Sinatra: The ‘Door-Opener’

By Jim Shea (Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Sept. 22, 2010)

NEWARK — Former Councilman Frank Sinatra was called to the stand last week by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Howe in the corruption trial of former Mayor Joseph Vas and his longtime Mayor’s Aide Melvin Ramos before U.S. District Court Judge Susan Wigenton.

Excerpts of Sinatra’s testimony follow.

Sinatra said that he was 80 years old and lived in Perth Amboy all of his life, except for 10 years in Freehold, that he’s a graduate of Perth Amboy High School and has three degrees from Rutgers, and that he started teaching in the Perth Amboy Public Schools in 1952. After serving in the U. S. Army from 1952 to 1954, he returned to the Perth Amboy Public Schools, where he
was employed in various capacities from 1954 until he retired in 1991. He was elected a Councilman, serving from 1992 until 2008, always running on the “Perth Amboy First” ticket with Vas — who became Mayor in 1990, following a recall — at the head of the ticket. “I was a liaison with the Planning Board,” Sinatra said. “In 2002, I was recruited by Hyland Associates to perform architectural consulting. The firm was located in Pennsylvania and New York City, and it had a small office in New Jersey. My employment ended in 2006.
“I was a developer for potential engineering work in the field of education,” Sinatra added. “I went-on to high-rise buildings.”  Sinatra described his work as being “a door-opener. I had a retainer, with
out-of-pocket expenses. Evan Samouhos was the owner. I met him through Harry Jones, a member of the Board of Education.” Howe asked Sinatra about Samouhos. “Evan wanted residential property in
excess of six units that needed rehabilitation,” Sinatra said. “He was looking for property eligible for funding. I assisted him and introduced him to Vas. “An appointment was arranged with Evan Samouhos and Vas on Aug. 4, arranged through (Vas Confidential Secretary) Debbie Palmer,” Sinatra said. “What did Vas say at the August 4 meeting? Did Vas direct you to anyone?”Howe asked. “Vas said talk to (Urban Enterprise Zone Chief Administrator) Robert McCoy and Melvin Ramos regarding housing property,” Sinatra replied.
“What did Vas say about the availability of funding? Did Vas direct you to anyone?” Howe asked. “Robert McCoy and Melvin Ramos,” Sinatra responded. “The relationship between Ramos and Vas was very-close.” “Do you see Ramos here?” Howe asked. Sinatra indicated where Ramos was seated. “I knew them to be very-close since Vas’s elections,” he said. “I asked if there were properties that needed to be upgraded.” “When did Ramos give you a list?” Howe asked. “In eight to 10 days,” Sinatra replied. “On Sept. 23, I first showed Evan Samouhos the DeKalb property. We visited the DeKalb property because it was a potential site that needs rehabilitation, because it is on the list.” “Did Evan Samouhos express interest in the DeKalb 12-family-unit property?” Howe asked Sinatra. “What happened with the DeKalb property?”
“The Mayor asked me to work through Ramos,” Sinatra replied. “I arranged an inspection. Mr. Ramos showed the property to Evan Samouhos. It was in the afternoon, during business-hours. We toured the building. Mr. Samouhos did check the entire property that day. To my knowledge, Mr. Samouhos never
met Mr. Ramos before that day.” “I continued working with Evan Samouhos on the purchase of the property,” Sinatra said “I assisted in the inspection of the property.” “Are you aware of the word ‘appraisal?’” Howe asked Sinatra. Howe submitted “Government Exhibit 104, Appraisal of Property for DeKalb,” as evidence. “Mr. Ramos gave me the appraisal,” Sinatra told Howe. “What was your reaction, did you draw a conclusion?” Howe asked. “Mr. Sinatra was not an appraiser,” a defense attorney said.
“I thought that it was of high value,” Sinatra said, noting that “Evan Samouhos is still interested in the property, and Evans’ son was interested in doing work for Perth Amboy.” Howe then asked Sinatra about an entry that he had made in the Call Report (Exhibit 405), that Sinatra prepared for February 2006.
