NJ.com – by Agustin C. TorresWho is Timothy J. Grossi? He is allegedly a scheming North Bergen public servant, a Department of Public Works deputy director who falsified time sheets so several DPW Morlocks could work on election campaigns, run chores and work on Grossi’s home — according to the state Attorney General.
Gosh, there seems to be a growing number of such allegations.
On Tuesday, township Parks and Recreation part-time aides Abraham Garcia, 56, and Walter Somick, 46, of Wayne were charged by the state of falsifying time sheets to collect hundreds of hours of pay when they are really at home, fooling around or doing anything but working for their paychecks. Although it probably paid for family vacations, the jobs were apparently not part-time enough. Now, they may have to pay back money, if found guilty, and each may face five to 10 years in prison jumpsuits.
Back to our original alleged bad boy, Grossi, who was charged in 2012 at age 72 and now he’s somewhere around 75. In my business, we get suspicious when a trial is rescheduled three times in an ongoing investigation. Delays in trials usually mean that a defendant has developed a craving for pigeon food. Grossi, who is said to have health issues, may be worried about the borders of the undiscovered country. Any sentence of more than five years can seem like a life term.
This is when you start to think – hey, is it possible that this guy is cooperating with prosecutors? Could Grossi, who has been a township fixture, know dark secrets in other township departments?
Before Grossi was charged, three other DPW supervisors’ were tabbed by the state as having their own taxpayer-paid servants and for – yes, you guessed it — working for campaigns of entrenched Democratic Party candidates during regular working hours. Remember, we said DPW, not Parks and Recreation.
Before Grossi, Superintendent James Wiley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit official misconduct. Under alleged orders from Grossi, Wiley admitted he directed DPW employees to perform hundreds of hours of chores at his house. Shockingly, it was claimed that these retainers were ordered to work on Hudson County Democratic Organization election campaigns while being paid by taxpayers.
Ten days later, DPW supervisors Troy Bunero and Francis Longo were indicted for allegedly directing township employees to personally serve “Lord” Wiley (nicknamed thus for naming his sons Czar and Count) — and of course work on campaigns.
North Bergen elected officials say, through a spokesman, that they were caught by surprise and that they were unaware of any shenanigans. Could they still be in the dark about other such “stolen hours?” Are they doing their own investigation or has the state taken the lead?
I ask this because of the charges announced this week against two guys from Parks and Recreation. It was done with almost surgical precision. This is why one of those who could face prison time is key — Walter Somick, 46. The other guy is Abe Garcia, 56.
According to NJ Advance Media’s Laura Herzog: Authorities say Garcia was paid at a rate of $1,038 every two weeks in 2014 and $1,094 every two weeks in 2015, or about 42 hours every two weeks. Somick was paid $1,405 every two weeks in 2014 and $1,481 every two weeks in 2015, putting in about 60 hours of work every two weeks.
Luckily, Garcia still works at the North Bergen High School as a security director and football coach. Somick is said to be an electrician.
Local lore, if we want to be that careful about it, says Mayor Nick Sacco is “very, very close” to the Somick family where you could say Walter is considered the baby.
The other important thing you have to know is never invite Sacco and Gov. Chris Christie to the same social event — unless it’s a blood wedding. They hate each other. Ergo, is there a surprise that the Sacco administration is having attorney general problems?
I know this is my blatant assumption but throw a dart at a map of New Jersey and you are more than likely going to hit municipal and county government defendants who could face similar misconduct/time sheet charges – like say in Jersey City. Again, with surgical or dart tournament precision, how far down the road before there is another announcement by state prosecutors.
Because it is verboten to talk to a North Bergen official or employee, here’s what reliable township spokesman Paul Swibinski said in 2012:
“The mayor and the administration are saddened by the news,” Paul Swibinski said. “(Grossi) is someone who has been considered a successful administrator.”
Swibinski said that Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the other commissioners were unaware of any wrong-doing in the DPW and noted that “unlike Mr. Wiley, Grossi is maintaining his innocence.”
Here’s what he said this week after the Parks and Recreation charges:
“While we have a zero tolerance for any corruption in North Bergen, we should realize that these charges involve two part-time recreation employees who are apparently being accused of time sheet infractions,” Swibinski said. The spokesman also added that the township considers the two “essential employees in the recreation department for many years.”
Is it a coincidence that the Parks and Recreation charges come when the township is embroiled in an election battle?
The campaign is heating up with ugly rhetoric and complaints by both sides. Sacco mayoral rival Larry Wainstein of the North Bergen Concerned Citizens Group just loves the attorney general’s activities. He has called upon Sacco to return any Somick campaign donations and even better, he asks that the administration step down from office. No response yet but it ain’t happening and the Sacco campaigners have their own intimidation charges against Wainstein followers.
If there’s one thing to focus on during the year, just keep asking yourself when does Grossi (Is he one of the Liberty Avenue boys?) go to trial?
It’s a shame that the election is on May 12, just around the corner. Too bad it can’t go into overtime. Then we’ll have to move on to Hoboken.
INSIDER NOTES
— Nicholas Chiaravalloti hosted a fundraising event at the, where else, Chandelier in Bayonne Thursday evening. Chiaravalloti and nonprofit founder Angela McKnight are the hand-picked Hudson County Democratic Organization’s 31st Legislation District Assembly candidates for the June primary. There’s not much enlightenment here. You had about 50 people for the $500 a ticket VIP section and about 200 folks at the $100 a pop crowd. The usual said hello and praised their candidates, including County Executive Tom DeGise and Peninsula City Mayor Jimmy Davis.
— I should say one thing came out of the event — the news that Jersey City cop Dejon Morris dropped out of the 31st Assembly race and endorsed the HCDeadO Assembly hopefuls. Hmmm, I wasn’t even certain he was ever really in it. Sources say Morris received a standard empty promise. But, you would think they’d want him to stay just to split opposition votes.
Assembly candidate Bruce Alston who rejected his Behind Door No. 2 offer, say sources. Essentially he was told to step down and there’s a good chance that Councilman Chico “lights and siren” Ramchal’s seat will become available.
— On Thursday, Bayonne Mayor Davis will have a pass-the-hat event at the Chandelier. Because it’s on the week that some celebrate Cinco de Mayo, the event is referred to as the Jimmy-Changa Gala.
— David Wildstein and Bridgegate was all the news this week, although there was nothing said about Gov. Chris Christie being involved. It didn’t stop Alan Zegas, Wildstein’s attorney, from once again claiming Christie knew about the George Washington Bridge lane closures.
Then the NFL draft started and — what were we talking about? Bridegate? Is that still in the news?
— I’ll be in Boston this weekend. It is an interesting town for politics. For instance, they’re all talking about Boston’s bid for the Olympics. Naturally, the international body that selects the 2024 site will announce the host city in 2017, probably a few months before Beantown’s local election.
According to Jim O’Sullivan of the Boston Globe, the push for the Olympics is popular in the more diverse populations of the city, according to surveys, and not so much in the other category. The kicker is that organizations pushing for host status do not have a diverse membership among its decision makers. Should Boston win the Olympics, who do you think will benefit most? Bet those diverse communities do not believe they will. All this comes into play in Boston politics.
When is Jersey City going to place its bid? Call it the Shoestring Olympics where most of the events will be held in Lincoln Park.
But hey, we have our own concerns. BTW, it’s Older Americans Month, so respect me.
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/05/political_insider_state_prosecutors_are_carving_de.html