Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, April 18, 2013 OUR 123rd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 16-2013 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS WF Board Approves 16-Townhouse Development at Grove and Myrtle By DELL SIMEONE said there is a plateau there that Mr. Quinn also said there would Specially Written for The Westfield Leader drops off six feet, and it is adjacent be two ingresses and two egresses, WESTFIELD – The Westfield to isolated wetlands. He said there and 37 off-street parking spaces on Board of Adjustment on Tuesday is the Garwood brook there that the site. He said there would be a night approved a 16-townhouse de- cuts into the corner of one of the retaining wall along the Garwood velopment at the corner of Grove lots in question. He also said there line that would be six feet high and Street and Myrtle Avenue. is a flood hazard elevation, but there five feet off the property line. A principal in C.W.M.&P., the has been no flood study and there is Westfield Town Planner Bill Drew applicant, is David L. Kervick, an a culvert on the other side. The said that for every foot of wall height attorney-developer. applicant has not yet sought a flood there has to be a foot of setback. Mr. Tom Quinn, site engineer for the hazard permit from the New Jersey Quinn said we would address that applicant, showed the board an Department of Environmental Pro- issue. Mr. Quinn also said that there artist’s rendering of the proposed tection (DEP). would be 15 lights with two drop townhouse development, along with “The development calls for three down lights, landscaping, existing a site plan. He said the develop- separate buildings of two- and three- trees, and ornamental shrubs scat- ment would be built on the Garwood bedroom townhouses, with three of tered on the property. property line at the southeast por- them being affordable [housing],” Mr. Quinn also said there would tion of Grove Street. Mr. Quinn Mr. Quinn said. be storm water management and a grading plan. He said there would two underground retention basins to collect run-off water, and a berm along the Garwood property line. He said there would be some fill in one of the lots, which encroaches Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader into the flood plain. OPENING DAY…The Westfield Baseball League players participate in the Opening Day Parade on April 13. Players, Board member Joe Loftus asked, parents and coaches walk to Gumbert Field where they enjoyed a day filled with festivities. “What about the sewer system, water and sanitary sewers, will it have an impact on the local resi- dents?” Judge Rules Blogger Renna Myrtle Avenue resident Claude Chapel asked about water manage- ment in extreme weather/ Is Protected by Shield Law Garwood Councilman Bill Nierstedt and Janet Davy, also of By PAUL J. PEYTON 16 county employees had taken to protect the identities of her sources Garwood, had questions about wa- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader county-owned generators home for under the Shield law that protects ter rate downstream. Mr. Quinn said, ELIZABETH – A state Superior their personal use. journalists “from revealing informa- “We will reduce the water run-off. Court judge has ruled that a Cranford The UCPO subsequently sent two tion or sources obtained during pro- There will be less than is coming resident who runs a blog on Union letters to Ms. Renna asking her to fessional news gathering.” from there now.” County government is protected by meet with the UCPO’s Special Pros- According to a summary of the Photo courtesy of Gene Janotti CHERRY BLOSSOMS...Blossoms adorn the cherry blossom trees at Branch Lynne Sawicki of Myrtle Avenue the state’s journalist shield law and ecution Unit to discuss her findings. case included in Judge Cassidy’s rul- Brook Park. The park, which runs through Belleville and Newark, has more than wanted to know where the road thus cannot be required to comply When she did not respond, she was ing, Ms. Renna’s attorney, Bruce 2,700 Japanese cherry blossom trees that burst into full bloom each spring during would end. Myrtle Avenue now with a subpoena by the Union County issued a subpoena requiring her to Rosen of Florham Park, argued that the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. comes to a dead end. Mr. Quinn Prosecutor’s Office (UCPO) regard- testify before a grand jury. In re- the UCWA website, along with the said the applicant would not open ing the alleged misuse of county- sponse, Ms. Renna filed a motion County Watchers blog, provides the road up. “There is nothing over owned generators by county employ- with the court to quash the subpoena CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Mountainside Council the Garwood line,” he said. ees