“Harry Jones retired, and was now working with Evan Samouhos,” Sinatra said. “Harry will be working on the property. Regarding a Feb. 28, 2006 meeting, I met with Ramos. Harry wanted to know what had to be done with the property in-order for it to qualify for funds. If certain renovations were performed, it would qualify for funds. It was the first time Mr. Jones met with Mr. Ramos. If a proper application was made, certain funding would be made available. Once property was purchased, funds would be made available.”
Howe also asked about the March Call Report (Exhibit 406). Sinatra responded that “the DeKalb property was proceeding, and that funding will be available.” In the May 2008 Call Report (Exhibit 408), he said, “Evan has closed on the property. Evan was actually the owner and was actually making the drawings. Mr. Jones was sent to City Hall to pick up the check. “Harry Jones asked me to go with him to Jeff Gumbs, since Jones didn’t know Jeff Gumbs,” Sinatra said. “Gumbs handled the fund money. Jones filled-out the application to get the necessary funds after the meeting.” “How did you feel, after the meeting, when you learned that funds were not immediately-available; was there a Resolution on the agenda regarding the
DeKalb property?” Howe asked Sinatra.“I abstained on the vote,” Sinatra said.“What did Vas and Ramos say about the Mayor just selling the property?” Howe asked. “Based on your experience, is this type of information important in considering, based on your experience as a City Councilman?” “Nobody on the Council ever asked the question about the previous ownership of the property,” Sinatra replied. “Should the members of the Council know this information when voting on a Resolution?” Howe asked. “$360,000 (in COAH funds) was never received,” Sinatra told Howe. “(Former Gov. Jon) Corzine put a freeze on it. Rehabilitation did commence, so Mr. Samouhos evidently used his own money.” The defense objected. “Evan was proceeding with his work.” “Did you speak with anyone regarding whether work was proceeding?” Howe asked Sinatra. “I told Ramos and Vas that Evan was completing the work and needed the money,” Sinatra responded. “$90,000 was authorized by the Mayor in the early part of January 2007.”
“Did you give to the Vas campaign for Congress from the 13th District?” Howe asked. “(Former Vas political advisor Raymond) Geneske said he’d give me $4,200 in cash if my wife and I would make-out checks to Vas’s campaign,” Sinatra said. “My wife and I talked about the matter. I gave Geneske back $2,100 and said that I would make out a check for $2,100 (507 in evidence). I took the $2,100 check, dated June 1, for ‘Vas for Congress,’ to City Hall and gave it to Mr. Ramos. Mr. Geneske advised me to give the check to Ramos.” “Were you aware that giving cash under campaign law was illegal?” Howe
asked. “Yes,” Sinatra replied. “You were a ‘door-opener’ for Mr. Samouhos. Were you paid a retainer?”
Zegas asked Sinatra. “I was doing consulting work for Hyland Associates.” Sinatra replied.
“Do you have any business degree or architectural degree?” Zegas asked. “No,” Sinatra replied. “Hyland Associates paid me $1,500 monthly to open-doors, then paid me $4,000-a-month. I got $3,000-a-month, then it changed to $100-an-hour.” “It was in your interest to provide affordable housing for Perth Amboy?”
Zegas asked. “It was in your interest to have RCA funding in Perth Amboy? Did Mr. Jones have any interest in funding? Harry Jones is your friend. Your friend, Harry Jones, stood to gain. Mr. Jones was acting as an agent for Mr. Samouhos. You were ‘opening-doors,’ and Hyland Associates would draw the plans.”
“Mr. Ramos told you that the Mayor had an interest in the property. Did you have an executive meeting before the regular meeting?” Ballarotto asked. “You didn’t think it important?” “No,” Sinatra replied.
“Mr. Ramos told you that the Mayor owned the property?” Ballarotto asked. “Yes,” Sinatra replied.
“Why didn’t you think to tell the Council that the Mayor owned the property?” Ballarotto asked.
“Upon reflection today, I feel differently,” Sinatra stated.