School Board Elections and Budget Vote is Tuesday, April 20 Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, April 15, 2010 OUR 120th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 15-2010 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Westfield BOE Receives Retirement Notice from Athletic Dir. Tranchina By MAGGIE DIGGORY High School Athletic Director Ed- community. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ward Tranchina. When asked by The “I’ve learned far more about the WESTFIELD – About a dozen par- Westfield Leader of her plans for re- budget these past few weeks than I ents attended Tuesday’s Board of placing him, Ms. Dolan said, “I just ever wanted to,” admitted Mr. Education meeting, the last meeting got word of his resignation [and she Haldeman. prior to the annual school board and will have to evaluate it].” Board candidate Mitch Slater budget election next Tuesday, April Four members of the community thanked the board and stated how he 20. “We realize many of you may be addressed the board during the public has “great respect for the educational here about the budget,” Board Presi- participation session. Lisa Wendel and system.” dent Ginny Leiz said in her opening Bob Haldeman thanked the board, In introducing her final budget pre- remarks. Superintendent Dolan and Lorre sentation, Superintendent Dolan said, Superintendent Margaret Dolan Korecky, community relations coor- “We had an organized presentation spoke of recently received retirement dinator, for their hard work on the and then we opened the paper this notices, including that of Westfield budget and its presentation to the morning and the headline changed things – ‘Christie urges voters to re- ject budgets.’” “Change is communicated in sound bytes,” she said. She presented extracts from articles on NJ.com and The Wall Street Jour- nal about the budget challenges New Jersey schools are facing. In refer- David Samsky for The Westfield Leader encing these articles, Superintendent A STAR OF TOMORROW...A family member hands flowers to semifinalist Kevin Jang after the pianist’s performance, Dolan said, “What does the Governor Sunday, at the Westfield Symphony Orchestra’s Stars of Tomorrow Grand Finale. The audience got into the act and, in know about the Westfield budget? I “American Idol” fashion, casted votes to select the tri-state virtuosi of the future. doubt he knows much about how our student performance is above the state average and that our spending per Voters to Decide School Budgets, pupil is below the state average.” One of Superintendent Dolan’s slides contained the percentage of tax increase the board is asking the vot- Contested Races in Four Towns ers to approve on April 20. In what By PAUL J. PEYTON proved by voters through bond referen- of three candidates for a full three-year was later referred to by parent Susana Specially Written for The Westfield Leader dums. term on the school board, choosing MacLean as “peer towns,” the slide AREA — Boards of Education are Voters will also decide a four-way among incumbent Amy Winkler, shows that Westfield asks for a tax anxiously awaiting this Tuesday’s an- race for school board. The board’s presi- Michael Lewis and Christopher Pflaum. increase under the state cap of 4 per- nual school election to see whether dent and vice-president, Ginny Leiz Incumbent Rob O’Connor is running cent. school budgets will pass or not, follow- and Julia Walker, respectively, and Fi- unopposed for the year remaining on Superintendent Dolan reported that ing cuts of 80 to 90 percent of school aid nance Chairman Richard Solomon are the seat of former board member Sasha area towns like Summit (5 percent); from the state. opposed by Mitch Slater. Slocum. Horace R. Corbin for The Westfield Leader New Providence (4.7 percent) and In Westfield, residents will vote on In Scotch Plains-Fanwood, residents Incumbents Nancy Bauer and David GROWING FAMILY (October 23, 2003 Archives)...Former Congressman Bob Berkeley Height (5.4 percent) are an $81.4-million tax levy in support of will decide the fate of a $75- million tax Gorbunoff are unopposed in their quest Franks is all smiles as he poses with his children during the fountain dedication planning a tax increase above the cap. an $89-million budget. The budget pro- levy to support an $81-million spend- for reelection to seats representing in Scotch Plains honoring the late Assemblyman Alan Augustine. Mr. Franks, 58, “Basically, we’re a stingy town,” poses about a 4-percent overall increase ing plan — $77.2 million of which is Scotch Plains. passed away Saturday from a bout with cancer. See story on page 2. Mrs. McLean remarked. “Most of in property taxes, including debt ser- for operating expenses. The proposed In Mountainside, residents are being our peer towns pay more and are vice, and reflects a $4.2-million reduc- tax levy is $3.8 million over last year’s asked to approve a $14-million school raising