Given all of the recent reports covering Dumont's political boss Joe Ferriero, they all combine to clearly show that the Democrats have turned Bergen County, and all the towns that they control, into their personal ATM machines for withdrawing taxpayer money. Is there any wonder as to why Ferriero and friends have retained the best top criminal defense lawyers ?????.
We have all read that Federal subpoenas have been issued to various towns. From the reports, it appears that Ferriero and his cohorts established a phantom company, Governmental Grants Consulting, whereby they used their political connections to receive and channel grant money to the towns they control. It also appears that they took a piece of the action for themselves. It is no surprise that the Bergen Record also listed Dumont. Remember, McHale was the Director of the Bergen County Democratic Organization and his boss, Ferriero, personally administered the oath of office when McHale became mayor. McHale and his Council Democrats appointed this firmed owned by their political bosses in 2005.
This political company has been described as a limited liability corporation, however no incorporation papers have been found, no corporate registration exists as required by state law, nor have any of the required documents produced that would have allowed them to even open a bank account. Lacking any of these required documents, how could McHale, let alone his Borough Attorney, have appointed them in Dumont?
It is hard to argue that any real "work" was done on any town's behalf. Given their political connections, it is more likely that they used their connections to simply have their grant applications placed at the "top of the pile". Now, the questions becomes, just whose pile was influenced? Just how far will this corruption investigation extend into our levels of local, county and state government?
From the continued coverage of the Bergen Record on June 21:
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal investigators have executed numerous subpoenas in recent weeks, seeking information about Governmental Grants Consulting".
"As chairman of the county Democratic Party, Ferriero has substantial political influence in the county. Many municipal officials owe their election to the party’s financial support, as do many state and county officials".
"Bergen County municipalities paid the firm 10 percent of the first $1 million in grant money it obtained for them, plus a retainer in some cases, according to contracts obtained by The Record".
“The checks would get sent to my offices,” Spatz said. “I turned them over to Joe Ferriero, who opened up the bank account.”
"After the checks were deposited, Spatz said, the money was divided among the four partners".
From the Bergen Record on June 14:
"A consulting firm at the center of a federal investigation did not incorporate in New Jersey or file an affirmative action report, as required by law, according to state officials.
Governmental Grants Consulting also doesn’t show up in a database covering corporate documents from all 50 states.
The only paper trail left behind by the firm is the contracts it had with at least five Bergen County municipalities, along with records showing payments for those contracts.
To do business and to open a bank account, limited liability corporations must register with the state Department of Treasury."
