Miffed at protest plans, new mayor labels group as ‘terrorists’

1/4/2005

The newly sworn mayor of Bedminster branded a local citizens group a "terrorist organization" yesterday for its efforts to protest the municipal reorganization and stop a State Police helicopter unit from operating at an airport in the township.

Republican Bob Holtaway denounced the Bedminster, Branchburg, Bridgewater Concerned Citizens Coalition and called for the disbarment of attorney Alan Harwick, who leads the group.

"I’m appalled that he is threatening professional action against me, when I am well within my rights to form a group," said Harwick, who was not present when Holtaway announced he would have the township go to the state Supreme Court to seek the lawyer’s ouster from the bar.

The stinging remarks were made during Somerset County’s most contemptuous reorganization meeting of the new year—split between town hall and a swanky pub after police said "threats of a disruption" had come last week from Harwick’s group, known as the BBBCCC.

"This threat should not be taken any less lightly than a bomb scare or other threat against a polling place on election day," said Holtaway. "The BBBCCC has met the definition of a terrorist organization."

The group had circulated fliers demanding a "public outcry" at the township reorganization, originally to be held in its entirety at Willie’s Taverne. The popular wood-paneled establishment has been the traditional locale for Bedminster Township reorganizations.

But the flier called on residents to "stop Holtaway" from becoming mayor.

The BBBCCC claimed Holtaway promoted the relocation of the State Police Northstar Medevac helicopter from University Hospital in Newark to Somerset Airport in Bedminster 11 months ago to benefit himself.

Holtaway owns a glider business at the airport. Daniel Walker, the airport’s owner, is scheduled to appear before the township planning board at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow with a plan to convert one of his hangars into permanent quarters for the State Police helicopter, now housed in a trailer.

Opponents of the helicopter relocation argue that a permanent home paves the way for a full-fledged State Police base of operations and missions that include homeland security.

The BBBCCC’s rally cry forced Bedminster officials to split the reorganization, having the official swearing-in at town hall at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than planned. A second, ceremonial swearing-in was held later at Willie’s.

Holtaway won his mayoral nomination in a straw vote taken by the GOP-controlled committee in November.

Holtaway, who also was mayor in 2004 until he was unseated by Republican infighting, received support from fellow party members Finn Caspersen Jr. and Don Cross. Cross, an opponent to the State Police relocation, mended ways with Holtaway and secured a fifth term as deputy mayor.

Newly elected Committeewoman Sally Rubin, the first Democrat to win a seat on the committee since the 1970s, also threw her support behind Holtaway’s mayoral nomination.

Republican Committeeman Kurt Joerger, the most vocal opponent of the helicopter relocation, cast the lone vote against Holtaway. Joerger, accused of fanning the flames of divisiveness and backing the BBBCCC, is the subject of a recall effort.

Joerger first said he wouldn’t attend the reorganization, calling it a "scam" because it was scheduled for early evening in town hall, a venue he considered too small. But he came to the official meeting at town hall anyway, walking in as Rubin was being sworn in.

"I feel it’s a very dark hour for the township," he said after the reorganization ended just 12 minutes after it began.

The meeting room at town hall had filled to capacity with 100 people. A dozen more were forced to stand outside in a hall. "Everything seems like a done deal," complained Holly Ford, a Bridgewater resident among those unable to enter.

Holtaway, miffed by the venue splitting, announced his appointments at Willie’s.

Newcomers Jason Andris, a trustee on the Lamington Conservancy, and Kimberly Hatch, a member on the township Open Space and Farmland Advisory Committee, were appointed to four-year terms on the planning board.

Bypassed were board members Marie Callahan, an alternate last year, who instead was promoted to a one-year term, and David Weiss, who remained an alternate.

Cross, who was appointed as the committee’s liaison to the board, said he knew little about the newcomers, and declined to comment.

Former planning board chairman Ed Russo saw no red flags in Holtaway’s choices, and sided with him on denouncing the BBBCCC. When asked whether the "terrorist organization" reference and calls for Harwick’s disbarment were appropriate, Russo replied, "It’s about time."

By: Ralph R. Ortega
Star-Ledger Staff