From The Editor’s Desk, Sept. 8, 2010

(Editorial, Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Sept. 8, 2010)

The President of a Kearny contractor that did paving, curbs and other infrastructure work for the City of Perth Amboy has admitted before Superior Court Judge Anthony Mellaci Jr., sitting in Freehold, that her firm performed $25,000 worth of free paving and masonry work in 2002 at the High Street home of indicted former Mayor Joseph Vas.Through its President Helena Godinho, Jenicar Builders Contractors Co. Inc.
pleaded guilty to Conspiracy To Commit Official Misconduct, a third-degree offense. Mrs. Godinho succeeded her husband, Fernando Godinho, who died in November 2004.If the company, which was charged in a May 21, 2009 indictment along with Mr. Vas and longtime Mayor’s Aide Melvin Ramos, were convicted at-trial, it faced a fine of up to $150,000 and permanent debarment from public contracts. Under a plea agreement struck by state Deputy Attorneys General Diane Deal and Pearl Minato, Jenicar must pay a $45,000 fine, and its principals must cooperate in the ongoing investigation of Mr. Vas and Mr. Ramos, according to a prepared statement released by the state Attorney General’s Office. Jenicar’s sentencing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 18.This latest turn of events carries particular significance for the Amboy Beacon, which was lambasted by Mr. Vas after publishing information — including photographs — about his alleged dealings with Jenicar concerning the work done at his home. At that time, Mr. Vas produced what he said was a “paid bill” from another contractor whom he said had actually done the work with Jenicar’s equipment. Now, with Jenicar coming-forward, that so-called “paid bill” is thrown-into question.Mr. Vas, who also is a former 19th Legislative District Assemblyman, faces multiple second-degree counts of Conspiracy and Official Misconduct, among other charges, and other state and federal charges are pending against both Mr. Vas and Mr. Ramos.Conferencing on charges contained in the two state indictments is planned to get started on Monday, Nov. 4, while jury-selection already is underway for a trial scheduled for Monday, Sept. 13, in U.S. District Court, Newark, on a federal indictment charging other offenses.
Recently, two officials whose firm oversaw construction on the still-unfinished $89 million Public Safety/Municipal Court/Community Center Complex, New Brunswick and Amboy Avenues, President Frank Dominguez and Vice President Richard Briggs of the Imperial Construction Group Inc., Elizabeth, pleaded guilty in Superior Court to Submitting A False Government Contract.Mr. Dominguez and Mr. Briggs admitted before Judge Mellaci that they padded Imperial’s billing by $58,006 to pay for a catering job in conjunction with a “Grand Opening” celebration on behalf of Mr. Vas at the incomplete Complex as a way to enhance the former Mayor’s 2008 campaign for re-election, which he lost to political newcomer Wilda Diaz by almost 1,200 votes.In its coverage of that April 18, 2008 event, which glossy, full-color mailings were used to draw over 1,000 people to the Complex parking-lot, the Beacon raised a number of questions about its propriety, while other news organizations remained silent.“According to sources familiar with the construction, the Complex was opened for tours by the general public without having a Certificate of Occupancy (CO), thereby exposing city taxpayers to significant litigation if anyone had sustained any injuries,” we wrote in our April 23, 2008 edition.Mr. Dominguez said that Mr. Ramos and then-Business Administrator Donald Perlee suggested in a telephone call in April 2008 that the ceremony’s cost could be recouped by Imperial by inflating its billings for inspections. Mr. Perlee, who has not been charged, is cooperating in the investigation, according to Deputy Attorney General Deal. We’re planning to send someone to cover Jenicar’s sentencing and as-much of the former Mayor’s trials as we’re able-to with our limited resources.Of course, the Attorney General’s Office also has (rightly) noted that “indictments are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Stay-tuned for more on this.