more taxes. I’m really afraid tion in state aid. The 4-percent increase $71,122,752. tax, which would cost the average ho- Westfield to Challenge Tax I’ll be embarrassed to be a Westfield is based on $84 million in taxes, which If the budget passes, taxes would rise meowner $171 more per year. Officials CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 includes debt service previously ap- $439 for an average assessed home in said 100 percent of the increase is due Fanwood of $84,595, a 7.18-percent to a hike in tuition for students attend- Appeals; Meets with Unions increase from last year, and $299 on the ing Governor Livingston High School By LAUREN S. BARR loss in state aid. Lance Faces Three-Way average assessed home of $122,400 in in Berkeley Heights. School aid to the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Austin Photography and Westfield Scotch Plains, representing a 4.32-per- borough was cut $742,000 to $38,409. WESTFIELD – Mayor Andrew Kitchen and Bath were the featured GOP Primary Challenge cent increase. The borough also has a five-candi- Skibitsky reminded residents at Tues- businesses for “Westfield First” at Fanwood residents will vote for one CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 day night’s Town Council meeting Tuesday night’s meeting. The mayor By PAUL J. PEYTON and borough council members Deanna that the hours at the Westfield Con- and council are inviting Westfield Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Andre, Glenn Mortimer and Jeffrey servation Center have changed from businesses to promote themselves at AREA – Rep. Leonard Lance of Wass, all Republicans, are unopposed in Park PTA Heads Accuse 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays to 11 each public council meeting to en- Clinton (R-7th) faces a challenge from their reelection bids. Mr. Mirabelli re- a.m. to 3 p.m. This measure has been courage residents to patronize them three candidates in his bid for the Repub- placed the late six-term mayor Robert taken to ease staff overtime costs to during the current economic climate. lican nomination in the Seventh Con- Viglianti upon his death late last year. SPFEA of Intimidation the town. Resident Alan Solomon spoke dur- gressional District. Mr. Lance won a Mrs. Andre, who was appointed to take By PAUL J. PEYTON today’s newspaper.) Mayor Skibitsky also reminded ing the public comments portion en- seven-candidate Primary race two years Mr. Mirabelli’s council seat, is seeking Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “In our opinions, the leaders of the residents to complete their Census couraging residents to donate used ago and went on to defeat Assembly- the remaining year on that term. Mr. SCOTCH PLAINS – The president PTA should, at the very least, remain forms, as Westfield is currently only fiction and non-fiction books to the woman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood). Mortimer is seeking his fourth, three- of the Park Middle School PTA re- neutral and as spokesperson for parents at 71 percent participation. upcoming library book sale. Dona- He is being opposed this year by year term, while Mr. Wass is seeking his signed Tuesday night, following a meet- and teachers, perhaps even show sup- The council approved several reso- tions are being accepted from Thurs- former Westfield Historical Society second term. Republicans hold all six ing with the PTA Council and the Scotch port for the educators of our commu- lutions for a theater license, sidewalk day through Saturday. The book sale president Bruce Baker, Lon Hosford of seats on the borough council. Plains-Fanwood Education Association nity,” according to a copy of the School café licenses and the demolition of a begins Wednesday, April 21 and con- Milford and David Larsen of Oldwick. Scotch Plains Councilmen Jeff (SPFEA) over intimidation she and One PTA letter. “By speaking out in a single-family home and detached cludes on Saturday, April 24. Mr. Larsen runs a family windows-and- Strauss and Dominick Bratti, both not the Park PTA vice-president have al- public forum against teachers, you have garage at 728 Hanford Place. The council went into executive doors business in Brooklyn, while Mr. endorsed for reelection by the leged against the SPFEA. undermined the spirit of cooperation A resolution was also passed au- session to discuss contract negotia- Hosford is an independent contractor in township’s Democratic and Republi- In a letter dated April 6 from the and unity between parents and teachers thorizing the town attorney and the tions with the Policemen’s Benevo- the information technology field. Mr. can Township committees, respectively, SPFEA’s executive committee to the that the PTA works so diligently to tax assessor to file counterclaims on lent Association (PBA) and Firemen’s Baker owns a golf-putting company and are considering Independent runs for PTA Council, a copy of which was foster.” tax appeals.