Candidates Debate Taxes, Over Development Issues by MICHAEL J
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S13 PI -RT L0T**C015 I 2 WESTFIELO MEMORIAL LIBRARY 550 E BROAD ST WESTFIELO WJ 07090-2116 lllirtliifliliiiiJiillmiitiltiilliMllilliiiliJiiiiulilii OUR 115th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 42-2005 DSPS 680020 PuMMwd E**nr Thursday NIikt September V, I I'M) 19081 232-4407 Periodical - Postage Paid at Westfield, NJ. Thursday, October 20, 2005 www.goteadcr.com press (s’ goieader.com SIXTY CENTS Candidates Debate Taxes, Over Development Issues By MICHAEL J. POLLACK go out and aggressively get state aid if Specially Written for The Westfield fonder creased by 11 cents for every $100 it's available. We need to get more out assessed value. There’s simply no WESTFIELD— Town Council and of Union County . Twenty percent of reason for that. My opponent, who mayoral candidates debated a range our taxes go to Union County and I'm apparently voted against that increase, of issues Monday night at the forum not sure what we get out of it. We got said ‘I'm troubled by it, but I simply sponsored by the League of Women that monstrosity on North Avenue (the don't have the answers.' My question Voters and The WestfieldLeadernews- Ralph Froehlich Public Safety Build is. 'if my opponent doesn't have the paper. Westfield TV-36 is airing the ing) and we're not even invited to the answers, who is going to have the debate, starting Wednesday and con grand opening." answers?’ We’re elected to have the tinuing through to Election Day, Tues During closing statements former answers. We need to cut our expenses day, November 8. Mayor Jardim. addressing the question and get serious." Issues focused on curbing property of why he wanted to run again as mayor, The night was not devoid of mud- tax increases, furthering the Depart turned his focus to the once ballyhooed slinging. First. Mr. Jardim said that ment of Public Works' (DPW) effi he looks for in his council members a ciency. stunting rampant over-devel willingness to serve and stay past 10 opment, the revitalization'of South or 11 p.m. some nights to achieve a Avenue, allocating state aid and in goal. He stressed attending recreation creasing responsiveness of municipal commission meetings. "Quite frankly, government to requests from residents. without attacking my opponent, he w'R\ . R<,,'. 'STVVeSir'eld candidal,!s for mayor and council take their seats and the crowd gathers lor filming or the During the mayoral debate. Mayor was on the recreation commission 2005 H estfield Candidates Forum Monday night. A standing room only audience listened to the articulate candidates discuss Andy Skibitsky said he is working and unfortunately, his record of at their views and request votes in the upcoming November 8 election. TV36 will air the program through to election day. with the Dow ntown Westfield Cor tendance wasn't particularly good." poration (DWC). through the state, to Mayor Skibitsky responded, "talk receive "a ‘smart growth’ grant to ing about attendance, when you ap Officials Concerned Over Lower study the South Avenue corridor to pointed yoursel f to the planning board see what we can do to redevelop that the last year, you missed 50 percent area. It's a troubled area. By reaching of the meetings. That's an extremely out to the state, there's a lot that we important board." Math Scores on Tests at Edison can do." In terms of over-development. Bv MEGHAN GILL might have to perform a district as liaison and school resource officer, Former Mayor Tom Jardim re Mayor Skibitsky said he was proud of Spet tally Whtten for The Westfield fonder sponded that South Avenue, part of sessment. which costs around $ 10,000 spoke to the board about measures that the job the council did in four months, WESTFIELD — Tuesday night's per grade. Some steps the administra are being taken to prevent violence the Westfield special improvement noting the corner lot ordinance to Board of Education meeting featured district, is "quite frankly, not gelling tion will take to improve the middle and other incidents in the high school, curtail shoe homing of new homes, Superintendent Dr. William Foley's its money 's worth. If its not getting its Tom Jardim and Andy Skibitsky school test results are staff training, such as the hallways being staffed, the passing on first reading of a height report on school violence, vandalism, after school tutoring and student money's worth, then it's really just a administrators in the school, and that restriction ordinance and the present and substance abuse, school quality mentoring. nuisance tax on those businesses there parking deck. "When you waste over he has a very visible presence in the concepts of examining a floor area assurance objectives, as well as the In other business, there were 19 school four days per week. and can potentially hurt those busi $700,000 studying a Hawed parking ratio and architectural review board. report on testing, presented by Assis incidents of violence, vandalism or Four peer leader students from the nesses. I’m distressed to hear about deck plan that was too big. too expen Former Mayor Jardim replied "low tant Superintendent Dr. Margaret substance abuse in the district during eighth grade presented a report on the another study because I think we’ve sive and rightly defeated in a referen ering the height by three feet won't Dolan. had enough studies." the 2O04-2(X)5 academic year. bully-proofing program that they are dum by residents. I say 'why indeed."' solve the problem. Ask any developer The results presented were from the In terms of allocating state funding. "Our kids are great. We don't have a teaching to younger students, and Mr. Skibitsky said he is a frugal if that’ll solve it. You need to make 11th grade High School Proficiency lot of discipline problems." Dr. Foley Mr. Jardim challenged local Republi talked about how the learning experi person. "Look at my haircut," he joked. them pay for the impact they cause." Assessment (HSPA), the Grade Eight stated. can officials who represent Westfield, “I work hard to control the taxes. When ence has made a significant impact on In the council debate. Fourth Ward Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) and Westfield Police Department De specifically naming Assemblyman Jon my opponent was mayor, the tax rate themselves and the elementary school Democratic challengerTom Bigosinski. New Jersey Assessment of Skills and tective Ron Allen, the high school children. Bramnick (R-21. Westfield), who was rose 25 percent over four years." The who for the past two years served as one Knowledge (NJ ASK), a test adminis in attendance, to help the town gamer mayor noted that to combat the hike, of three members of the Tree Preserva- tered to 3rd and 4th graders. appropriate funds. former Mayor Jardim “sold $1.7 mil tionCommittee, said, "Developersdpn't Dr. Dolan presented the findings of WF Council Introduces First “The legislators have the ability, at lion of town property to developers understand their impact on the neigh the test results to the board, and ex times. Assemblyman Bramnick, to and used that to pay for operation borhood. A lot more can be done. plained that the tests are not equivalent deliver to their towns and their home expenses. That's not good business There's a failure to empower the com to each other. The HSPA results for Phase of New Website URL districts the resources that were management. That's not how you run mittee with the ability to enforce some 2005 indicated that 95.5 percent of By MICHAEL J. POLLACK easy to navigate." He reminded, "This needed. When I was mayor, I worked a business. That's like taking a piece of of the tree preservation ordinances.” Specially Written for the Westfield Leader students are proficient in language arts, is phase one. In the coming weeks very closely with Alan Augustine and your land and selling it every year to In particular, Mr. Bigosinski said the and 9.3.1 percent in math, while 4.5 WESTFIELD— At Tuesday ’ s con and months, we’ll have it set up to Rich Bagger. In particular, former pay for your electrical bill. You'd call committee has the ability to require that percent were partially proficient (be ference session, the Westfield Town download forms and make online Mayor Bagger was extremely respon that an Enron style accounting tactic." trees that are removed, are replaced and low state standards) in language arts sive in terms of getting Westfield what Council discussed grading require payments." Hisopponent, formerMayor Jardim a fine be levied on any developer re and 6.9 percent in math. ments. repealing redevelopment or it needed in terms of roads' funds.” replied that Mayor Skibitsky made a The council, explained Mr. Gildea. moving trees that fall outside the plan. The results for the language arts dinances and the town's new website. Mayor Skibitsky said he is "seeking factual error. “The taxes didn't in tabled three demolitions from the pre Eric Leuthold, Fourth Ward Repub GEPA test found that 88.7 percent of As of October 1. westfieldnj.net is aggressively to receive state aid. State crease by 25 percent; they increased vious conference session because the lican candidate, related that from the students were above the state standard defunct. The new website housed on aid will fund the North Chestnut Av by 11 percent. Since I've left office as town implemented new grading and people he’s spoken to. besides taxes, at Edison Intermediate School while www.westfieldnj.govoffice2.com. height rules. enue paving project and the South mayor, taxes have increased by 34 their greatest concern is over-develop- 93 percent of Roosevelt Intermediate Administrator Jim Gildea said the Town Engineer Ken Marsh said Chestnut project next year.