Alleged Bribe Attempt Refused By Town Officials

As the old chestnut goes: Crime doesn't pay.

For two town employees, it could have paid $1,000.

But, when plumbing subcode official James Gonroski and electrical subcode official Mark Stepper apparently were offered that from the owner of a planned Portuguese BBQ on Spring Street in January, instead of taking the money and looking the other way, they reported the incident to the town.

For that, the pair were commended during Tuesday's Town Council meeting.

"They're doing their job, but it should be recognized," Mayor Tim Dougherty said during the commendation presentation. "This is a fine example of being outstanding employees. I don't want it to go unrecognized."

North Plainfield resident Elmer Lopez, the business owner accused of trying to bribe the town officials, was admitted recently into a Pre-Trial Intervention program, a special probation program for nonviolent first-time offenders, according to a Daily Record article. He will be on probation for 18 months and must perform 50 hours of community service, and also had to forfeit to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office the $1,000 he tried to give Gonroski, according to the article.