Springfield Avenue Bridge to Close One Year for Re-Construction Westfield Receives AAA Rating; Candidate Prods Mayor, Council
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, July 9, 2009 OUR 119th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 28-2009 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Westfield Receives AAA Rating; Candidate Prods Mayor, Council By MICHAEL J. POLLACK quest to forego pay for two vacation Secondly, Mr. Brennan said that Specially Written for The Westfield Leader days in order to control expenses, Mr. with municipal job cuts looming, “be- WESTFIELD – The Westfield Brennan asked if the mayor and coun- fore we start laying off people, it’s Town Council announced Tuesday cil would require non-unionized de- important that taxpayers have the right night at its meeting that the town has partment heads to give back the to go to [finance policy committee] received a AAA creditworthiness rat- equivalent of two days’ pay. budget meetings.” He said he under- ing; during the public comment ses- Mr. Brennan referenced an ordi- stands that when personnel discus- sion, though, Democratic Mayoral nance setting salary ranges for non- sions begin to center on “specific candidate William Brennan criticized union positions and department heads, individuals,” the public, by law, can- the closed nature of the town’s bud- noting that 10 positions see salaries not be privy to those talks. getary meetings. of more than $100,000 – town admin- However, he asked if the mayor Mr. Brennan, a Birch Avenue resi- istrator, $142,143; chief financial of- will “open up” the budget sessions to dent, directed three questions to ficer, $101,515; police chief, townspeople. Mayor Andy Skibitsky. $129,621; town engineer, $114,253; Thirdly, he asked the mayor, “Can In response to the town’s four fire chief, $116,756, and two deputy you guarantee people that before you unions – police, fire, Communica- fire chiefs, $105,507 each. He again lay off fire, police and DPW that you tions Workers of America (CWA) and asked whether the mayor would ask will personally attend these budget Teamsters – rejecting a voluntary re- non-union employees to give back. sessions?” Mayor Skibitsky would not respond from the dais, saying that the forum is not meant for a “question-and-an- swer session.” Rather, he said, it was for public comment only. After the meeting, the Democratic mayoral candidate said the mayor is “ducking” him. “[The mayor] is go- ing to avoid me. The mayor refuses to debate me. I asked him to address Christina M. Hinke for The Westfield Leader very important questions,” Mr. LIGHT IT UP...A composite of fireworks’ photos shows the variety of colorful blasts on display July 4, during the Brennan said. Independence Day celebration at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. When asked which of his three concerns was paramount, Mr. Brennan said the issue of opening the budget meetings to the public. He Springfield Avenue Bridge to Close said in the case of Westfield’s board of education, he attended meetings at which the board discussed fiscal hard- One Year for Re-Construction ships and general budgetary cuts with- out going into specific personnel By CHRISTINA M. HINKE County to prepare a “bridge alterna- economy is at it lowest in decades, is Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader Specially Written for The Westfield Leader GAZEBO SOUNDS...The Westfield Community Band entertains an appreciative matters. tives analysis” for the bridge, accord- “a little inconsiderate” and will “nega- audience on July 2 at Mindowaskin Park in Westfield as part of the 97th season “It clearly can be done, and there is WESTFIELD — Starting some- ing to minutes of a Cranford Town- tively affect the business.” of summer concerts. The Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the precedent for that. You don’t have to time this month, the county-owned ship Committee agenda in January. Area families come to the club to American Revolution join the band for their traditional ceremonies. Speakers discuss these matters in a closed ses- Springfield Avenue Bridge located During its closure, detours will di- take a canoe out on the Rahway River. and the Town Crier proclaimed the health of the town and the strength of the sion,” he said. “There’s no justifiable by the Cranford Canoe Club will be- rect traffic to other county roads in- “It’s a moderately-priced activity and nation. reason why they don’t open these gin yearlong construction to replace cluding Kenilworth Boulevard, a good thing to do on the weekends,” meetings up.” the 103-year-old structure. The county Michigan Avenue and North Avenue. