August 20, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Hearing officer recommends Gaeta’s termination Several Midland Park residents attended last week’s Midland Park Council session in support of suspended Police Officer Joseph B. Gaeta and were told the person- nel matter could not be discussed in public. Curtis Aldershoff, of Faner Road, who said he knows Gaeta personally and profession- ally, asked why Gaeta should lose his job over a traffic offense. He also questioned why so much money is being spent on the related disciplinary proceedings. Midland Park Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan told Aldershoff the case is in litigation, and he is not at liberty to speak about the matter. Borough Attorney Robert Regan supported the mayor’s statement, noting that an expression of opinion could prejudice the case at this stage of the disci- plinary process. Earlier this month, hearing officer Mat- thew Mahoney recommended that Gaeta be terminated, but this decision is not bind- ing and can be appealed. Mahoney further decided that the borough had taken appro- priate action when the council suspended the police officer. Gaeta was suspended from the bor- ough’s police force over two years ago after he pleaded guilty to driving an all-terrain vehicle while intoxicated. On Dec. 15, 2011, Gaeta participated in a training ses- sion at the Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, and volunteered to drink beer and undergo field sobriety tests. He was driven home, but four hours later, he crashed his all-terrain vehicle in Wyckoff while he was off duty. Ordinarily, the hearing officer in such disciplinary cases is the borough adminis- trator, but Gaeta is the son of the late Supe- rior Court Judge Bruce Gaeta. In an effort (continued on page 21) Highland Elementary School to host free artist showcase Area teachers, school administrators and parents will have the unique opportu- nity next month to see perfor- mances by Young Audiences of New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania’s (YA) new artists for 2014-2015. A sam- pling of dance, theater and musical performances will be presented to student audi- ences and any adults who are interested in scheduling a YA program for their schools on Tuesday, September 30 at Highland Elementary School in Midland Park. YA, the region’s largest provider of arts education programs for grades preK-12, will host the free artist show- case from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. “Young Audiences has been providing arts pro- gramming to the students at Highland Elementary School (continued on page 21) Young Audiences teaching artist from The Seventh Principle performing with student at last year’s Fall Artist Showcase.