HAPPY CHANUKAH! CHANUKAH STARTS TOMORROW, DECEMBER 15 Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, December 14, 2006 OUR 116th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 50-2006 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Union County ‘At Top of List’ For Pilot County Administrative District By MEGHAN GILL mately means for Westfield, but that tion of the public school districts, the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the fact is that there was no public board of education of any county WESTFIELD — Superintendent discussion in our county, that the de- vocational school district and the of Schools William Foley announced cision was largely partisan and hid- board of education of any county Tuesday night that Union County is den from the public view,” he stated. special services school district may under consideration for a pilot county Mr. Foley asked every “resident of continue to exist in an advisory role.” administrative school district. Westfield who cares about our schools Those boards may pass a resolu- The bill to establish the program, and our community to e-mail Gover- tion to dissolve themselves pursuant A-8/S-49, passed in the New Jersey nor Corzine telling him that we are to regulations promulgated by the State Assembly Monday by a tally of opposed to a county school system, State Board of Education. If passed, 46-33-1. The bill will be up for a vote that we are angry about a legislative the legislation “would abolish local in the State Senate today, Thursday, process closed to public view and that district-level administrative or super- December 14. we are entitled to know the details of visory personnel positions, including “This afternoon I received word any proposal to change school gover- the district superintendent of schools.” from the Garden State Coalition (of nance in our community before it is “The county administrative board Schools) that the pilot program (A-8/ signed into law.” of education would instead appoint a S-49) to establish a county school Board member Julia Walker, who district supervisor for each municipal- district had passed last night (Mon- arrived from a meeting with Senator ity in the county to oversee operations day) in the Assembly,” Mr. Foley said. Tom Kean, Jr. regarding the bill, con- of the public schools located in the “The legislation was changed in the firmed that the bill would go before municipality and perform such other middle of the night during a Demo- the state Senate today. duties as the board may prescribe. The cratic caucus and an Assembly vote. If signed into law, the bill, spon- district supervisor would work under Union County will now be the pilot sored by Assemblymen John the supervision of the chief school Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader site for a county school district.” Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and Rob- administrator,” the bill states. GIVING CHEER…Westfield firefighters, through their Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association and help from the public “We have no idea what this ulti- ert Gordon (D-Bergen) allows the In other business, the board voted provided more than a hundred turkeys with all the dinner trimmings last Saturday for families throughout the region. This board of chosen freeholders of an unanimously to pass language for the annual event by the firefighters spread holiday cheer to those most in need. Many helped throughout the day. Pictured above, eligible county to apply for participa- ballot question for a proposed $9.4- from left to right, are: Lieutenant John Peterson, Firefighter Michael Skubish, Captain Robert Buccino and Firefighters tion in the pilot program. million bond referendum to be held Robert Sawicki and Aldo Tammaro. “People in the statehouse who Tuesday, January 23. The proposal should know are talking about this as includes converting Lincoln School a real possibility,” said Lynne into an early childhood center/central Leaders Discuss State Funding, Strickland, Coalition executive direc- kindergarten school at $6 million, as tor, when contacted yesterday. well as renovations to Roosevelt Inter- “Sources are saying that Union County mediate School and expansion of its is at the top of the list,” she said. cafeteria and library and new win- Property Tax Implications Ms. Strickland said based on the dows at Edison Intermediate School. By MICHAEL J. POLLACK Ginny Leiz, BOE vice-president, and meetings, they’re talking about every legislation, A-8/S-49, Union County BOE President Anne Riegel said, Specially Written for The Westfield Leader members Ann Cary, Jane Clancy, Alice possible solution. So, when you read would not be eligible because it con- “I can not believe or forget the great WESTFIELD – A school leaders’ Hunnicutt and Julia Walker. Third the paper and you have no idea what’s tains two or more Abbott Districts – amount of due diligence (the board meeting hosted by the Westfield Board Ward Councilman Mark Ciarrocca