County to Launch New Voting Machines in Westfield in Nov
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 18, 2018 OUR 128th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 42-2018 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] ONE DOLLAR County to Launch New Voting Machines In Westfield In Nov. By PAUL J. PEYTON Administrator Nicole DiRado said Garrison why Westfield was chosen Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the board’s plan is to purchase 475 to be the first to use the machines, Ms. COUNTY — Westfield has been machines, with the remaining part of DiRado said Westfield is a mid-sized selected as the first Union County the $4.8-million purchase included in town and also does not have a munici- town to use the county’s new voting the 2019 county budget. The remain- pal election this year. The town does machines. The county Board of Cho- der of the machines will be rolled out have a local school-board race this sen Freeholders last Thursday ap- in time for next year’s Primary and year. proved a $1.9-million agreement with General elections. The county has She said Winfield is too small of a ES&S of Omaha, Neb., to purchase 431 voting districts. Ms. DiRado said town and Elizabeth too large to be 190 machines. Westfield’s 25 polling the $1.9 million includes mainte- selected as the first to use the ma- places will be equipped with the ma- nance, software, training, two vote- chines. chines in time for the Tuesday, No- tabulating machines, as well as train- The new machines, like the current vember 6, General Election. ing poll workers. machines, are touch screens but also Union County Board of Elections When asked by Freeholder Angela have paper ballots that can be printed and viewed by the voter. They also enable the voter to enlarge the type of the official ballot on the machine. Ms. DiRado said the paper trail also will be used in the case of election recounts. Voters wishing to try out the new machines can do so at the Colleen Fraser Building, located at 300 North Avenue in Westfield, on Tuesdays Courtesy of Lani Lipkind and Thursdays between 8 a.m. and 7 REHEARSING FOR RIS PLAY...Roosevelt Intermediate School (RIA) will perform Anne of Green Gables, a sweet and p.m. and Saturdays between 9 a.m. charming play based on the classic children’s novels written by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1908, on Thursday, October 25, and 1 p.m. at 4 p.m. and Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27, at 7 p.m. All performances will be held in the RIS auditorium Board of Elections staff also will at 301 Clark Street, Westfield. Please see article on page 9. attend the Westfield Town Council meeting on Tuesday, October 23, to demonstrate the new machines. The meeting will be streamed on Facebook Board OK’s Redevelopment and Ms. DiRado said the town has agreed to run a video on the new machines as a public service an- nouncement. For 55 South Avenue in Garwood “I recognize that we have three By MICHAEL BONACCORSO mercial office or retail use on the first maintenance equipment, storage, and weeks to train 25,000 (Westfield) Specially Written for The Westfield Leader floor with the property’s owner occu- at least one car. voters,” she said, noting the county GARWOOD – The planning board pying the second floor. The building’s third floor will be will demonstrate the new machines at approved the redevelopment for 55 Mr. Hehl said the redevelopment utilized for storage for the first two NEW VOTING MACHINES...Union County will be rolling out its new voting Westfield Farmers Markets on Satur- South Avenue at last Wednesday’s will consolidate two properties into floors, stated Mr. Quinn. He said a machines in Westfield for the Tuesday, November 6, General Election. Westfield days at the North Avenue train station meeting. one approved zoning designation. The canopy and roof area are proposed to will be the first town in the county to use the machines, which include new features parking lot. The applicant’s attorney, Stephen property’s front is in the business dis- protect the front door. such as a paper trail and the ability to enlarge the type on the screen. Westfield residents also can famil- Hehl, said the “improvements,” in- trict while the rear is within a residen- Borough land-use ordinance re- iarize themselves with the new ma- cluding a re-established parking lot, tial zone. Currently, the properties’ quires the property must have sepa- Garwood Knights Present chines by visiting the Board of Elec- lighting improvements and less im- parking lot is a mixture of broken rate driveways, one allowing for cars tions website, according to a county pervious coverage detailed by more asphalt and gravel, stated Mr. Hehl. to turn in and another allowing for press release. foliage or landscaping, would enhance Planning