Damaged Gas Line Causes Closure of Route 17 North

by Noah Cohen

CARLSTADT (June 22, 2009) A damaged gas main led to the closure of Route 17 north near Paterson Plank Road in Carlstadt at approximately 9:30 a.m. today.  No utility customers lost service, according to Public Service Electric & Gas.

Public Service Electric & Gas workers and county officials at the scene of a gas line break on Route 17 north

The damage occurred when a contractor struck a two-inch steel gas main, according to Judy Ohl, a PSEG spokeswoman.

Police closed the northbound lanes of Route 17 to allow crews to repair the damaged line, Ohl said.

The road remained closed at the time of this post, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Web site.

A Bergen County Hazardous Materials Unit and local fire departments responded to Monday's gas leak Photo by Noah Cohen

Filed under: Carlstadt, Carlstadt, gas main, PSEG, road closure, route 17

Carlstadt Mayor, Ex-Wife Indicted

Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman. Photo credit: Borough of Carlstadt

by Noah Cohen

HACKENSACK (May 29, 2009) Borough of Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman and his ex-wife Lori Lewin were indicted May 28 on charges stemming from Roseman’s alleged failure to report he divorced Lewin, allowing her to continue receiving benefits under the Borough medical and prescription plans, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office announced today.

Roseman and Lewin were divorced in July 2000 but did not inform Borough benefits administrator Insurance Design Administrators (IDA) within sixty days, as required by New Jersey law, authorities said.

“The state alleges that Mayor Roseman failed to notify IDA of the divorce until the end of January 2008 and allowed Lori Lewin to remain on the Borough’s benefits plan,” Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said in a statement.

According to Molinelli, Lewin obtained more than $7,000.00 in prescription benefits under Carlstadt’s benefits plan until January 2008.  She received benefits under the Borough’s medical plan through 2003.

Roseman is also accused of presiding over council meetings where funding for the benefits plans was discussed.

The two have been charged with third degree conspiracy to commit theft by deception, third degree theft by deception and second degree official misconduct.  They could face up to ten years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge of official misconduct, Molinelli said.

Filed under: Carlstadt, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Carlstadt, crime, John Molinelli, William Roseman