going on, that’s exactly correct.” Victoria McCabe for The Westfield Leader FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS…The Elizabeth and Plainfield. She said 10 undertook) compared to what the state of Education last Friday featured a dis- attended as council liaison. One bill passed Monday in the As- Chanukah Menorah adorns the or 11 of New Jersey’s 21 counties is doing. It is mind boggling.” cussion on potential state funding deci- Mr. Bramnick, who resides in and sembly by a 46-33-1 count concerned grounds of the North Avenue plaza. would be eligible under this provision. Regarding the bond, she said, “All the sions that could affect Westfield schools. represents Westfield, spoke to the crowd monitoring a pilot county school dis- The eight-day Festival of Lights begins The bill states, “Upon the estab- kindergarteners will start together and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (LD- at the Westfield Memorial Library. He trict for a limited period of time. New tomorrow night, Friday, December 15 lishment of the county administrative end up together at Westfield High 21) and Lynne Strickland, executive said, “Government reacts to crises. It’s Jersey currently has 516 municipali- when the first candle is lit. school district, the boards of educa- School.” She also said she hoped this director of the Garden State Coali- reached the point that even in Trenton, ties and 616 school districts. could eliminate some of the “north side- tion of Schools facilitated the discus- they realize there’s a crisis in property Mr. Bramnick then focused on As- south side” rivalry within the district. sion, which was followed by a pre- taxes. So they have no real system in sembly Speaker Joe Roberts’ CORE Town Board of Adjustment Anthony Solimine, legal counsel sentation from Jefferson School Prin- effect. In the General Assembly, in my (Clearing hurdles to shared services, to the board with regard to bond ref- cipal Jeanette Munoz about the ratio- four years, we have never had an open Overriding waste in schools, Reining erendum compliance, addressed the nale behind the proposed Westfield discussion on property taxes or school in pension abuses and Empowering Denies Cacciola Place Plan board, saying that there is no need to BOE $9.4-million bond referendum. funding or anything that would reduce citizens) Reform Plan. By WAYNE BAKER room apartments. provide an interpretive statement to Anne Riegel, BOE president, gave property taxes.” Calling it “probably the most com- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Neighborhood residents attended the bond question. the introduction and was joined by He said the property tax commit- plicated bill,” Mr. Bramnick said the WESTFIELD — At its December the meeting to respond to the plan. tees set up by Governor Jon Corzine CORE Reform proposal changes 11 meeting, the board of adjustment Ralph Rapuano, the owner of sev- have met eight or nine times since school elections to November. rejected a plan submitted by Joe eral rental properties in the area, July. “They discussed every possible He said the bill would examine Penyak, Sr. for the duplex home at said the claim that the market de- issue that would affect property taxes issues of shared and consolidated ser- 121 Cacciola Place. Mr. Penyak’s plan mands three-bedroom apartments is – school funding, local funding, the vices. “Historically,” he said, “if you was to demolish the existing duplex invalid, noting that many of his prop- county and state process,” he said. wanted to join communities and share home and con- erties are two- He said the property tax problem has services, you needed a vote by the struct a new, three- bedroom dwell- existed for 10 to 20 years and, “in the taxpayer. This will allow consolida- story duplex with ings and he has no last four months, in eight committee CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 a two-car garage vacancies. He de- on the first level scribed the pro- and a three-bed- posed new build- Space Heater Causes Blaze room apartment on ing as “way out of the second and scale.” third levels. The Arlene Green, On Mohawk Trail on Sunday house was to have who lives next By PAUL J. PEYTON “The structure has been declared been located fur- door to the prop- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader structurally unsound (by the Westfield ther back from the erty, said that the WESTFIELD – Fire officials said Building Department) and will more street to permit a home has been va- a portable kerosene heater was the than likely have to be razed,” Chief car to be parked in cant for over a cause of an early morning blaze Sun- Kelly said. Victoria McCabe for The Westfield Leader the driveway. year, is raccoon- WESTFIELD LANDMARK...The Wychwood South Gatehouse, pictured above, day that destroyed a single-family “It spread to the first floor of the The property in- infested and on Canterbury Lane has become a subject of concern for multiple neighborhood ranch on Mohawk Trail.