Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 3, 2012 OUR 122nd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 18-2012 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Report Puts Turf Field at $3.3 Mil.; Residents Address Edison Parking BY KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL ing Westfield public schools has Roosevelt Intermediate School and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader increased over the past 11 years Jefferson and Tamaques Elemen- WESTFIELD – The Board of from 5,477 in 2001 to 6,297 in tary Schools and Westfield High Education on Tuesday night heard 2012. She also noted that there has School (WHS). a presentation for adding proposed been a 74 percent increase in the It was noted by many town league new turf field to the proposed $13.6- Westfield Soccer Association since representatives that field use is very million bond referendum for Sep- 2001 and a 127 percent increase in restricting, especially when it rains tember 2012. The referendum is for lacrosse. and games need to be rescheduled the replacement of roofs in most of Ms. Mamary also reported that or ended early because of a lack of the district’s schools. the district’s rugby program has 234 sunlight. Athletic Director Sandra Mamary participants that was not present in The report found that WHS could noted that according to a U.S. Cen- 2001 and that there has been a 31 accommodate more fields for play sus report, the population of chil- percent increase in high school and decrease after school traffic dren under 18 years of age in sports participation. The report from the high school because more Westfield has risen from 8,300 in noted five different locations were students would be staying after the year 2000 to 9,095 in 2010. It researched for a new-lighted turf school for practice. was also noted that children attend- field including Edison and The cost for this project was given at an estimated $3,300,000 for ar- chitect, engineering, legal, bond- ing and permit fees in addition to landscaping, bleachers, minimal spillage lighting, storage and a bat- ting cage. Board of Education members dis- cussed the cost and asked about grooming and maintenance for the new field. It was noted that the Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader district could expect to get 20 years EXPANDING 9-1-1...The Westfield Leader was given a tour of the Union County dispatch center on North Avenue in Westfield on April 27 by Andrew Moran, Union County public safety director. Pictured above, dispatcher Jim Debbie mans life from the new field because of one of the sophisticated communication stations that serves Fanwood, as well as the county police including HAZMAT and updated technology. It was also EMS. The center is being expanded to handle additional towns. noted that the field would need to be groomed every two months. Board member Ginny Leiz asked about the field’s warranty, which WF Council Reviews Sotheby’s, was answered to be seven years. It was noted that a further discus- sion of the possible project would be done at the next BOE meeting in Reeve House, Sr. Citizen Housing two weeks. By LAUREN S. BARR actually town property. He said, “I approval before the board heard the Photo courtesy of Lorre Korecky Specially Written for The Westfield Leader OUTSTANDING TEACHER…Frank Uveges, right, an elementary school coun- In other business, it was an- think it will be a nice improve- application, as the board cannot give selor at Wilson and Tamaques Elementary Schools in Westfield, is recognized by nounced that the BOE is planning WESTFIELD – With Mayor Andy ment” based on plans submitted to permission for changes to town- Board of Education President Richard Mattessich Tuesday night as the Westfield to discuss further and vote on a Skibitsky still recovering from the town. owned property. Rotary Club’s 2012 Philhower Fellowship Award recipient in recognition of proposed parking and safety solu- pneumonia and Acting Mayor Town Planner Bill Drew said Alternate Acting Mayor Foerst outstanding teaching at the elementary school level. See story page 20. tion, jointly formulated by the BOE JoAnn Neylan absent, Alternate K&O has a site plan application said that while he had no problems and the Westfield Town Council, at Acting Mayor Jim Foerst led Tues- before the planning board, which with the landscaping improvement, the BOE’s Tuesday, May 15, meet- day night’s conference session of includes a second-story addition to he was interested in protecting the County Expanding Dispatch ing. The council and BOE an- the Westfield Town Council. the building. He said that he did not town’s rights to the property should nounced a proposed plan