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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, March 8, 2007 OUR 117th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 10-2007 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Westfield Board of Ed. Considers $78-Mil. Budget, Tax Increase Limits By MARYELLEN PALERMO Business Administrator Robert He said the increase remains low with- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Berman provided assistance, explain- out compromising the program. WESTFIELD – The board of edu- ing the numbers of the budget that has Superintendent of Schools Will- cation on Tuesday night reviewed been revised from $78,232,188 to iam Foley said Westfield High School budget options amounting to more $78,341,332. As such, it reflects a tax has not changed the number of train- than $78 million for the 2007-2008 increase of about 3.5 percent over last ers to facilitate the athletic depart- academic year. A new state law re- year, he said. ment and, due to the large number of stricts school boards from increasing Board member Richard Solomon student athletes, he recommended taxes by more than 4 percent. responded to Ms. Cassie’s concerns hiring a part-time athletic trainer con- “The state has been so focused on by saying that the state budget cap tracted on an hourly pay rate for fall property tax relief,” said board mem- allows an increase of 15 cents per and spring seasons. ber Beth Cassie. She said $180,000 $100 of assessed valuation, while the Mr. Foley discussed the elimina- would have to be cut for every tax BOE’s outlined budget proposes an tion of one community service advi- point the tax levy is reduced for the increase of 13 cents, which he said sor position, which has been dormant public taxpayer to see a reduction in meets the board’s goal of limiting the for several years. WHS does not have tax bills. tax increase from 14 cents to 13 cents. a community service requirement, and there are “numerous” groups – such as the Key Club and Young Optimists Club – available to students inter- ested in servicing the community, he said. In regards to placing community service on the “chop block,” Mr. Foley said, “Maybe one advisor combined with other opportunities would be a compromise.” On another matter, last year the board attempted to transfer students from Wilson Elementary School to Franklin Elementary School to di- Wayne Baker for The Westfield Leader GRAND OPENING…Cosi Restaurant opened this week at 102-108 East Broad Street in Westfield. Above, guests enjoy minish the problem of overpopula- Cosi’s variety of sandwiches, salads, pizza and s’mores plates at last Thursday’s grand opening event. tion in the classroom. This year, Mr. Foley said the board plans to redis- trict 30 students, creating an addi- tional first-grade section at Franklin Westfield to Ask County to Pay and allowing Wilson to accommo- date an additional kindergarten sec- Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader PANCAKE TIME...Members of the Westfield Rotary Club prepare pancakes at tion. If It Loses On-Street DPW Spaces the club’s annual event Saturday morning at Westfield High School. The Rotary The districts Citizen’s Advisory Club holds the breakfast as a fundraiser for its scholarship funds. Committee developed a system of By MICHAEL J. POLLACK tions, lead green (green left-turn ar- the county engineer’s office. Mr. course options that included Manda- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader rows), state-of-the-art computerized Marsh suggested “bumping” the rin and Robotics to entice parents WESTFIELD – Town Engineer signals, pedestrian signals and a curb in eight feet, creating parallel Westfield Lacrosse Club from the north side of Westfield to Ken Marsh said at Tuesday’s town smoother right-turn movement by parking. “They seemed agreeable enroll their children in Edison Inter- council conference meeting that he widening the road. to that. That might be something mediate School. Parents expressed hopes to see the conclusion of the “It’s a great design,” he added. “It that’s doable.” Seeks More Time on Fields excitement towards the science tech- “state-of-the-art” traffic improve- will greatly improve traffic flow, Committee Chairman Mark By MARIA WOEHR user meetings should be earlier in the nology option, officials said, but out ments done at Crossway Place, and could be constructed this sum- Ciarrocca, who acted as mayor on Specially Written for The Westfield Leader year. I am scheduling games without of the 69 students from Tamaques, Edgewood and North Avenues by this mer.” Tuesday, said the committee be- WESTFIELD – Representatives fields to play on,” Mr. Werner said. McKinley and Jefferson Elementary summer. However, he said the im- However, he said there is one lieved that “parking is