UNION CITY AND BEYOND — According to media reports, the state’s Joint Legislative Commission on Ethical Standards has dismissed a complaint against State Sen. Brian Stack, who is also mayor of Union City. The complaint was made against Stack by former Deputy Police Chief Joseph Blaettler, who has made several other allegations about Union City officials that have been investigated in media reports and by other authorities. But apparently, this complaint will not be pursued further.
The state committee voted 5-1 not to pursue it last week, according to NJ.com.
In this case, Stack was accused of using Mark Albiez, his paid state legislative aide, to also serve as a spokesman for the city of Union City.
Albiez actually does perform as a spokesman for Stack in Union City. Stack has told the state in a letter that Albiez does that work for free.
In October, Albiez said, “I think the people understand that I am fully committed” to serving.
Albiez is a paid aide to both Stack and to Hoboken-based Assemblyman Ruben Ramos.
At the time, a media report quoted Nancy Erika Smith, a member of the Joint Legislative Commission on Ethical Standards, as saying that Albiez earns $75,000 for both legislative jobs. Smith was quoted as saying: “He’s collecting two state pays. He’s collecting from the Assembly and Senate … That might be nights and weekends, and that might be the way it is, but it’s a little disturbing.”
While this complaint was apparently dismissed last week, other issues brought to light by Blaettler have made bigger waves. Blaettler’s inquiries led to an investigation by the state attorney general into the city’s former top cop, Chief Charles Everett, apparently earning thousands of dollars in extra pay each year for security work at a school athletic field — work he allegedly may not have always showed up for, according to media reports.
Everett retired last month, just a day before the city filed a report accusing him and other police of manipulating the system so that police superiors would get the plum off-duty assignments.
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