The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 1

(Tip! Fed holds rates steady But fears of a recession might bring reductions in 2001, analysts say in business Coens' quirky flick 3 Mississippi chain gang escapees reenact Homer's 'Odyssey1 In Youn Tims Bergen EDITION 50jf wi iiimlr Whitman reportedly will head EPA Mixed reaction from environmentalists DiFrancesco would be acting governor stitution, if Whitman leaves office before the end of her term in January 2002, DiFrancesco, a 24-year veteran of the Legislature, would assume her office while retaining control of the Senate. "He's got a very unique opportunity to have people view him as governor, experience him as governor, see how he wears, so to speak, in the office," said Senate Majority Conference Leader Joseph M. Kyrillos, R-Monmouth. "I think they'll find him to be a See ACTING Page A-27 "Our environmental record in this state has been outstanding, one of which I'm very proud," Whitman said. "We are a national role model in many ways, the water monitoring we do, the quality of water monitoring, what we've done with air quality, our open space initiative." Sources close to Senate President Donald T.

DiFrancesco, R-Union, and Assembly Speaker Jack Collins, R-Salem, confirmed that Whitman had placed calls to the two See WHITMAN Page A-27 By HERB JACKSON Trenton Bireau As with any high-stakes game, taking the reins of New Jersey as acting governor could provide a big boost or a major setback to Senate President Donald T. DiFrancesco's hopes to be elected governor in November, political insiders said Tuesday. Governor Whitman is expected to be nominated this week by President-elect Bush as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Under the state con By BRUNO TEDESCHI Trenton Bureau Chief Governor Whitman has told state legislative leaders that she will be taking a job in the incoming Bush administration as head of the Environmental Protection Agency, sources said Tuesday. Whitman declined to comment about a possible move to Washington, but in a year-end interview with The Record she defended her environmental record and said the nation could learn from New Jersey.

Ami 1 JAMES W. ANNESS Senate President Donald T. DiFrancesco, above, would replace Governor Whitman if she leaves. ifi nits? 1 I I Skyline Drive crash kills 3 Runaway truck hits 2 vehicles By JAN BARRY and JOSH GOHLKE Staff Writers Three people were killed Tuesday when a dump truck apparently lost its brakes and sped out of control down Skyline Drive in Ring-wood, crashing into a car and a minivan. The accident, which occurred about 12:30 p.m., forced the closure of the busy road that connects upper Passaic County and Route 287 in Bergen County.

The road was reopened at 8:30 p.m. For years, residents of the area have complained about the danger of truck traffic on the steep, winding mountain road, which periodically has been the scene of fatal traffic accidents in Ringwood and neighboring Oakland. The victims, all of Ringwood, were identified as Vincent Domin-ianni, 41, a local pharmacist who was driving the minivan crushed by the truck, and Wilmont and Dorothy Hafner, both 67. The dump truck flipped and sheered off the roof of the Hafhers' car, a Mercury sedan, before landing on its side. All three were pronounced See CRASH Page A-24 Five cops convicted in death of suspect Lawyers to appeal federal rights case By JEFFREY GOLD The Associated Press NEWARK A federal jury on Tuesday convicted five Orange police officers in the beating of a man they had taken into custody as a suspect in the killing of a fellow' officer.

The verdict came on the second day of deliberations after a six-week trial. The suspect, Earl Faison, died in police custody less than an hour after being arrested April 11, 1999. The officers were charged with violating his civil rights, not with causing his death, which medical experts attributed to an asthma attack. Prosecutors said the attack was exacerbated by pepper spray that was squirted directly into Faison's face. Defense lawyers promised an appeal.

They said the attack was brought on by Faison's flight from and violent struggle with the arresting officer, who was not charged. They also say there is no physical evidence of pepper spray being used on him. A federal indictment was returned in June against Lt. Thomas Smith, 37, of Caldwell, who retired last year, and Officers Paul Car-pinteri 36, of Orange; Andrew Garth, 31, of Bloomfield; Tyrone Payton, 34, of Orange; and Brian Smith, 30, of Orange. The Smiths are brothers.

