Officials Got Over $10K in Secret Birdsall Contributions

When Birdsall Services Group was forbidden from giving more than $300 in contributions to public officials, they found a way around the letter of the law, according to a published report.

A report by NJ.com said the engineering firm, now bankrupted, had their employees write checks from their personal accounts to candidates and public officials. The employees were then reimbursed with salary bonuses.

The practice was done throughout the state, and according to the report, one employee said it helped Birdsall win contracts.

East Hanover Councilman Carolyn Jandoli received $2,000 in secret donations. Councilmen Frank DeMaio, Jr. and Michael Martorelli each received $6,000 in three separate secret contributions.

The Mayor's Ball Fund in East Hanover received $6,750 in several separate donations, and one $1,500 corporate payment in 2008. Mayor Joseph Pannullo himself received $6,000 in secret contributions, but told NJ.com he did not believe they had done anything wrong since Birdsall performed well on their awarded contracts.

According to the report, no Florham Park officials, including former Mayor Scott Eveland, Acting Mayor Mark Taylor and sitting council members, received donations from Birdsall employees.

Birdsall made an agreement with the New Jersey Attorney General's Office in April of this year in which they agreed to forfeit $2.6 million while the state allowed the company's use of cash as they pursued a possible sale through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

in Florham Park. Birsdall prepared plans for the Elm Street Recreation Complex.

The report also says Birsall employees wrote checks to the inaugural committee for Gov. Chris Christie and $1,500 to his predecessor Jon Corzine. These contributions were disclosed to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.