during Hurricane Sandy. Project architect Richard Potter Judge Karen Cassidy, who serves told the board there would be 16 as assignment judge for the Union Police Investigate Bomb Discusses 2013 Budget townhouse units, some two-bed- County bench, made her ruling fol- By DOMINIC A. LAGANO crease in the health insurance and room and some three-bedroom lowing a plenary hearing conducted Specially Written for The Westfield Leader waiver expense of $64,000. We had units, including three affordable on February 28 and March 1. Threat at SPF High School MOUNTAINSIDE — During its a joint insurance fund that went up housing units. Mr. Potter said each Ms. Renna, who runs the County By BETSEY BURGDORF Department’s K-9 Unit and Bomb regular public meeting Tuesday by $9,000. We increased our re- unit would have a one-car garage, a Watchers blog, part of the Union Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Squad were called to the scene, as night, Mountainside Mayor Paul serve for tax appeals by $36,000. living room a dining room, walk-in County Watchdog Association SCOTCH PLAINS – On April well as the Union County Sheriff’s Mirabelli presented details on the The contract mandated increases closets, a basement and an attic. He (UCWA) website, alleged in her re- 16, at 10:45 a.m., Scotch Plains Office and the New Jersey State borough’s 2013 budget. for salaries for police officers was CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ports following Hurricane Sandy that police were notified by a staff mem- Police. Mayor Mirabelli began the coun- $137,000.” ber at the Scotch Plains-Fanwood “A systematic walk-through was cil meeting by leading the as- The Mayor stated that recent High School that a hand-written done and the school was cleared,” sembled in a moment of silence for emergency events such as the bor- Freeholder Chair, Attorney note containing a bomb threat had Capt. Donnelly said. the victims of Monday’s terrorist ough-wide loss of power in the wake been found in a common area of the According to Sally Rowland, ex- bombing in Boston, Mass. He then of Hurricane Sandy also caused the high school. According to police, ecutive assistant to Superintendent delivered a presentation on the bud- budget to increase. Defend UCIA Executive the note stated the bomb was to go Margaret Hayes, parents were alerted get. “We increased our budget for off approximately one hour after via Honeywell Alert. “All students Speaking of this year’s munici- emergency management, basically the note was found. and staff safely returned to the build- pal budget, Mayor Mirabelli de- operating and salaries and wages. It Director After Criticisms “Police arrived and along with ing. The high school will have a nor- tailed the reasons for the $312,160 had been under funded for years By PAUL J. PEYTON the salary she receives as she does the staff [from the high school] and the mal dismissal. Our thanks to all emer- increase in this year’s budget as and it certainly became apparent Specially Written for The Westfield Leader bulk of the work. superintendent’s office, started to gency responders, our staff and stu- compared to last year. The total this year that we need to fund that at COUNTY – The Union County Mr. Williams said Mr. Neff’s com- evacuate,” Police Captain Brian dents,” Ms. Rowland said. increase over last year’s budget is the proper level,” Mayor Mirabelli Board of Chosen Freeholders last ments were in response to a question- Donnelly told The Westfield Leader. Students and faculty were allowed 4.12 percent. The owner of a home continued. “There was an increase Thursday defended the executive di- naire sent to the UCIA and other “At no time were students ever in back in the school at 1:05 p.m. assessed at $165,537, the average in our pension contribution of rector of the county’s improvement authorities by the Local Finance danger.” The investigation into the inci- assessment in the borough in $30,503. The Rahway Valley Sew- authority after the head of the state’s Board. The Scotch Plains Police dent is ongoing, Capt. Donnelly said. Mountainside, will see their mu- erage [Authority] levy increased by Local Finance Board was critical of “He was troubled by some of the nicipal taxes increased by approxi- $18,000.” the salary and benefits she receives. responses for the Union County Im- mately $115. The Mayor then detailed short- Charlotte DeFilippo, who also provement Authority,” Mr. Williams Speaking on the increase, the falls in this year’s budget as com- serves as chairwoman of the Union said, noting the Local Finance Board Mayor said, “First, we have an in- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 County Democratic Committee, is was “trying to get at” wasteful spend- paid $160,000 annually and receives ing by independent authorities.