important from the Westfield Lacrosse Club According to Bruce Kaufman, rec- Schools to communicate interest, provements might eliminate all on- “drawback,” which affects the DPW for customers going in and out con- asked the recreation commission reation director, both lacrosse and seven students made a tentative com- street parking for the department of facility. “Because of the striping, stantly during the day. The White Monday night for more time on the soccer had requested more time on mitment to the program. public works (DPW). additional lanes and lane widths, we Paper Study (completed last year fields. the fields. “Lacrosse wanted more Mr. Foley said the balance of en- During the Public Safety, Trans- will now lose all of our street park- on DPW and engineering opera- “We would like two nights, prefer- time then they received in previous rollment by course choice is not an portation and Parking Committee re- ing on both sides of the street, which tions) has tried to make that build- ably Tuesdays and Thursdays, to play years in Kehler Stadium. It was my effective option. He said it is too port, Mr. Marsh described the plan’s means our customers, who we are ing more customer-friendly. We games. Right now soccer has the fields understanding that Sandy [Mamary, difficult to ask parents to make the progress as in the “90-percent stage,” trying to make our entrance more agree that bump should be made, 72 percent of the time and we have the Westfield School District’s certi- decision of forsaking the friendships saying, when complete, it would pro- convenient for, will have to walk a and we will find it acceptable if the the fields 28 percent of the time, even fied trainer] was giving more time to CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 vide “left-turn lanes in both direc- couple hundred feet. I found that county pays for it.” though soccer has 800 users and we lacrosse this year. Soccer wanted more unacceptable.” Mr. Marsh said DPW would lose have 600 users,” said Rich Werner, time also. But soccer was not willing Planning Bd. OK’s Doctor’s He said both he and assistant town 10 spaces in front of the building and president of Westfield Lacrosse. to switch days,” Mr. Kaufman said. engineer Kris McAloon met with CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 The schedule for the season came “It doesn’t seem that the field out two weeks ago, according to time is being distributed equally if Westfield Lacrosse representatives. it is 70/20,” said Commissioner Bob Office, Stirling Subdivision “We didn’t know until two weeks Smith. “I think it is too late for By WAYNE BAKER approximately 6,500 square feet, Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ago. We requested more time. These CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 about 10 percent smaller than the WESTFIELD — The town’s plan- 7,200-square-foot requirement, and ning board Monday night approved 100 feet deep, less than the required an enlarged entryway at a new doctor’s 120-foot requirement. The plans, as office on Central Avenue, an addition presented, call for the demolition of to the rear of a downtown building on the existing home on the property. Prospect Street and the subdivision The driveway for one of the new of a property on Stirling Place. homes will use the location of the The changes to the doctor’s office existing driveway; the other drive- site at 433 Central Avenue include the way will be located “as far back as enlargement of the rear entryway on possible” on Livingston Street, as a previously approved project. Roger described by the applicant’s urban Winkle, applicant Thoracic Holdings planner, Michael Jovishoff. When LLC’s architect, said the need for an questioned about tree removals re- enlarged doorway was discovered quired, Mr. Jovishoff responded that after the board’s approval of the origi- two interior trees would need to be nal project. He said it was necessary removed for the new home, and that because the existing stairway failed the new driveway would be situated to meet current commercial standards. to avoid the need to remove large He said the other proposed change – trees. Wayne Baker and Lauren Vernick for The Westfield Leader the addition of an elevator – would Board member Lori Duffy said the OFF TO THE RACES...Above, race officials and participants examine the cars enable disabled patients and emer- project would need to come before prior to Saturday’s Pinewood Derby for Cub Scout Pack 172 at Westfield’s gency services ready access to the the tree preservation committee. Ms. Franklin School. Issac Amador won the derby, and Chris Pettit captured second. space. Thornton said the project would need Matt Basile took third place after edging out Owen Hein in a run-off.

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