Livingston Welcomes Two New Police Officers; Presents Check to St. Barnabas Burn Foundation

For only its second regular meeting since its reorganization, the Livingston Town Council already had a full schedule Monday night.

The Council held a swearing in ceremony for two new police officers, presented a check to the on behalf of the , and said good-bye to longtime Essex County Liaison Anthony Puglisi while welcoming his replacement, Eileen Fishman.

Donation to Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation

After relocating spectacular holiday display to the township gazebo this past December, the town maintained the Camuso family tradition of requesting donations to the Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation from the many entranced visitors to the attraction.

Mayor Steven A. Santola, the committee co-chair for the Camuso Holiday Committee, presented a check for $4,379 to the Saint Barnabas Burn Unit. 

In accepting the check, Beverly K. Foster, the director of the Burn Foundation, said she had a "long history with the Camuso family."

Foster, who attended of the display, thanked the mayor and council for accepting the Camuso display and keeping the 50-year tradition going.

The hospital's Vice President for External Affairs Louis LaSalle also thanked the Camuso Holiday Committee and Santola for their year-long efforts in putting the display together.
"You did a yeoman's job," LaSalle said to Santola.

For his part, Santola thanked the auxiliary folice force for their month-long volunteer work supervising the display every night. As Santola explained, the town did not have enough money to pay for police overtime or take police officers off the street to monitor crowds.

Santola noted auxiliary police officers volunteered from 6 p.m. until "whatever time the town decided to shut down" the display depending on the level of crowds.  "Some nights got very cold," Santola noted.

New Police Officers 

Family, friends, as well as a large contingent of Livingston Police officers were all on hand to welcome the two newest members of the department, Brian Baker and Joseph Santasieri.

After Police Chief Craig Handschuch gave a brief overview of the two candidates, Baker and Santasieri were sworn in by Livingston Township Clerk Glenn Turtletaub followed by the pinning of their new shields by Township Manager Michele Meade.

Baker, a resident of Pompton Plains, has previous experience as a corrections officer. In addition to graduating from the police academy, he is currently working on a sociology degree at William Paterson University.

Santasieri, a Livingston resident, is a 2010 graduate from the Essex County Police Academy. He also is a graduate of Montclair State University. 

Handschuch commended both Baker and Santasieri on their "fine job" in earning a position on the Livingston police force.

Puglisi Turns Over Liaison Duties

While Santola said the council was welcoming two new police officers, they were also "saying good-bye to an old friend".  

Usually Essex County Public Information Director and County liaison for Livingston Anthony Puglisi gives his update at the end of council meetings.

However, Santola said after Puglisi had to sit through many long meetings and various proclamations, his report should go first at his final meeting.

In addition, Santola had a proclamation for Puglisi himself. In presenting a plaque to Puglisi, Santola commended Puglisi for his "responsiveness, dedication, regular attendance, prompt response,and sense of humor."

Puglisi said he has enjoyed spending time in Livingston.  "This is one of the most professionally run towns," he noted. Puglisi will be be replaced as county liaison by Fishman who was also in attendance at the meeting.

Other Council Business

• Puglisi was not the only public official receiving recognition for his service.  During the public portion of the meeting American Legion Post 201 Commander Nick Pulitano presented Deputy Mayor Rudy Fernandez with a commemorative scarf in honor of the amount of time Fernandez spent with the organization. Fernandez, who was the mayor last year, said he was honored to spend time with the veterans.
• Santola called for a moment of silence while the town remembered Kenneth O'Neill, 52, a planning board member, former president and a member of the Livingston Kiwanis, and longtime Livingston volunteer who died Saturday. 
• Livingston resident John Anderson distributed photos of rats allegedly caught at the Department of Public Works (DPW) garage.  Anderson was also concerned about a blogger who identified himself on a forum only as a "DPW worker" and discussed problems at the garage. When Santola asked Anderson if he took the pictures or knew who did, Anderson said he did not. Santola responded by saying "We cannot respond to anonymous bloggers.  We operate on facts."  Meade said it would not be surprising if rats were in the DPW garage since the garage is near a brook. "Rats make their home along waterways," she explained.  However if rats did reside in the garage, the town "would take care of it", Meade said.
• During the conference portion of the meeting, the council discussed a preparing an ordinance regarding garage sales. As Santola summarized, the town wants to "control signage and the number of garage sales" a resident can have. While the council agreed to eliminate the permit application and fee, residents will have to provide electronic notice to Turtlebaum of an upcoming garage sale.  "We need to have a record if your neighbor is having a garage sale every weekend," Councilman Deborah Shapiro said.