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 He again mentioned the top salary stated in its press release that the These county road detours are to help WF Plan. Bd. Approves Land earners and asked, “These people bridge is “rated as being functionally “keep as much of the through traffic Klinger-Kueter Ends can’t give two days back? Symboli- obsolete.” The State of New Jersey off the local streets as possible,” said Use Element, New Retail Lot cally, shouldn’t the town administra- Department of Environmental Pro- Mark Smith, deputy mayor and com- Her WF Council Bid CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 tection (DEP) had required Union missioner of public works and engi- WESTFIELD – Westfield Demo- By CHRISTINA M. HINKE ommendations were implemented. neering for Cranford. cratic Party Chairman Kenneth Rotter Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The board also heard and approved The start of construction had been told The Westfield Leader, Monday, WESTFIELD — The Westfield a variance application for 312 South Freeholders Hire Private Co. pushed back from June because the that Carolyn Klinger-Kueter advised Planning Board on Monday approved Avenue, East, in a GB-3 zone that township’s engineer Richard him that she is ending her campaign the land use element of the town’s allows business and retail use. Co- Marsden, Jr. had found fault with part for a Second Ward council seat. master plan as well as a new retail and owner James Petersen proposed to To Manage Golf Courses of the detour plan, specifically trucks “In my opinion,” Mr. Rotter said, office building on South Avenue. operate a retail establishment on the By PAUL J. PEYTON December 2008. The improvements using Orange Avenue with a turn that “Carolyn would have made a tre- Town Planner Bill Drew said after first floor for a showroom of cabinetry Specially Written for The Westfield Leader include installation of an irrigation is too difficult to navigate, Mr. Smith mendous councilwoman. She has the meeting that the only changes to and some lighting and roofing samples ELIZABETH — The Union system at Ashbrook and construction said. So, the engineer had talked to devoted most of her adult life to the land use element since the last for his home remodeling business County Board of Chosen Freeholders of a learning center and driving range the county about other possibilities Westfield. As a music teacher, she meeting held about two weeks ago and lease professional offices on the approved a five-year, $421,000 con- at Galloping Hill. on county roads. has enriched the lives of countless were “details recommended concern- second floor. tract with Illinois-based Kemper The county put together a Blue The bridge sits right between the children through the gift of music. ing rezoning of certain properties,” CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Sports Management to provide golf Ribbon panel to review the propos- downtown of Cranford and As a citizen volunteer, she has given specifically about three business lots course management at Union als. The panel included Kevin Vitale, Nomahegan Park and is a route that countless hours of her time and sup- that he said would be “better utilized County’s two public courses, Gallop- general manager of Baltusrol Golf bears an average daily traffic flow of port to many Westfield civic organi- for residential” because they would ing Hill in Union and Ashbrook in Club in Springfield; John Sumas, gen- approximately 17,000 vehicles, ac- zations.” “otherwise be isolated.” Scotch Plains. eral counsel at Wakefern Corp. and cording to a Union County press re- Mr. Rotter said it was his under- At the last meeting, planning board The contract follows what officials treasurer of the Suburban Golf Club lease. standing that she has “rethought the members Jim Foerst, the town coun- said was golf operating losses of in Union Township, and Joe Tato, an “I would imagine Orchard would time commitment required and has cil liaison to the board, and Robert $500,000 in 2007 and $700,000 in attorney who serves as president of get a good bit of traffic” by cars trying decided that at this time, she is unable Newell voiced concerns with the den- 2008. The county freeholders ap- the Fairmount Country Club in to navigate around the bridge, Mr. to give to the office of town council sity and 40-foot height of some areas. proved the closing of Oak Ridge Golf Chatham and is a member of Smith added. “I think it’s going to be the time required. I respect Carolyn’s Sharon Stockwell, chairman of Course in Clark earlier this year due Baltusrol. Mr. Faella; Mike Yuska, a mess,” Mr. Smith said about the decision.” WeCare, a Westfield organization that to what officials said was an operat- the county’s purchasing director, and traffic. Speaking with The Leader, Mon- monitors public and private develop- ing deficit of $410,000. Matt DiRado, assistant county coun- Canoers who rent canoes from the day, Ms. Klinger-Kueter said she “still ment in the town, asked the board Al Faella, director of parks and sel and an attorney with Decotiis, Cranford Canoe Club pass under the plans to devote time to the many when the town council would vote on community renewal, said Kemper was Fitzpatrick, Cole & Wisler of Teaneck, Springfield Avenue bridge as the start organizations and volunteer groups the land use element.