Middletown BOE Candidate Says Fire Marshal Showed Up At Fundraiser

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Mark Soporowski, a candidate for Middletown school board, said he threw a fundraiser party Thursday night at the bar he owns, Gateway Bar & Liquors, and one of the town's fire inspectors showed up, which he thinks was politically motivated by Middletown Town Hall to intimidate him.

On Friday afternoon, Middletown Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante and Fire Marshal Buddy Skelly responded to Sporowski's allegation, which is a serious accusation of corruption by Middletown Township government.

"Yes, a fire inspector did show up there Thursday night. I can understand him being a little suspicious — Oh, did someone send him here? I think it's a legitimate question," said Mercantante. "So I called Middletown Fire Inspector Buddy Skelly this morning and I specifically asked Buddy that: Did anyone direct you to send a fire inspector there? He said no, absolutely not. He said he sent the fire inspector because he heard about (the party) online and knew it was going to be a large event, in what I think is a tiny bar. The capacity limits at that bar are actually only 35 people, I believe."

Skelly also talked to this Patch reporter Friday afternoon, and said he and he alone directed his inspector to go there. He said nobody told him to send a fire inspector.

"We find out where a lot of big events are," said Skelly. "For example, when we hear bands are playing at bars all over town, we send someone. We've showed up n the past to check occupancy at Navesink Country Club. We've sent fire inspectors to Gabriella's — that's a big one. We do it at High School North and South for graduations. Ross Brewery is another big one. If we are told they are having an event there in a tent, we send an inspector out to make sure it's safe. And no, we don't tell anyone in advance the inspector is coming. It's supposed to be a surprise to make sure safety and occupancy rules are being followed, and that people don't exceed occupancy limits."

Skelly also said a fire inspector was sent to the fundraising party for rival BOE candidates Frank Capone/Catarina Skalaski at Gabriella's steakhouse about two weeks ago.

"No one was singled out," said Skelly.

"Of course they are going to try and cover their tracks," replied Soporowski. "Everyone is going to cover for everyone in Townhall ... There is some serious corruption in this town."

The Middletown school board and Town Hall Election Day are just days away, on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Soporowski said in the past week, a vocal supporter of Capone's — and former Middletown mayor — Tony Fiore, wrote to him on Facebook something to the effect of "watch out, maybe the fire inspector will be by," regarding the party Soporowski held Thursday night at his bar.

Soporowski said Fiore then deleted that comment.

"All lies," replied Fiore. "I never said that. I also never deleted any comments I wrote on his page. Trust me, I don't care enough. What I said was, 'By the way, what's the max you can have in that dive bar?"

Fiore provided a screenshot of what he wrote, see above, and he also said "I'm not happy I'm being accused. But no, I did not direct anyone in town hall to go to his bar."

"Mark Soporowski is a professional victim," Fiore added. "No amount of blaming in the world can ever fix a failing campaign starving for attention."

Soporowski continued:

"At 6 p.m. last night, I see this man walk into my store. The guy who owns the pizzeria next to me recognized him and said, Oh what are you doing here? He said he was here to 'check on me.' He was Middletown fire inspector (Sporowski did not want to publish the inspector's name.) I said point blank, were you sent here to check on me? He said yes, I was sent here. I was sent here by my boss."

Soporowski was issued no occupancy or safety violations, and the fire inspector left.

Mercantante repeated that nobody directed Middletown Fire Inspector Skelly to send an inspector to Gateway Bar & Liquors Thursday night.

"Absolutely not," said Mercantante. "The fundraiser was talked about on social media. It is not unusual where if there is a large event held in a business or public venue in town, and our fire marshals hear of it, that they show up. What is worth pointing out is that if a political event or fundraiser is held in a private home, the Township has no right to be there or send town employees to inspect it. But yes, once we hear of an event being held at a business, we do send inspectors all the time."

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, who has attended support parties for Capone/Skalaski/Tobacco this election season, said "absolutely in no way, shape or form would I ever" direct Township employees to do that.