Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, June 9, 2005 OUR 115th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 23-2005 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader DISCUSSING PROPERTY TAXES… Reporter Fred Rossi, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education president Linda Nelson, Union County Freeholder Dan Sullivan, Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks, Assemblywoman Linda Stender, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, Former State Senator Bill Schluter and Horace Corbin, the publisher of The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times, debated Sunday at the Scotch Plains Municipal Building; Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. William Foley listens as former Westfield Mayor Bud Boothe makes a comment; Mr. Corbin, right, addresses panelists Mayor Marks, Assemblywoman Stender, Assemblyman Bramnick and Mr. Schluter. Panel Discusses Merits of Constitutional Westfield Mayor to Resign Convention on Prop. Tax Reform at Forum June 21; Andy Skibitsky By DEBORAH MADISON were directed to the panelists by mod- former Mayor of Westfield Bud projects such as parks and open space. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader erators from the staff of The Leader. Boothe, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Most of the panelists agreed that Expected to Take Position SCOTCH PLAINS — Scotch The panelists included: Former State Mahr, editor of The Leader Paul rising property taxes were a serious By MICHAEL POLLACK it (tower), as well as a number of Plains Mayor Martin Marks, who has Senator Bill Schluter, Assembly- Peyton, Senator Schluter and Fred problem and that the current system Specially Written for The Westfield Leader been outspoken on the need for a woman Linda Stender, Assemblyman residents in my area found out about Rossi. of funding local services with prop- WESTFIELD — Mayor Greg it, was a letter to the editor sent to property tax convention, called for a Jon Bramnick, Union County Free- At the top of the discussion, it was erty taxes was not working. McDermott announced that the June forum, last month, to discuss the is- holder Dan Sullivan, Scotch Plains The Westfield Leader a few months noted that New Jersey has the highest Several panelists stated that basing 21 council meeting would indeed be ago. If anything can be done to sue of property tax reform. The Mayor Martin Marks, Scotch Plains- property tax in the nation; in the last taxes on property values was unfair his last as mayor of Westfield. Be- Westfield Leader agreed to host the Fanwood Board of Education Presi- prevent the construction of the tower, 10 years, New Jersey property taxes and antiquated. How this problem fore Tuesday’s council meeting, the I want the town to know that there is event and invited representatives from dent Linda Nelson, Leader reporter have doubled, rising 7 percent a year; should be fixed was the chief focus of mayor discussed his decision briefly all levels of government for a discus- Fred Rossi and publisher of The great opposition from taxpayers and the state’s property tax has quadrupled the discussion with many options and with council members. residents who live in the vicinity of sion concerning property tax reform Westfield Leader Horace Corbin on in the last 20 years; and in the last four different opinions voiced by the par- The mayor spoke to Town At- and the merits of holding a Constitu- the first panel. the proposed tower.” years, the state has raised property ticipants. They also agreed that the torney Robert Cockren about the In other business, the council tional Convention. The second panel included: Union tax faster than any other state. issue of spending must be addressed. formalities of how the new mayor The format of the forum was a County Finance Director Larry awarded a contract for the purchase Property taxes in New Jersey are The current legislation before the State will be selected. Then, during the of electronic parking meters. The panel discussion, held at the Scotch Caroselli, New Providence Mayor and composed of funding for public Senate addresses the revenue side public meeting, Town Clerk Plains Municipal Building on Sun- Chairman of the League of Munici- contract amounts to $35,400 for the schools, municipal services, county only and the Senate is not authorized Claire Gray read Mayor implementation of 300 new meters. day, June 5. The participants were palities, Al Morgan, Westfield Super- government, authorities, such as the to discuss spending, which many law- McDermott’s resignation letter, divided into two panels and questions intendent of Schools William Foley, Town Administrator Jim sewer tax, debt service and bonds for makers feel is not workable. which reiterated what he said to Gildea said at the May 31 Coun- “Property tax is the most unfair tax his council minutes