they might not otherwise have.