Boss Rumana’s Bernie Kerik Problem

Did Boss Rumana give Michael Marotta a place on his ticket in exchange for free home improvements?

The bad news continues for Passaic County Regular Republican Chairman and District 40 Assemblyman Scott Rumana, as several Wayne Township officials have confirmed exclusively to THE STATE that Passaic County Freeholder Michael Marotta’s brother Bill performed free home improvements at Rumana’s private residence days before Rumana placed Michael on his ticket days before last June’s contentious GOP primary.

Bill Marotta, president of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Detective Union owns a home improvement/handy man business. According THE STATE’S sources, this is a family business, since Michael is a part owner.

According to Wayne Township officials, who wrote THE STATE under conditions of anonymity for fear of retribution, the work performed required additional permits, yet records maintained by Wayne do not accurately reflect all of the improvements.

Despite the lack of required documentation, John Szabo, the Wayne building inspector and Rumana holdover from his tenure as mayor, essentially signed off on all the work.

Szabo, a longtime Rumana ally and mayor of nearby Oakland, owes much of his political success to Boss Rumana.

A history of ‘demolition parties’

According to our sources, while Rumana was mayor of Wayne, many of the renovations on his home at 68 Chestnut Drive were done with the help of township employees on the weekends.

This weekend work became so commonplace that township employees had a term they used—“demolition parties.”

According to our sources, it was not unusual for township employees who participated in the “demolition parties” to receive plum assignments or even promotions. When we asked our sources if they could name one such person, they pointed to Paul Margiotta, a former councilman who worked weekends for free on Rumana’s house.

Margiotta, who as a manager of James Dean Roofing Construction, was looking for greater job security than he had working in the private sector while business was slowing down. After repeatedly working for Rumana, Margiotta was appointed municipal clerk, earning a healthy salary and benefits. Although Rumana was no longer Mayor, Margiotta’s appointment was initiated by Rumana’s handpicked successor and current Mayor Christopher Vergano.

These latest revelations have further eroded Rumana’s credibility and standing with the Christie administration. This news compromises the PCRRO at a time when it seeks to attack county democrats on the issue of corruption and ethics.

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