(908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, November 14, 2002 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 113th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 10-113 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] FIFTY CENTS New Street Development Proposed By LAUREN S. PASS Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Last Wednesday evening, the Westfield Town Council heard a pre- sentation from Michael Zempsky of New Point Realty regarding New Street, which is located off of Central Avenue and connected with South Elmer Street to South Avenue. The council has previously been going into closed session regarding Lauren S. Pass for The Westfield Leader the vacation of New Street. NEW CONSTRUCTION?…A three-story office building with a two-tier parking deck behind it is proposed to be built across New Street in Westfield. New Point Realty has already purchased surrounding New Point currently owns the va- properties and the town could vacate the street itself by the end of the year. cant MRI building, the office building and a house on the northside of New Street and homes on the bend of South Added Taxation Elmer and New Street. WF Council OKs Minutes from Oct. 15 The proposed office building will span New Street, and have at least a On Area Business two-tier parking deck behind it. The deck would span from Central Av- Discussed by MS Public Meeting; Porch Ordinance Read enue and continue behind the build- ing. South Elmer Street would be- By MARY RONK come a cul-de-sac. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader By LAUREN S. PASS nothing in the town code to provide prove the minutes. grants, which will go to the county Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Mr. Zempsky said that the deck A major topic at The for a tie on the approval of minutes. Third Ward Democratic Council- for approval. Prior to Tuesday’s public session could be increased to a third level and Mountainside Borough Council He said that, in reference to ordi- woman Claire Lazarowitz questioned Town Administrator James Gildea that a “minimum of 50” commuter Work Session this past Tuesday of the Westfield Town Council, Town nances, the law states that an absten- if the council should wait for Fourth thanked The Westfield Community Attorney Robert Cockren explained spots could be leased to the town. He centered around a possible mu- tion would count as a “yes” vote, but Ward Democratic Councilwoman Center, The Westfield Neighborhood added that he has been in touch with nicipal tax on hotel, restaurant that the minutes of the October 15 he felt that that was illogical in this Susan Jacobson, who raised the ob- Council and Youth and Family Ser- meeting were on the agenda again Conrail and that a walkway can be and amusement facilities. This rec- case because Councilman Salisbury jection to the minutes on the October vices, the three applying organiza- used on the bridge over Central Av- ommendation comes from Tren- for approval. abstained because he was not in at- 29, to return from vacation. tions, for having the “community’s At the public meeting on October enue for commuter access to the ton, in the hopes of finding an tendance at the meeting. Mayor Gregory McDermott said needs at heart.” Westfield Train Station. alternative way of raising funds at 29 there was heated discussion among The council could either vote on that it was irrelevant because Coun- Frances Terrace resident Christine the members of the council on occur- Mr. Zempsky added that the traffic the local level and to relieve prop- them again, said Mr. Cockren, or cilman Goldman was changing his Povalac spoke during the citizens’ pattern would not change, as the exist- erty taxes. The bill can vary in rences after the meeting and the vote they could go into public record as vote. open discussion regarding petitions ing curb cuts will be used on Central each municipality. on the minutes was tied along party “not approved.” The minutes were approved dur- for and against a proposed traffic and South Avenues. The existing New Mayor Robert Viglianti asked lines with one abstention from First Fourth Ward Democratic Council- ing the public portion of the meeting. light at Clover Street and Central Street will become the ingress and the council to consider forming a Ward Democratic Councilman Carl man Lawrence Goldman said that he Also during the public portion, the Avenue. egress with right turn only for the of- bill that would define the types of Salisbury. would be changing his vote to “yes,” council held public hearings on six Mrs. Povalac said that at a previ- fice building, as well as access to park- establishments that would incur Mr. Cockren said that there was which would break the tie and ap- community development block ous meeting she had asked for a copy ing from South Elmer Street. such a tax. of the original petition for the light The proposed building is to be three The council discussed taxing and was instead given a recent one. floors with a brick façade and will be other businesses aside from hotel, She said that upon examination of over 60,000 square feet and will be set restaurant and amusement facili- Westfield Superintendent Cautions the petitions there were many illeg- back approximately 25 feet from the ties. One suggestion was to tax ible names, people from other towns, curb. self-storage facilities. These es- a child, and people who do not live in Third Ward Democratic Council- tablishments serve to store prop- Impact of Escalating Enrollment the neighborhood directly affected woman Claire Lazarowitz asked if this erty within the municipalities’ by the light. was the final design for the building, borders, and are protected by the By CHARLOTTE LEDERMAN Elementary enrollment is only ris- Dr. Foley concluded by remarking She also said that she feels a letter and if the top of the building could be Borough Police and Fire Depart- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ing modestly. The estimate for 2002- that the school system can make should be written to the county to let scalloped or set back in some way. ments. The council voted down The reputation of Westfield’s pub- 2003 is 2,656, while the projected adjustments for the anticipated en- them know that the petitions men- Mr. Zempsky responded that the taxation of storage units and de- lic school system has been so suc- enrollment for 2005-2006 is 2,763 rollment, but it is really the social tioned in a letter from then Town building could not be set back further cided to give additional thought to cessful in drawing young families to students. An increase of approxi- issues and the level of student in- Administrator Thomas Shannon can- because of the parking geometry and the Mayor’s request. It was de- the town that it now faces challenges mately a hundred students over two volvement that most concerns him not be found. because “gabling” the third floor cided to defer action on this bill. due to its very excellence. years is nothing to be too concerned about such growth. Councilman Salisbury questioned would make it inefficient for office An additional topic of discus- With the constant influx of chil- about, noted Dr. Foley. In another part of the the status of the light, and said that space. He said that the current design sion was the relationship between dren, Superintendent Dr. William At the intermediate level, Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Foley petitions are just a part of the pro- would be consistent with the look of Atlantic Ambulance and Foley has cautioned that annually Roosevelt School will continue to be briefly outlined the 2001-2002 cess. downtown Westfield as a gateway to Mountainside Volunteer Rescue increasing student enrollment has the largest school, with approxi- QAAR or Quality Assurance Annual Second Ward Republican Coun- the downtown. First Ward Democratic Councilman Squad. Atlantic Ambulance has led to a trend of ever-increasing class mately 70 to 100 more students than CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 asking that their agreement with size. Carl Salisbury questioned if the park- Edison School. For 2002-2003, Dr. ing would be visible from Central and the Borough be revised. Specifi- At the Tuesday’s meeting of the Foley said that enrollment was 1,411 cally, Atlantic has asked not to be Westfield Board of Education, Dr. South Avenues. students, and expects that number to Mr. Zempsky explained that be- legally responsible for emergency Foley presented the members with grow to 1,417 by the 2005-2006 Randazzo Speeds Up calls from the time of 4 a.m. to 6 the present and projected enrollment cause of the grading of Central Av- school year. enue and with landscaping the deck a.m. Atlantic Ambulance has for Westfield schools at the elemen- Westfield High School (WHS) is checked into call volume at this would be minimally visible, and that tary, intermediate, and high school where the greatest growth is expected. it will not be visible from South Av- time and found it to be “very light.” levels. Ninth grade is currently considered Work on Beechwood The Mountainside Rescue Squad enue because of the grade of the park- In this official enrollment applica- the wild card in the enrollment equa- By NICOLE WINTERS Mr. Barre said that on the whole, ing. He also said that the façade of the will now be on call for those hours. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tion for state aid, Dr. Foley projected tion; as close to 90 new students the numbers looked good, however deck could be done.