Happy St. Patrick’s Day! (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, March 14, 2002 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 112th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 27-112 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] FIFTY CENTS WESTFIELD COUNCIL SIGNS OFF ON SETTLEMENT TUESDAY Ward Commission Approves Reinstatement of Old Map By LAUREN S. PASS voted against reinstatement of the borhood had felt disenfranchised and old map, while Republicans John wanted to be a part of the Third Ward Specially Written for The Westfield Leader DeSimone of Clark and Mary Ellen again. Now, she said, she would like The Ward Commission met on Harris of Kenilworth voted in favor “to see the whole system (of redis- Tuesday afternoon to adopt a settle- of it. Town Clerk Bernard Heeney tricting) changed to non-political.” ment in the lawsuit of Withers et al cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of The vote cast on October 18, 2001 versus the Ward Commission et al. returning to the old map. was also a 2-2 split, with Mr. Heeney The commission voted to throw The Ward Commission, which is casting the deciding vote in favor of out the map it adopted on October appointed after each census is com- moving the Cacciola Place neigh- 18, 2001, which had put the entire pleted, consists of two Democrats, borhood from the Third to the Sec- Cacciola Place neighborhood into two Republicans and the town clerk. ond ward. The map took effect on January 1 of this year. According to federal stat- utes, each neighborhood should be “compact contigu- ous,” while not showing a difference of more than 10 percent in population devia- tion between the smallest and largest wards. The population remained at less than a 10 percent dif- ference from the 1980 and 1990 to the 2000 censuses. Ms. Hale stated that, “al- Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader YOU’LL FLIP FOR THESE PANCAKES…Ray Luck, Westfield Rotarian and Deputy Fire Chief, cooked and served though I agree with the plain- fluffy pancakes during the annual Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Westfield. The event, which was tiffs … I never approved of held the first weekend in March, benefits the organization’s scholarship fund. that original map.” She continued, “I do not believe the map that was just voted for is legal.” Town Residents Could See Nearly “I never found (the map) in proper order,” Ms. Fischer stated. Ms. Fischer also served on the Ward Com- 5 Point Hike in 2002 Budget mission for Westfield after the 1990 census. By LAUREN S. PASS percent of the budget is discretion- unmarked cars that are on the streets ary; meaning that only $5 million of is that we are constantly, members of Westfield resident and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader former Mayor Thomas the $25 million budget can be the council, hearing about people Jardim, who is counsel for On Tuesday night the Westfield changed. speeding and (that is) a very, very big the plaintiffs in this case, Town Council held its regular public “How can we make this the best concern. I don’t think the police are Lauren S. Pass for The Westfield Leader approached the dais Tues- session where they introduced and possible town with the resources we there to knock knee caps.” ADOPTING THE OLD MAP...Domenick Carmagnola, pictured, in the forefront, the approved the 2002 Municipal Bud- have,” Mayor Gregory McDermott Mr. Nuzzo urged the council to attorney from Lum, Danzis, Drasco, Positan and Kleinberg, representing the Westfield day afternoon to question members of the Ward Com- get in a 7-2 vote. posed to the council. reconsider this policy. Ward Commission, is shown as the old map, which existed before October 18, 2001, was The proposed budget includes a re-adopted. Pictured, in the background, are: June S. Fisher of Scotch Plains, a mission, as well as Mr. The council also approved an ordi- Police Chief Bernard Tracy ex- Democratic member of the commission, Westfield Town Clerk Bernard Heeney, and Heeney, on their October four and a half cent increase per $100 nance that bans smoking in and plained that the vehicle Mr. Nuzzo Mary Ellen Harris, Republican member of the commission. 