at a spe- The council reviewed an ordi- foresee any problems with the plan- the town ever want to use it for To Handle Additional Towns cial joint meeting on April 18. nance slated for approval at next ning board application, but had rec- anything. The original meeting was held Tuesday’s regular meeting to ap- ommended that K&O seek council CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 By PAUL J. PEYTON patch center temporarily to the sec- with the public to review and re- propriate $165,000 for the repav- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ond floor of the public safety build- ceive input on a safe parking plan ing of North Euclid Avenue from WESTFIELD – Union County’s ing while the first-floor dispatch for certain areas on and around the East Broad Street to Mountain Av- Freeholders Vote to Privatize emergency 9-1-1 dispatch service center is being expanded. Prior to a Westfield High School and Edison enue. The town received state aid is gearing up to take on four addi- three-year pilot program signed School. The plan can be reviewed for the project, totaling $145,000, tional towns in the coming weeks with Fanwood two years ago, the on the district’s homepage, meaning that local taxpayers will Therapy Services at Runnells as CenCom’s dispatch service out county was only a backup for emer- www.westfieldnjk12.org under the only bear $20,000 of the project By PAUL J. PEYTON Estrada were absent). According to of Overlook Medical Center in Sum- gency medical service and fire dis- important message column. costs. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the resolution, the contract will save mit prepares to shut down after 30 patch calls, Mr. Moran said. At Tuesday’s meeting, BOE The council also reviewed a re- COUNTY – The Union County the county $376,037 while also pro- years in business. Calls generally come into mu- President Richard Mattessich read quest from K&O Realty LLC, which Freeholders voted last Thursday to ducing $1.5 million in new revenues During a tour last Friday of the nicipal police dispatch centers, a brief overview of the plan which owns the property occupied by privatize occupational, physical and for the county. dispatch center at Union County’s which will then switch EMS and includes adding more spaces to the Sotheby’s at 436 South Avenue. speech therapy services at Runnells The county announced 280 layoffs public safety building on North Av- fire calls to the county dispatch. WHS parking lot, re-striping park- According to Town Administra- Specialized Hospital. The $1.9-mil- countywide last month in citing a enue in Westfield, Andrew Moran, Fanwood goes directly to the county ing spaces at the Armory and add- tor Jim Gildea, the company wants lion, one-year contract was given to $36-million deficit. Of the 280 lay- director of public safety, said the dispatch. ing more spaces at the Edison to make improvements to the prop- Kennett Square-Pa.-based Genesis offs, 149 are at Runnells, including county is expanding from two to “It’s a one-button transfer (to School. Residents of Westbrook erty and are asking to landscape an ElderCare Rehabilitation Services, five recreation therapy aides, an oc- nine consoles as of July 1. The switch calls from police to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 area next to their building that is Inc. cupational therapy aide and a physi- Board of Chosen Freeholders has county dispatch for EMS and fire The resolution was approved 7-0 cal therapy aide, with salaries total- approved shared-services agree- calls),” Mr. Moran explained. by the board (Freeholder Chairman ing a little over $300,000. ments with Hillside, Roselle, Scotch “We’re going to be running tests Garwood Zoning Bd. Moves Al Mirabella and Freeholder Angel CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Plains and Springfield. Others pre- before we bring on those towns,” viously serviced by CenCom may Mr. Moran said. follow. Mutual aid fire calls will still be Application to May Meeting “Programs like this grow slow. covered by the Elizabeth Police De- By CHRISTINA M. HINKE said, and was filed with the state. But Certainly, the CenCom closing sped partment. Mr. Moran said the county Specially Written for The Westfield Leader up the process a lot,” Mr. Moran would be able to handle mutual aid she has not received the deed back said, noting that the county dis- calls as a backup to Elizabeth. GARWOOD – The borough’s zon- from the state. patch will be able to handle a popu- In addition to currently dispatch- ing board last Wednesday moved She was not related to the late Mr. lation of 200,000. ing for the county police and Vincent and Veronica Kearney’s ap- Campbell, she said. Ms.