Town Palms Tax Overpayments -TV.E W&Atfieid Community Band, Under the Direction of Elia* Zareva, Continues Its 83Rd Summer Concert Series 8 P.M
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Places to go - 1; Local zoo makes a comeback. See page A-6. To subscribe, call (800) 300-9321 Vol. 7=J, No. 26= The^festfield Record Thursday, July 6, 1995 A Forbes Newspaper 50 cents Briefs Park music Town palms tax overpayments -TV.e W&atfieid Community Band, under the direction of Elia* Zareva, continues its 83rd Summer Concert Series 8 p.m. Most due refunds for '92 never notified; $90,000 goes to surplus tonight in Mindowaskin Park •y KEVIN COtUQAW Lake most Westfielders, Mr. Pizzi pays "It's a nightmare," said Ms. Jacob. "We This second concert in their se- THE RECORD property taxes in monthly installments to try. If we know people, we call and tell ries will include music ranging Does the Town of Westfield owe you his mortgage company. The mortgage com- them." If tax office employees are not famil- from classical to marches to big Could you use a couple extra thousand money? Check out the list of pany holds the taxes in escrow and pays iar with a person who has overpaid their band. Additional concerts are dollars for your summer plans? If you are overpayers on page A-3. them to the town tax collector each quarter. taxes, however, they are not notified because scheduled for Thursdays, July on the list of Westfielders who overpaid This mortgage company middleman setup "we don't know if the money belongs to 13 and 20. The rain site for the their property taxes in 1992, a letter and a is to blame for 99 percent of tax refund them," said Ms. Jacob. event is the Westfield Com- canceled check may be all you need. tax collector has no notification process. snafus, said WestfieJd Tax Collector Violet The president of the state's Tax Collectors munity Room in the municipal The Westfield Town Council last week "I know nothing about it," said Donald Jacob. According to Ms. Jacob, mortgage Association, Vincent Belluscio, called that "a building next to the park. 'transferred more than $90,000 in overpaid Pizzi, who town records show may have paid companies buy and sell property mortgages weak excuse." property taxes to the town's general surplus $2,280.24 too much in property taxes. "This so quickly, it is" virtually impossible to keep "When you have a mortgage company, Money talks account. The overpayments, ranging from is raising an issue that gets me a little track of where tax payments are coming you notify both the mortgage company and one cent to $4,462.39, were collected from upset," said Mr. Pizzi. "This is the first time from. TTiese companies, some of which han- the property owner," said Mr. Belluscio. "Let Leggs Mason Wood Walker, 206 taxpayers. If you don't think you over- I've heard about this. To find out from a Inc. presents a free educational dle hundreds of taxpayer accounts, may du- them decide who is entitled to the money." paid, you may be wrong. Aside from spo- reporter as opposed to the town ... This plicate tax payments and/or pay taxes to the Even when a mortgage company mistakenly seminar on the fundamentals of radic phone calls to familiar residents, the investing 7:30 p.m. Thursday, would help me pay my son's tuition." wrong account, she said. (Please turn to page A-2) July 13 and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 15 at its Westfield office, 2« Elm St. Call 232-2686 to re- serve a seat or for information. Menopause support Women interested in educat- ing themselves about meno- pause and sharing their experi- ences with others in a support group setting are invited to at- tend 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield. Call Ellen Kazanoff at 654-4737 after 6 p.m. to register or for information. Paperbacks wanted The Westfield Memorial Li- brary needs used paperback books to replenish the Read and Ride Rack at the Westfield Train Station, Library director Barbara Thiele asks that all books be in good condition with covers intact No hardcovers will be accepted All donations may be left at the library's Circulation Desk. Last year more than 3,000 pa- perbacks were provided for SHARON WILSON/THE RECORD commuters. Marching to the beat The Westfield Fife and Drum Cot»e marches in the Plainfield area Fourth of July Parad^pTuatday, In honor of their centennial celebration, the Borough of Shared worship Fanwood was the host community, and Mayor Linda Slander, the grmnd maralMtf. Oraani&tioM from nin* communities including Dunellen, Fanwood, Green Keeping with the tradition of Brook, North Plainfield, Plainfield, South Plalnfleld, Watchung, Warren and WestflekT participated In the 90-conWngent march, other unfts included a hore* joint worship services during show, an old-fashioned