Garage owner says Ridgewood overpaying
Tuesday October 8, 2013, 9:56 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Police studying claims of favoritism toward competitor
RIDGEWOOD – Police are investigating claims from a Ridgewood garage owner who contends that the village is overpaying for contracted services.
During the Village Council’s meeting last week, acting Village Manager Heather Mailander said detectives were involved in an investigation into allegations by resident Frank Thissen. Thissen, who has owned and operated Village Auto Body for 27 years, told the council that his winning bid for repair work to village vehicles had not been honored by Joe Loprieno, who manages the village’s garage.
Thissen said his $33-an-hour bid won him the village contract three years ago. But Thissen said he reviewed invoices approved by Loprieno since then, and alleged that he had lost an estimated $20,000 in work to Hackensack’s Bergen Brookside Auto Body.
Thissen told The Record on Monday that he believed Loprieno funneled the body work on the vehicles to Brookside because Loprieno is friends with that shop’s owner, John Sallemme.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/226897141_Garage_owner_says_Ridgewood_overpaying.html#sthash.4SXjwIBK.dpuf
SEE: Allegations made over Towing Irregularities at Village Council meeting
https://theridgewoodblog.net/allegations-made-over-towing-irregularities-at-village-council-meeting/
In the past, we were rich and smart.
Nowadays… not so smart.
The accused should be suspended with pay until the investigation is complete.
Typical Ridgewood no one watching where the money goes.
No suspension with pay. at $102,000 salary let him work while police investigate. why should he have a vacation on our dime? and let’s see if he did anything wrong although it does seem that way!
#4 – Allowing him access to documents and the ability to communicate freely with his subordinates, co-workers, and other vendors isn’t a good idea.
The accuser has credibility issues of his own.
#6 – So you’re suggesting he fabricated the whole thing?
No I’m saying he has credibility issues of his own. Don’t read into it.
Loprieno is Big Al the Developers Friend new best buddy. This will be swept under the rug.
that guy is a screw ball from way back.
Correction – Heather DID NOT say anything of the kind during the meeting. She did not even know anything about the investigation at that time. The council and the manager were completely unaware.
It’s well known through out the village workers that the town mechanics don’t like their boss Joe Loprieno. Joe Loprieno doesn’t like Frank Theissen so it’s entirely possible that someone tipped off Frank to look at the bills, there’s plenty of poop in the cesspool at this point.
With all this going on why are building a new garage that the taxpayers have to foot the bill. The mechanics don’t like their boss well let get ride of them all and privatize the garage.
This could be a very serious matter costing Ridgewood taxpayers scarce and valuable dollars. Our police department should not by investigating but rather the prosecutors office or state. An investigation must guarantee Ridgewood taxpayers and joe lopreeno a fair and thorough inquiry. The accusations being need careful scrutiny. If there is any impropriety let charges be filed. If this is just sour grapes lopreeno should file for damages against his accuser Theissen.
If there is basis for Theissen’s accusations Ridgewood taxpayers better start holding village hall accountable and people must be fired. There is a system of oversight.
Not long ago we had meter-gate now we have tow-gate. There’s probably much more going on that we VOR taxpayers are clueless about. Time to start scrutinizing our hard earned dollars. No one is minding the store.
all the mechanics should go. time for new blood.
I think the town will have to make it’s mind up if they are going to privatize the garage or not. The mechanics are close to retirement age and if the town wants to maintain fleet service they will have to replace the mechanics or close down shop. Why bother building a new facility if the department, is going to be privatized
privatized is not the way to go. we just need new young workers. they are old and hurt. new blood will be good. the old bums have the brains to fix things.but no more juce.
hey how come the police and fire depts don;t tell frank to move all the cars he has parked all over the place. clean it up.he don,t own the block.he allways has a car or a truck blocking the road.
# 17 the town Laid off it’s youngest mech several years ago. Carmine is busted up. Joe js shot . Nards has a real bad back. Jack is limping These guys are ready for retirement. I think if the town was going to continue to maintain a fleet garage they better start hiring now.
Privatize. If the these guys aren’t 100 % then shit can them. Im so tired of hearing how everybody is understaffed and hurt.
ok #20 get over yourself, the garage has been cut drastically thru layoff and attrition, you have senior mechs changing tires because the town won’t hire anyone. If the town isn’t going to staff the garage close it down and send out the work. Don’t spend a lot of money on a new facility to staff it with private workers , the town would lose the advantages of privatization
hey #’s 19 and 17 Leave the mechanics alone..And don’t call them names. Not nice..
#22 the posters were defending the mech’s they didn’t call them names they said their names, your issue should be with#20 who posts privatize, please do your best to develop some reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.