TOWN WATCH
NEWARK – The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission hopes to hear from the U.S. Environmental Agency on or before April 1 to see if their proposed natural gas-fueled backup generator plant will receive an air permit. The PVSC board decided to table final approval of the plant at their March 13 meeting here until they hear from the EPA.
The commission’s controversial $180 million project needs that federal air clearance to grant their final approval. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection had given the project their approval around Feb. 15.
The commission, which would build the backup power generator at their sewage treatment plant at 600 Wilson Ave. tabled their vote that Thursday after hearing from some 30 public speakers and pre-meeting demonstrators protested the plan.
Citing how 600 Wilson Ave. lost power for four days after Superstorm Sandy on Halloween 2012 and had to dump raw sewage into Newark Bay, the commission said this generator will be used for emergencies only.
Opponents objected to the plant on two main points. The plant, as designed, would use natural gas instead of renewable energy. Its Ironbound location would add a fourth power plant using fossil fuel.
IRVINGTON – A formal mentoring program, moving the Internal Affairs office out of a parking garage and increasing the Irvington Police Division’s social media presence may be seen by residents and visitors here on or before 2029.
The above items are among a 19-point three-year strategic plan for IPD presented by the township’s Public Safety Department last month. The 19 points are among five categories: training and development, recruitment and branding, public safety enhancement, operational excellence and facilities upgrading.
The facilities plan intends to move IA from 561-567 Nye Ave, where it shares an office with the Irvington Parking Authority. The Public Safety Building – the Police and Fire Headquarters and Municipal Court built in 1974 at Civic Square – is to have its cell block renovated and install a “high-tech security system to identify and prohibit contraband from entering police facilities.”
Training and development includes a formal mentoring program and implementing officer cross training for investigative assignments. Other points include “publicizing crimes,” buying tasers and expanding IPD’s cadet and Explorer programs.
The report started out with a January-September 2024 crime report on seven personal and property crime categories. Murder, sexual assault, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts and overall arrests those nine months were down from comparable periods in 2023 and 2022.
EAST ORANGE – The deaths of two retired officers has meant that the East Orange Police Department has had a March month of mourning. Bunting and flag lowerings were first made March 3 for Lt. Hosia Reynolds. The salutation continued for Capt. Michael Palardy, Sr. (See West Orange for Palardy.)
Hosia Daniel Reynolds, 63, who was born Sept. 16, 1961 at Abbeville, Ala., died here March 3. As one of “East Orange’s Finest,” he was promoted to second shift desk sergeant by 2008 and as lieutenant in 2015. He retired that year to become South River Police and Board of Education’s Fourth Class Special Law Enforcement Officer in 2018.
The EOPD Detective Bureau member came from Alabama by way of Kean now-University. He moved to Elizabeth in part to be a running back for the Kean Cougars 1980-84. Daniels was honorably mentioned for the NJSIAA 1983 All-NJAC Team.
While on the city beat, Daniels wrote the forward to DeLacy Davis’ 2006 “Black Cops Against Police Brutality: A Crisis Action Plan.” Wife Manisha Reynolds is among Daniel’s survivors. His funeral was held March 12 at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset County’s Franklin Township.
GSP Mishap Claims Cleric
A fatal March 21 accident here at Garden State Parkway Milepost 146.4 has been felt in upstate New York. New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffry Lebron said that state troopers, responding to an accident call there at 1 a.m. that Friday, found Rabbi Eliyahu “Eli” Fink, 43, lifeless on one of the northbound lanes – and his red Tesla Model Y in the southbound far left lane.
The NJSP’s preliminary investigation found that Fink was driving his red Tesla Model Y south when it had a single car accident near Exit 145. Fink got out of the car when a video recording saw him get struck by a Jeep Cherokee and vaulted onto the northbound lanes. Fink was then hit by “multiple” cars. All lanes were closed during the on-site investigation.
Fink, of Money, N.Y., was known for writing his FinkorSwim blog and his earlier “The Soul of The Biz” “Jewish Journal” column. The second-generation Baltimore-born Orthodox rabbi, who was a married father of three, had his funeral in Suffern March 23. TheChesedFund.com has launched a fundraiser for his family.
ORANGE – The city’s police detective bureau and officers are looking for an armed robbery suspect who had victimized a North Ward resident here on March 17.
OPD patrol officers said they were responding to a robbery report at 3:45 p.m. that Monday from 32 Ridge St. – but they were flagged down by a man at 52 Ridge.
The man said that he was loading equipment on the driver’s side of his van when he felt his wallet being lifted from his back pocket. He turned to see a “Black male, approximately 5-ft., 6-in. tall, between 25 and 30 years old and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The victim said he attempted to chase the suspect to retrieve the wallet. That pursuit just as quickly ended when the suspect turned, “lifted up his shirt, revealing a green pistol,” the suspect continued running south towards White Street.
Also, the victim was uninjured but notified his personal and business banks of the loss of his cards. The investigation continues.
WEST ORANGE – The East Orange Police Headquarters honored one of its own, Michael Palardy, Sr., even though he was a longtime West Orange resident throughout his 21-year career. Palardy, 79, who died in Toms River March 14, was a scholar-athlete before “joining the family business.”
Born in Orange Oct. 28, 1945, Michael John Palardy was born in Orange to father and future West Orange Deputy Police Chief Elmer, mother Celia Palardy, brothers Donald and Edward and sister Barbara. The 1964 Mountain High School scholar-athlete started out as a West Orange High Cowboy until after MHS opened in 1960.
The 1996 West Orange Athletic Hall of Fame inductee was hailed for his track and field – and particularly football. The nimble running back, for example, ran a 48-year return against East Hanover for a touchdown Nov. 24, 1963. The William Paterson then-College graduate took up Golden Gloves boxing, becoming 1968 middleweight champion and amassing a 24-bout winning streak before losing in the National Championship final.
