Echausse and Wecare Rep., Trade Barbs Over Parking by MICHAEL J
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Happy Halloween Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 27, 2005 OUR 115th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 43-2005 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Echausse and WeCare Rep., Trade Barbs Over Parking By MICHAEL J. POLLACK height in town. Previously, Fourth employees may use the south-side Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Ward Councilman Jim Foerst said train station lot. He added that the WESTFIELD — At Tuesday’s that the law would amend the land proposal is consistent with his Westfield council meeting, the mayor use ordinance and lower the maxi- committee’s plan to have lots 1 and 8 and council passed on second read- mum building height from 38 to 35 (behind the Leader Store, Trader ing new height limitations, spoke feet. Joe’s) completely dedicated for down- about reconfiguring employee park- Councilman Foerst has said this town shoppers. ing on Orchard, Elm Streets and Ferris was the second part of the first phase First Ward Councilman Peter Place, received the deed to former in the committee’s plan to control Echausse said the town’s website plan Mayor Richard Bagger’s house and McMansions — the first being the is in an introductory stage and hopes honored the Westfield finest and brav- corner lot ordinance, which he hoped that when complete it will be more est contingent who aided the relief will give the town “relief from shoe- “vibrant and interactive.” When fully efforts in the Gulf region. horning.” completed, the town’s permanent ad- The council passed unanimously Third Ward Councilman Mark dress will be located at on second reading an ordinance that Ciarrocca’s Public Safety, Parking westfieldnj.gov. He encouraged the will lower the maximum building and Traffic Safety Committee met use of e-alerts that offer residents notifications in eight different cat- egories, such as public safety and public works. Temporarily, Westfield’s homepage is housed on www.westfieldnj.govoffice2.com. Councilman Echausse instructed those interested in volunteering their Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader services to call Town Administrator GOOD SPORT...While campaigning in Westfield for the town Democratic party last Friday night at the home of Frank and Jim Gildea’s office at (908) 789-4041. Janice Fusaro, Acting Governor Richard Codey noted he enjoyed when West Orange beat Westfield High School in WeCare (Westfielders Concerned basketball. He also points to his choice for Westfield Mayor, Tom Jardim, in the upcoming election. Pictured, left to right, About Responsible Development) are: Gov. Codey, mayoral candidate Jardim and Westfield Democrat Party Chairman Ken Rotter. representative Jim Baker questioned why the town isn’t bagging the meters earlier, mentioning November 15 “so Mayoral Candidates Spar that the people can park closer to the stores for the holiday selling season.” Mr. Baker claimed the town has 200 empty spots available on a daily Over Taxes, Sale of Assets basis and that WeCare presented plans By MICHAEL POLLACK thought of ways to decrease spending Former Mayor Jardim replied that about the Elm and Orchard plans a Specially Written for The Westfield Leader or make a prudent cut in the budget. Mayor Skibitsky voted for a tax in- year and a half ago. He additionally WESTFIELD – In the wake of the “Tom sold $1.7 million worth of crease in 2003 (five point tax increase) Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader questioned the policy of taking the mayoral debate last Monday, the can- property to developers. That goes to and in 2005 (five-plus point tax in- SEEKING ONE-SEAT RIDE…Sen. Tom Kean, Jr. , Asm. Jon Bramnick and bags off the meters on Saturday. “I didates continued to spar over the our sale of assets. From that account, crease) that was “almost as large as the Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky present petitions at the Westfield train station see no reason to take them off on to commuters on New Jersey Transit’s Raritan Valley Line. The petition seeks to sale of assets account, taxation and he used $2.7 million. That should be one in 2004, and certainly higher than speed up the timeframe for completion of a new Hudson River tunnel and the Friday and put them back on Monday even attendance. used for future assets and to make any increase ever voted on by me.” eventual one-seat ride into New York City for Raritan Line riders. According to morning.” Mayor Andy Skibitsky claimed that capital improvements.” In response to Mayor Skibitsky’s Sen. Kean, NJ Transit executives said the earliest project completion date would Mr. Baker estimated