The active officers have been suspended without pay, but would not lose their jobs until sentenced April 18. All were allowed to remain free on bond. All were convicted of one count of conspiring to deprive Faison of his civil rights by striking him after he was handcuffed, or of trying to conceal the assault. All but Carpinteri also faced a single charge of depriving Faison of his civil rights: See COPS Page A-23 ASSOCIATED PRESS Vice President Al Gore, right, greeting President-elect Bush as a light snow fell outside Gore's residence in Washington. Bush makes house calls, continues to build Cabinet ernment in Orange County, as secretary of housing and urban development.

And he is expected to nominate Sacramento, lawyer Ann Veneman, a former director of the California Food and Agriculture Department and deputy agriculture secretary in Bush's father's administration, to be secretary of agriculture. Governor Whitman emerged Tuesday as the leading candidate to run the Environmental Protection Agency, and could be appointed today or later this week. Evans, 54, is chief executive of Tom See BUSH Page A-26 campaigned to "restore honor and integrity" to the Oval Office a not-too-veiled attack on Clinton aides to both men described the discussions, which focused on foreign policy, as cordial and fruitful. By evening, Bush was on a plane bound for Austin, Texas, where he was expected to announce his nominees for some Cabinet posts today. Bush is tapping his campaign chairman and longtime friend Don Evans, a Texas oilman, to be secretary of commerce.

He will name Mel Martinez, a Cuban refugee and the Republican chairman of the gov By J0DI ENDA Knight Ridder Newspapers WASHINGTON Six days after winner and loser alike vowed to help unite the country, President-elect Bush and Vice President Al Gore shook hands cordially Tuesday and disappeared into a private meeting. It lasted less than 20 minutes. By contrast, Bush spent more than two hours at the White House talking privately and dining with President Clinton, the man who eight years ago defeated his father, President George Bush. Although Bush I Site of I 4JLi fatal Spa. accident oakwood Skyline Drive Drive dg RINGWOOD v'N WANAQUE RICH RAINEYSTAFF ARTIST FBI could lop fugitive from list INDEX Ann Landers, Dear Abby YT-6 Bridge YT-9 Authorities suspect N.J.

man has died Classified-Comics Crossword Volcano's big show In its most spectacular eruption in more than a millennium, a volcano near Mexico City spews a fiery fountain of ash and rock, forcing thousands to flee from their homes. A-17 Medical privacy plan President Clinton will propose new rules to restrict health care providers from sharing information about patients. A-13 YT-7 YT-9 L-8 F-1 YT-2 L-6 YT-8 S-12 Serious doubts about whether Washington is still living could spur the FBI to consider removing him from the national list, which names fugitives whose capture is considered to be the agency's highest priority. For the past several Army militant group, has been on the list for more than a decade. A twice-convicted armed robber, Washington, 51, has been a fugitive since a 1989 traffic stop in Monmouth County where authorities say he tried to kill a state trooper by shooting at him with a semi-automatic pistol.

By MITCHEL MADDUX Staff Writer In the half-century existence of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, the vast majority of the 459 fugitives placed on its infamous rolls have been captured. Now, the only New Jerseyan on a list that includes figures such as terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and Mexican drug lord Ramon Arellan could be removed from the FBI's roster, even though he has never been caught. Arthur Lee Washington a member of the Black Liberation Movies Obituaries Television Weather WASHINGTON years, police officials in. For delivery: (201) 646-4444 2B 2000 BERGEN RECORD CORP. New Jersey looking for Washing' But some law enforcement offi- ron nave "ceivea virtually no new cials now think he's dead.

See MOST WANTED Page A-29 Noed a Vacation? Travel tips and destinations SUNDAYS IN TRAVEL RED TOMATO ENCLEWOOD Fine Food Drink 47 N. Dean Englewood Traffic Headaches? Read the Road Warrior SUNDAY, MONDAY FRIDAY Sit-down Comedy with Bill Ervolino SUNDAYS THURSDAYS Metropolitan Plant and Flower Exchange www.metroplantexchange.com 6 ft. Douglas Fir Christmas Trees $24.99 1-800-METRO13 Flowers, Plants, Gift Baskets Fort Lee, Paramus, West Orange i.