Palardy dropped his gloves and picked up a badge in 1969. There may have been a lot of shop talking given that Donald and Edward were WOPD officers. Son Matthew also joined “West Orange’s Finest,” but Michael, Jr. joined Millburn’s force. Michael Sr., drew numerous awards for bravery and dedication before retiring as Captain and becoming The Mall at Short Hills’ 14-year security director.
Michael and high school sweetheart Donna Dusche moved to The Villages, Fla but moved to Toms River after her 2013 death. Brothers Donald and Edward, as West Orange Police Chief, and sons Michael and Matthew had all retired by then.
Edward, Matthew, Michael, Jr. and three grandchildren are among his survivors. Donald and sister Barbara Stizza had predeceased him. A Funeral Mass at E. Hanover’s St. Rose of Lima Church was held March 20.
SOUTH ORANGE – The village’s police detective bureau is looking at neighborhood video surveillance camera footage from March 17, when an attempted break in of a Montrose section residence was made.
Village police officers said they had responded to a Montrose Avenue resident’s call that Monday and arrived to find the caller – and some damage to the house’s front door.
The resident said he saw two people approaching the front door dresses in masks, hooded sweatshirts and gloves. One of the pair was carrying a crowbar.
The duo, said the victim, then began trying to kick down the front door until he yelled at them from inside the house. The pair then fled to their getaway vehicle parked on Woodland Place.
Anyone with information is asked to call the SOPD Detective Bureau.
MAPLEWOOD / MONTCLAIR – Montclair elders spent parts of March considering creating something that Maplewood already has – a stormwater utility.
The Montclair Township Committee took a step forward March 11 by introducing an ordinance requiring planning or zoning site applicants to submit a stormwater management plan. The plan, paid for by a $1,500 escrow fee, would be evaluated by the Township Engineer.
As far as spinning off a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) from Montclair’s Department of Community Services, stormwater expert David Bulova, of Fairfax, Va., said that such a utility would be managed by the municipal planning board but its site plan surveys by the engineering department. Bulova, who is also a Virginia State Delegate, suggested that Montclair may reach out to West Orange, Glen Ridge and/or Bloomfield for a joint MS4 since they share Montclair’s streams and brooks east of the Orange (or First Watchung) Mountain.
Maplewood’s elders have meanwhile created an MS4 utility Dec. 17 and passed an amendment to extend the property owner challenge to the land assessment from 30 days to 90 on Jan. 21.
What Maplewood has and what Montclair is mulling would create the utility as allowed by the state’s Clean Water Act of 2004’s recent Climate Change Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment, The assessment maps out a municipality’s catch basins, drains, culverts, brooks, streams that are on or adjacent to a property.
Part of the assessment is to identify any restrictions and/or blockages that affect storm water flow. The municipality would then identify which areas would be more prone to flooding.
Additionally, part of the assessment would create a basis for charging a property owner. (A large property that has a parking lot, for example, would be charged more than for a smaller property that only has street parking.)
BLOOMFIELD – Mayor Jenny Mundell and the Township Council lent their support of New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act (NJITA) by unanimously passing a resolution here March 13 for State House passage and Gov. Phil Murphy’s signing.
Circulating in the State House as Assembly Bill No. 4987/ Senate Bill No. S3672, the NJITA would reinforce the state’s 2019 Immigration Trust Directive, which allows residents to access public services without fear of deportation. NJITA would further commit New Jersey to provide a safe and inclusive environment to all its residents regardless of immigration status.
Eight of A4987’s 28 co-sponsors are “Local Talk” representatives: Rosaline Beguile, Alixon Collazos-Gill, Garnet Hall, Carmen Morales, Eliana Marin, Shanique Speight, Cleopatra Tucker and Michael Venezia. State Senators Renee Burgess, John McKeon, Tresa Ruiz and Britnee Timberlake are among S3672 15. co-sponsors.
Illegal Weapons Possession
What started out as a Newark man’s trip to the Home Depot here March 21, said Bloomfield police, ended up with being detained as of press time at Newark’s Essex County Correctional Facility and awaiting an arrangement hearing.
BPD officers, responding to the store security officer’s call of “several individuals arguing,” arrived at 60 Orange St., Friday. The calling guards said that he had witnessed one of the men, “taking what appears to be a firearm out of his vehicle.”
The officers found a man within the store – later identified as Jason Aygemang – matching the guard’s description. Aygemang said that he had a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver and that he does not have a permit for it – as also a pair of brass knuckles in his car which is a banned state weapon. Charges against Aygemang also included making a terroristic threat.
BELLEVILLE – Those who want to submit their input towards the Belleville Public Schools’ next superintendent, whose in-person presentations began March 20, still have until 7 p.m. March 28 to fill out an online survey form.
The Belleville Board of Education Trustees and consultant Strategic Exemplary Alliance unrolled the public part of the search at their March 20 meeting. Breakout public circles were scheduled to be held at the Belleville High School Auditorium March 26 and a virtual forum 7 p.m. March 27.
The BOE Trustees hired SEA, of Oradell, Feb. 24, based on their 50 superintendent searches it had conducted the last 11 years. They presented a timeline where they hope to have a new superintendent hired and working on or before July 1.
That timeline includes: * April 3-27 “Help Wanted” ad posted. * April 26-27 all day finalist interviews. * May 5-12 contract negotiations. * May 19 public finalist announcement.
It is not clear as of press time whether Interim Superintendent Nick Perrapato, formerly of Garfield Public Schools, is a candidate. Perrapato succeeds nine-year superintendent Dr. Richard Tomko who resigned June 30 to become Garfield’s super.