that the town he didn’t “vote for the 2004 budget At the debates, Mayor Skibitsky claim regarding the sale of assets be 2014 depending on federal and state transportation appropriations. He warned is losing $650,000. Councilman because it was too big of an increase.” said draining the sale of assets “is not account, he said that when he became that this date could be much later if government funding is not forthcoming. Echausse immediately questioned the Citing healthcare hikes as a primary good business management. That’s mayor, and realized that, for years validity of the numbers. Mr. Baker reason behind the increase, Mayor not how you run a business. That’s prior, the council used the sale of and are working to address down- said that the town “doesn’t even know Skibitsky said that the “council like taking a piece of your land and capital assets (town property) to “foist Houlihan/Sid Fay town parking issues on Orchard, Elm how to identify the problem. For four- needed to be weaned off the sale of selling it every year to pay for your up the operating budget, I and other Dedication Set Nov. 1 Streets and Ferris Place. plus years, we’ve known the problem assets, which he (Jardim) drained.” electrical bill. You’d call that an newly-elected members of the town “There are 52 long-term meters in is employee meter feeding and we’ve Mayor Skibitsky said he would have Enron-style accounting tactic.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 WESTFIELD — A ribbon-cutting those areas. We were hoping to get done nothing.” ceremony will be held on Tuesday, better usage than we had. We are Councilman Ciarrocca said the bag- November 1 at 7 p.m. at Houlihan and proposing to the town council to bag ging “had nothing to do with the Sid Fay fields to celebrate comple- an appreciable amount of those bagging for the holiday parking. UC Board to OK Bid to Install tion of the Town of Westfield’s new meters, about 40, and bag those as That’s a different issue. The reason lighted synthetic turf fields. During prepaid employee parking as of Janu- you wait to January 1 is out of sheer the ceremony, individuals and groups ary 1, 2006. Currently, we have 100 fairness. There are people who have who have supported this town-wide employee permits in lot 8 and we permits in lot 8 and it makes sense to Signals at Westfield Intersection project will be recognized for their should be able to take about 50 of offer them new spots on Orchard and dedication. By PAUL J. PEYTON depth of the lake. January 1 and run through the end of them and move them to the Orchard, Elm in the beginning of the year when Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The public is invited to attend. Park- Elm and Ferris Place,” Councilman the new, reduced parking rates go According to the county’s Depart- 2006. ing will be available in the designated Ciarrocca said. into effect so they can opt to whether ELIZABETH – The Union County ment of Public Information, Cedar The board also discussed renewing parking lot next to the fields. The The councilman added that the plan or not they want those spaces.” freeholder board is scheduled to ap- Brook Park was developed in 1925 by a lease to house the county’ youth ceremony will be held rain or shine will enable the town to still have He added that the bags will be prove a bid tonight, October 27, from the then Union County Park Com- service bureau at 1130 St. Georges under the lights. some meters unbagged and left as removed over the weekend because a contractor to install traffic signals at mission. Avenue in Linden. Director of Hu- The Westfield Recreation Commis- hourly meters on the weekends, while the intersection of East Broad Street, Mr. Sias said Cedar Brook is the man Services Frank Guzzo recom- sion and the Westfield Recreation CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Central Avenue and Mountain Av- smallest of the lakes on the list to be mended that the county enter into the Department implemented this project, enue in Westfield. Signal improve- dredged. He said the project would be new month-to-month lease with supported by youth athletic organiza- ments will be made at Elm and East completed by June 2006. Morning Star Community Develop- tions. The town council in the 2004 Broad Streets. The county is also set to renew a ment, the building’s new owner. capital budget funded it. The board is set to hire Tiffany contract with Horizon Health Care of Freeholder Adrian Mapp ques- Electric, Inc., of Fairfield at a cost of Newark for the county’s employee- tioned whether the increase in rent $676,000. The company will also add flexible-spending plan. Through this was justified. Tax Collector’s Office a right-turn lane from Lake Avenue program, employees can have funds Mr.