Mobile Command Center Purchase Raises Impropriety Concern

During the public comment portion of the Westfield Town Council meeting Tuesday evening, Westfield resident Greg Kasko once again questioned the manner in which the Town of Westfield purchased its new mobile command center.

Kasko began by outlining the process that typically takes place when a municipality considers making a purchase. 

"When a department needs something, it should go to its municipality and get some permission to fill the need," he said. "The department should make up a list of exactly what it needs and the public should be told in reasonable terms. If the Town is to buy the items with money raised by a bond, they must pass the ordinance first and then advertise what the specifications are and seek bids. 

"Bids are then received and the Town has the benefit of scrutinizing the various bids and any objections by vendors, and accepting the best or cheapest bid. In the present case, with regards to the purchase of the mobile command center, a different sequence took place."

The retired police officer stated that sometime in 2012, the Westfield Police Department came in contact with a Utah-based corporation, Power Innovations International (PII), which manufactures and sells mobile communication centers. Kasko stated that Westfield Police Chief David Wayman and Lt. Chris Battiloro were flown to Utah as guests of PII. Later, an exhibition was hosted by the WPD at the Westfield Armory to display equipment, including a mobile command center designed by the Utah vendor that Kasko said "contained every single bid specification that would later be advertised by the Town."

"That mobile command center never left Westfield after the show at the Armory. It was stored at Sevell’s in Westfield," Kasko stated. "In February, of this year, a 2008 Ford Expedition was transferred to Town of Westfield ownership."

A public notice of an invitation to bid was published on April 4, with bids to be opened on April 16. The following day, Robert Mount, chief executive officer of PII, registered his corporation in New Jersey enabling him to do business in the Garden State, six weeks after the title of the 2008 Ford Expedition was transferred from PII to the Town of Westfield. 

"When you consider that it would be improper for the Town to agree to any contract before they passed the ordinance allowing the bond for the purchase of public safety equipment, it is amazing that a Utah corporation would custom make a mobile command center to Westfield’s specifications, deliver it to a Westfield Armory exhibition set up by Westfield, give Westfield a used truck and allow title and markings to be put on its vehicles, naming them to be Westfield vehicles, not to mention storing them in a storage area used by Westfield Police, all in contemplation of possibly selling the unit to Westfield," he said

Kasko, whose brother was recently elected mayor of Haddonfield, added that two weeks ago when he stated that he was questioning not the purchase itself but rather the manner in which it was conducted, his questions went unanswered while Mayor Andy Skibitsky and other council members praised Wayman for his "bargaining powers."

"May I suggest in the future that your speed in defending the police chief’s bargaining ability be tempered by the fact that he is not legally allowed to do so.  His ability to get 'gifts' from the vendor prior to the bidding process might be considered by some to be bargaining above and beyond the call of duty," he stated.

Wayman was not in attendance to respond to Kasko, who concluded by summarizing his points, "Once again, consider these dates: on February 7th, Westfield is listed as owner of a 2008 Ford from Power Innovations International.  On March 15th, and even earlier, a Ford F350 truck used to pull the mobile command center is sitting in Sevell’s garage fully nominated by decals as being the property of the Westfield Police Department. Prior to that date (March 15th) on March 5 was the 1st reading of the proposed bond ordinance. It wasn’t until two weeks later that on March 19, 2013 the second reading took place. The second vote was taken and it passed.

"How can this Town Council tell the Westfield taxpayer that you openly and transparently discussed the need for a $250,000 dollar piece of equipment, that you publicized your decision that we needed a mobile command center, that you followed the bonding and bidding process not only to the letter of the law but its spirit?"

Kasko provided copies of his statement to the Council and to the media. In addition, he furnished exhibits including a copy of a photo of the title of a 2008 Ford Expedition that was transferred to the Town of Westfield's ownership on February 7, 2013 from Power Innovations International of Utah. The transfer of title took place one month before the proposed bond ordinance to purchase the command center was passed and six weeks before the CEO of Power Innovations Robert Mount registered his corporation in New Jersey enabling him to do business in the Garden State. 

Skibitsky sat silently throughout Kasko's comments and upon his completion said, "Thank you, Mr. Kasko."

Town Administrator Jim Gildea urged Kasko to take his claims to the Union County Prosecutor's Office if he believes he has "anything of substance."

Absent from the meeting were Democratic Third Ward Councilman and mayoral candidate David Haas, who voted against the purchase of the mobile command center upon its second reading, and First Ward Councilman Frank Arena.