Board member Bill cars to exit, stated Mr. Quinn. How- Public Service Awards In other business, the board the property. Mr. Hehl said the prop- Nierstedt said he wanted to make sure ever, he said it was not possible to be CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 erty proposed would provide a com- the impervious coverage conversions laid out given the narrowness of the By MICHAEL BONACCORSO Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Mr. Collings said each department’s factored the runoff aspects when com- lot. chief submits nominees, with bio- paring runoff with gravel versus all Borough Engineer Michael Disko GARWOOD – The Garwood graphical information describing each Police Misconduct Lawsuit asphalt. Mr. Nierstedt said assuming said he would be concerned with car Knights of Columbus held their an- nominee’s level of service, and the less impervious coverage with more headlights pointing towards residen- nual Columbus Day dinner honoring Knights’ general membership and asphalt and no gravel could create a tial homes. Mr. Disko said the land- Police Captain Douglas Stoffer (Po- executive board select one public ser- Discussed at Council Meeting greater runoff than presently exists. scaping improvements would reduce liceman of the Year), former Chief vant to be honored from each depart- By KATE BROWNE denied, whether the council had con- The applicant’s engineer, Thomas or eliminate the lighting from the Len Spina (Fireman of the Year) and ment. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader sidered settling the lawsuit, who on Quinn, said the runoff ratios have parking lot. Luciane Raibin (Emergency Medical Ms. Raibin, the 2018 EMS award MOUNTAINSIDE — At the bor- the council was supervising the work been calculated and the runoff would Mr. Nierstedt said 25 total plants Technician of the Year. recipient, has been a Garwood First ough council’s meeting Tuesday, done by the Gibbons firm, which is not be increased with the decreased would be his suggestion and replac- One hundred and fifty attendees Aid squad member for three years, Mayor Paul Mirabelli read a pre- serving as the borough’s defense coun- impervious coverage. Mr. Quinn said ing non-native plants with native enjoyed an evening at the Knights responding to more than 150 calls. pared statement regarding Union sel, and what the borough’s litigation the impervious coverage total after plants, with sidewalk repairs as per Council Hall which, along with the Ms. Raibin was promoted to first County Superior Court Judge Camille strategy was. Approximately two the redevelopment will be 87 percent, the application’s approval. public service honorees awards, in- lieutenant and assistant captain this M. Kenny’s decision Monday regard- years ago, Mr. McMahon appeared at a decrease from impervious coverage “We’re reducing impervious cov- cluded 50/50 raffles. Assemblyman year. A “Monday night crew leader,” ing the borough’s motion to dismiss a a council meeting with a video he in the 90-percent range. erage, good areas for parking and site Jon Bramnick (R-21st, Westfield) Ms. Raibin acts as a mentor to new sexual-harassment lawsuit filed last claimed depicted inappropriate con- Mr. Quinn stated that the parking circulation. We addressed all the ques- delivered the keynote address. Pro- volunteers. May, Stinner v Borough of Moun- duct by members of the police depart- lot would consist of 16 parking stalls tions and concerns from the borough’s ceeds from the event go to Knights of She was certified as an American tainside, and repeatedly refused to ment. At that time, the council ad- with three additional tandem stalls. A engineer, Michael Disko,” said Mr. Columbus supported charities Heart Association CPR and First Aid answer questions, asked by a non- vised him that due to the nature of the two-car garage will be proposed for Hehl. throughout Union County, among instructor. Ms. Raibin is fluent in resident, regarding the borough’s liti- conduct, the matter had to be referred them Garwood-centric holiday three languages, including English, gation strategy. to the Union County Prosecutor’s events. Spanish and Portuguese, stated Mr. Mayor Mirabelli explained that Office. “When I took over leadership at the Collings. Throughout the summer she under New Jersey law, when consid- Mayor Mirabelli repeatedly stated Knights of Columbus, this event had volunteered at the Garwood Summer ering a motion to dismiss, a judge is that the borough’s lawyers had ad- been placed by the wayside. I whole- Police Academy demonstrating in- required to accept all of the allega- vised the members of the borough heartedly believe this is an important fant CPR and choking-response tech- tions made by the plaintiffs as true council not to discuss the details of part of community, to have our public niques.