before. cil Conference Meeting that new on the books,” Mayor Marks said. “It “I regret to inform you that I digital meters will contain smart BOE Honors Teachers of Year; does not take into account the must hand in my resignation as card technology. “New meters taxpayer’s ability to pay.” mayor of the Town of Westfield would work with the pay sta- Mr. Corbin questioned why, “with effective immediately,” read Ms. tions and allow a 10-15 minute District Website to be Upgraded the state being $4 billion in debt in this Gray in the letter that was ad- window if someone wanted to year’s budget and $25 billion in debt dressed to her. just grab a coffee, there is no By ED COONEY diate School (EIS) is Kathleen Zippler, supervisor of instructional technology. just to cover the pension’s funds, that “My family and I have pur- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader payment,” Mr. Gildea said. Lot who has been teaching Spanish at EIS The new website has seen a num- all the actions considered by the legis- chased a home in another county three, located at the South Side WESTFIELD – The Board of Edu- since 1984. When briefly addressing ber of improvements since it was last lators have to deal with how to collect and will be moving from cation (BOE) honored five outstand- train station, will have two pay the board, Ms. Zippler lauded the qual- shown to the board. taxes and not control expenses. Now, Westfield. It has been a pleasure stations. Mr. Gildea also said ing district teachers at its meeting on ity of the staff at EIS, calling it “This website is a long time in Linda (Stender) and Jon (Bramnick) working with you and the rest of Tuesday. that Director of Parking Services “unbelieveable.” She went on to say coming,” said Board member Rich- – I’d like to hear, you’re on the Assem- the staff in town hall. I wish you John Morgan is working on a Each of the teachers was presented that the school’s World Languages ard Solomon. bly down there. I haven’t seen a bill all the very best in the future.” with a resolution praising his or her reconfiguration plan for lot three department is “brimful of talent.” According to Ms. Mammen’s re- passed yet.” Mr. Cockren explained before on South Avenue that will in- dedication and “continued pursuit of The remaining three teachers hon- port, the site will operate on three Assemblywoman Stender broke the meeting that once the letter of personal growth.” The resolutions clude an upgrade, striping, pave- ored on Tuesday practice their craft at levels; as a site for the district, a site into the discussion by replying, “We resignation is handed in, the local ment, and landscaping. were presented by BOE President Westfield High School (WHS). The for each individual school and a site have passed a bill considering a Con- Republican Committee would Anne Riegel, who said, “good teach- Also under the public safety three WHS teachers honored were for each individual teacher. The stitutional Convention and we are talk- hold a meeting where it would portion of the meeting, Council- ers are critical” to our district. Martha Bailey, a chemistry teacher website is intended for use as both a ing about spending, because we’re supply the council with three in- Elizabeth Scheurer, a mathematics man Mark Ciarrocca, Chairman, who has been with the district for way of communicating with parents talking about how we spend the money dividuals’ names. The council Chairman of the Public Safety, teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate nine years; Martin Maruschak, a and an instructional tool for students. raised to provide services.” would then select the successor. School (RIS) since 1998, was presented Transportation and Parking Com- mathematics teacher who has worked The district portion of the site will The antiquated system of basing a Councilman Skibitsky is expected mittee, spoke of his committee’s with that school’s Intermediate School at WHS for eight years, and Marc contain a district profile, and a link to tax on property values dates back to to be chosen to serve out the re- Teacher of the Year Award. In addition work concerning traffic safety at Silbergeld, who has been an English the district report card issued by the medieval times, added former Mayor maining months of Mayor Wilson School. to teaching, Ms. Scheurer also advises teacher at WHS for nine years. state every year, in addition to any Boothe. Other states have instituted McDermott’s term. the Student Council at RIS. The plan, Councilman Ciarrocca Following the awards ceremony and emergency updates on delayed open- other taxes to fund schools. One of Mayor McDermott told the coun- explained, is to “work on a test “I am very fortunate to have found a a brief reception, the BOE heard an ings or school closings due to inclem- the options discussed was raising the cil, “I will be running the next two career that suits me so well,” she said.