2001 decision. of assessed value. The town saw a around the Memorial Pool Complex. was speaking about has Westfield Domenick Carmagnola of $900,000 increase in bills, the most The ordinance, bans the carrying of Police decals on both sides of the car, Westfield’s Second Ward, and to re- Lum, Danzis, Drasco, dramatic increase coming from the lighted pipes, cigars and cigarettes and lights in the back window, it instate the map previously in effect. The October 2001 map was pre- Positan & Kleinberg, LLC, repre- Rahway Valley Sewer Company. This within a twenty-foot radius of the however does not have a light bar on The former map, which went into sented by Second Ward Councilman senting the Westfield Ward Commis- is compacted by the lack of increase complex, and carries fines ranging the roof of the car, or decals on the effect in 1983, split the Cacciola Rafael Betancourt. Although Coun- sion, cautioned Mr. Jardim that he in state aid this year. There is also an from $50 to $500 for violations. A back. “The policy saves people from Place neighborhood between the cilman Betancourt wanted to keep needed to keep his questioning to increase in salaries and insurance. being hurt, people from being killed. town’s Second and Third wards. the 1983 map, he presented the Oc- that of a townsperson, and not the “I vote yes on this budget, know- I think people should obey the speed The council then approved the tober map because of the plaintiffs’ attorney, so as not to cre- ing we did the best that we could “I vote yes on this budget, limit laws,” Chief Tracy went on to settlement unanimously on Tuesday neighborhood’s request to be grouped ate a conflict with the settlement. with the tools that we had,” Council- say, that the car in question is driven woman Claire Lazarowitz stated. knowing we did the best that we night. together. Mr. Jardim proceeded to ask Mr. could with the tools that we had,” by a uniformed officer and though From the Ward Commission, Councilwoman Claire Lazarowitz Heeney why he voted in favor of the Councilman Lawrence Goldman there are four police cars in town that Democrats June S. Fisher of Scotch commented to The Westfield Leader map in October 2001, and was chang- stated that the council had not seen Councilwoman Claire Lazarowitz contain dashboard video cameras, an optional budget with a tax in- Plains and Teresa R. Hale of Hillside that the people in the Cacciola neigh- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 this car is not one of them. crease of zero, which would include Town residents were also on hand cuts in police, fire and department of second reading was also held on an to address the council about the pro- public works. Mr. Goldman then ordinance swapping a town owned posed ordinance allowing people with County Freeholder Bd. Distributes asked if Town Administrator James piece of land located at 1211 front porches to include 50 percent Gildae could provide those numbers Sedgewick Avenue for the property of the space of their front porch in a for consideration. at 1203 Sedgewick Ave. owned by new addition to their home. Grants for Town Athletic Fields Both Councilwoman Lazarowitz Needle Point Homes. Needlepoint Tony Laporta, a North Chestnut and Councilman Kevin Walsh men- will also pay the town approximately Street resident, who also sits on the By FRED ROSSI each municipality, will be disbursed junction with Fanwood and their tioned that Governor McGreevy has $150,000 for the price difference in planning board urged the council to Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to each town upon completion of joint board of education, for field asked municipal governments the properties, and there is a prohibi- consider an ordinance that would their particular project. redesign at Park Middle School. throughout the state to “tighten their tion on the land being subdivided in forgive the front porch and allow for At the Freeholder meeting on Feb- Local mayors were on hand to Fanwood Mayor Louis Jung ac- belts.” ruary 28, Union County distributed the future. an extra 400 square feet or 28 percent receive their checks at the Board of cepted a check for $50,000 toward Councilman Walsh and Council- Mike Nuzzo, a Lawrence Avenue of lot coverage, whichever is less, for the first half of the grant funds ear- Chosen Freeholders’ meeting on Feb- the joint effort. A $50,000 check woman Susan Jacobson cast the two marked for municipalities to use to resident, spoke to the council about additions. “A front porch, you can ruary 28. Westfield Mayor Gregory will be sent to Mountainside for dissenting votes. “I can’t support the his concerns of the Westfield Police argue, is good for the whole neigh- purchase and upgrade athletic fields. McDermott accepted a check for lighting at Echo Brook field and the budget with a tax increase like this,” The “Field of Dreams” program, Department using unmarked cars to borhood, it brings people together.” $9,175, which will be used for work Little League field as well as study Ms. Jacobson stated. “I’m afraid (my catch speeders on Lawrence Ave. “It Sherrie Fritz, a Maye Street resi- announced last fall is funded through at several parks, including Tamaques, of expanding the field at constituents) are being taxed out of the county’s Open Space, Recreation really goes into big brother kind of dent, told the council that her home Gumbert, as well as Houlihan, Sid Beechwood.