trolley sponsored by the friends of Sleepy Hollow, a Civil War Re-enactment group, a ballet troupe, lots of classic cars, and polka, July and August, First Congre- country and marching bands. gational and First Baptist churches of Westfield will once again share ministers, pulpits and fellowship. First Congrega- tional Church, 125 Elmer St., hosts the 10 am. worship ser- vice during the month of July. Cuts have bad effect on food workers First Baptist Church, 170 Elm St., hosts the 10 a.m. service By KEVIN COLUGAN nuts," said Westfield Cafeteria Employees uniform stipend and a 35 percent hike in Huk said the board subsidized the food ser- during the month of August. Association shop steward Martha Costa. the employee insurance contribution, said THE RECORD vice by $140,000 as little as'four years ago. Ms. Costa, the head cook at Westfield Ms. Costa. "We fee] they are taking too That amount was later halved, he said. Westfield school cafeteria workers are High School, began working in the district much away," she said. "What will we bring "In the current year, making tough eco- Hoe, hoe, hoe finding a reduction in the district's subsidy for one dollar an hour more than 29 years home, $140 a week? I could never live on it." Rutgers Cooperative Exten- to the meal program hard to swallow. ago. Like most cafeteria workers, she contin- "I don't have a husband here to help out," nomic decisions, the boai-d went to a zero- sion of Union County is accept- based budget with no public support," said ing applications for the 1995- The workers, employed the private Daka ued in the schools after the district privat- said Ms. Costa, a former Westfield resident, 1996 Master Gardeners Pro- Educational Food Service, say the $70,000 ized its food service a half doztn years ago. who moved to an apartment complex in Mr. Huk. gram. cut has prompted Daka to propose a drastic If Daka goes through with its proposed cuts, Roselle Park. "A lot of the girls' husbands The loss of the public subsidy, said Mr. The program, which runs reduction in benefits for employees who are Ms. Costa said she and 19 other cafeteria are deceased." Huk, is the cause of the "Draconian and workers will not be able to make ends meet Sept 15-April, meets 10 a.m.- already underpaid. New Jersey Education Association nego- dramatic reduction" in employee benefits. noon at the extension office, "We have girls making less than $6 (an Cuts proposed in the Collective Bargain- tiator George Huk last week placed the 300 North Ave. Westfield. Tu- hour). Some make $7 and a few cents. I'm ing Agreement by Daka include the elimina- blame for the proposed cutbacks squarely on School board President Susan ition is $80. Call 654-9854 for the head cook and I make $8. That's pea- tion of sick days, paid vacation, the $100 the shoulders of the Board of Education. Mr. (Please turn to page A-2) information. Suicide support Resolve Community Counsel- Novices, experts ing Center, Inc. holds a Suicide || How elected officials are paid | Survivors Support Group for family and friends of suicide Town Elected Officials Yearly Salary Benefits victims one Saturday morning a month beginning in August. dive for treasure Cranford Mayor 34,509 Employee medical plan offered to elected officials and family Call Pat at 322-9180 for more Commitee members 4.091 information or to register. By KEVIN After getting their flippers wet, novice divers are taken to Dutch Kenilworth Mayor 700 None THE RECORD Springs Recreational Area in Beth- Hamburger helpers Most South Avenue businesses lehem, Pennsylvania. There, they Council members 500 Mobile Meals of Westfield do everything they can to keep learn the basics of open water div- needs volunteer food packers their heads above water. Only one ing. "It's a safe gentle place to get Garwood Mayor 1,500-2.000 Offered but not taken and driver/ deliverers to pre- considers going under a good started," said Mrs. Doherty. Also an pare and distribute low-cost thing. interesting place. Council members 1,100-1,500 dinners to disabled residents of For more than six years. Trea- "There are alot of things to see," Westfield Mayor 1.00 None Westfield and surrounding sure Cove Divers has been filling she said. '"Itiere are sunken trucks, towns. the needs of snorkeling and scuba boats and planes." Council members 1.00 Call Mae Frantz at 276-2264 diving enthusiasts from Westfield Once they know the ropes, or Kaye of Mobile Meals at 233- and surrounding towns. The store divers can join Treasure Cove Scotch Plains Mayor 5,000 None 6146 for more information. provides everything from beginner Divers-sponsored trips to sites on Council members 5,000 training to equipment sales to div- the Jersey coast and all along the Newsroom numbers ing exhibitions in some of the most eastern seaboard.