SAT Residence Torched by Arsonist Is Found Illegally Subdivided
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United Fund readies drive Weekend 'Be our guest!' Theater season previews; with Vincentsen as chairman at dinner, theater... galaxy of weekend ideas Details in 'Weekend Plus1 Story on page A-2 See all-new, pullout section inside H Don't go in the office expecting it to be a good day. Then you'll be surprised if it is — Joe Pate mo Vol. II, No. 36 A Forbes Newspaper Thursday, September 5,1991 233-9696 P.O. Box 2790, Westfield 07091 15 Cents Residence torched by arsonist is found illegally subdivided By Cheryl Monitor* Investigation of an arson fire that dam- front two rooms were "living with the was going, tie did say tenants could not aged much of a two-family residence on families on the second lloor." A neighbor in >ve back in the building. South Avenue has revealed that the and former tenant who spoke with ;i re- Tenants say the (.'larks told them they huilding was illegally subdivided, by the porter but. declined to be identified said could move back in, but residents ques- owners, into four apartments, this was not (lie case. By their version, tioned the safety of sueti a move prior to The two-anci-one-half story structure at four separate residences wore main- hearing from authorities that i! is livable. No. 35(i is in the F5-2 business zone where tained by four separately living individu- One of them said she remained hurt ami two family residential construction is als or families prior to Hie fire. Another perplexed by the "lack of caring the tmvi. permitted. However, tenants and neigh- resident said the building was occupied has shown toward those of us who were bors inteiviewed after the Aug. 25 blaze by four separate people or families, with displaced by the fire." Maintaining \v> contended that the building owners fur- one apartment on the top and bottom one has come forward lo offer help or " a ther divided the structure into four sepa- floors and one efficiency or one room cup of coffee" to tliem. the tenant said. rate dwellings without proper approvals apartment in the front of both of these "What does this town do for us?" from the town. apartments According to Westfield zoning officer The condition of the tenant who Tenants and neighbors said that the jumped from the window during the fire Jerry O'Neil, the owners of the building boyfriend of a tenant might have started would have to secure a use variance from is unclear. Initial reports indicate she the fire in a storeroom beneath his was treated and released from the hospi Photo by Robert Young the Zoning Hoard of Adjustment in order former girlfriend's apartment to turn the two family structure into a tal the same day. One tenant said Hit WELCOME TO WHS: Principal Robert Petix greets some of 1 four family one. Detective Uowe of the Westfield Police woman, Maureen (.'lark, daughter of th* the 300 newcomers to high school at orientation. To his right- Kathy Nevill, the zoning board secre- Dept said Tuesday the case "was under owner of the building, was still in the Adam Barian, Ahis Winkler and Kristie Chow. tary, said Tuesday no variance has been investigation." When questioned about hospital with a broken leg and other inju- issued to William Clark of Hampton the building being occupied by more than ries sustained in the fall from the second Street in Cranford, who is listed as the the allowed number of tenants, he de- story window. Clark has since been re- owner, or to his wife, Jeanette Clark. She clined to answer, saying, "We will be leased from the hospital. Calls to the Westfield SAT verbal and said Jeanette Clark had been in the of- talking with the owner." While Rowe Chirk family have not been returned. math scores rise as state fice and said the people living in the would not indicate how the investigation and national levels drop Town poised to finance $2.8 million By Donald Pizzi Jr. Record staff writer in Municipal Building renovations By Donald Pizzi Councilman David Mebane asked Vin- Record staff writer cost about $2,877,000, with portions al- ''When it comes to Westfield's 1991 average Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score's, the ready having been funded. centsen if doing the project in phases, as kids are definitely alright With the design phase for the long Town administrator Jnlm Malloy said has been suggested by some critics of the Westfield's SAT scores for 1990-1991 have increased dramatically over last year's. awaited Municipal Building renovations that the unfunded portion of the project renovation, would be feasible. Vineenisen The significant increases locally come in the wake of reports that SAT scores dropped now completed, appropriating the fund- that will be put on the ordinance for next said that it could be done, but that the both on the state and national level. ing for the project now becomes the next week will be about $2.72-1,000. Me ..aid complete project would probably end up Westfield's average mathematics score rose to 532 this year from 520 last year, a step. that $2.5 million was budgeted in the cap- costing more money, since the town jump of 12 points. Local verbal scores increased 11 points to 468 this year from 457. An ordinance allowing for the funding ital projects portion of Ibis year's budget. would lose the advantage of unii pricing. of a $2.8 million project will be intro- Town Council candidate Norman In New Jersey, the verbal scores dropped from 418 to 417, and the math scores Mayor Richard Bagger said in January decreased four points, from 473 to 469. duced next week by the Town Council. Architect jjurbara Vincentsen presented that SI million from the proposed Klin Creco, who was in attendance has been Nationally, averages dropped two points in both the verbal and mathematics tests, Street parking deck and SJ million from of tfie biggest proponents n! phasing the going from 424 to 422 in the verbal section and from 47G to 474 in math. final plans for the project to the council Tuesday. the sale of sewer rights to Scotch Plains project with the police department get (Please turn to page A-7) The project will utilize the space in the could possibly be used to pay for the ting top priority. old Westfield Memorial Library, which project. The mayor said again Tuesday has been vacant since the library moved that those likely sources of funding. ' (Please turn to page A-7> D to another East Broad Street building in r—7 a a m 1988. Among the things slated to be put B D fT c 1J • I into that space are the violations bureau, Anti-jet noise advocates seek the recreation commission, conference and storage spaces, chambers for the mu- nicipal judge and a community center. legal help to counter the FAA SAT results for five years Also, the renovation includes changes to the police department on the lower By Donald Pizzi closer to home, and closer lo action by WESTFIELD NEW JERSEY NATIONAL level of the building. Included in those Record staff writer the council," Hagger said Feder, who slated that Weslfield is see plans are the upgrading of cells and lock- If members of Weslfield Citizens Year Math Verbal Total Math Verbal Total Math Verbal Total OIK! in the state in air noise complaints, er rooms, the addition of a locker room Against Air Noise (WCAAN) have their said it is a critical tune ID enter into a 1990-91 532 468 1010 469 417 886. 474 422 896 for woman, the removal of asbestos, the way, the town will soon be opting to join legal fight with the FAA. since there are reconfiguring of the control desk with a a neighboring municipality in its battle 1989-90 520 457 977 471 423 894 476 427 903 plans for continued expansion at Newark new computer system, a now mechanical with the Federal Aviation Association 1988-89 523 469 992 469 424 893 476 428 904 Airport system and a new security system. Many fiver the Kxpauded Mast Coast I 'Ian. 1987-88 514 462 976 467 425 892 476 430 906 of the changes are needed to bring the Jerome Feder, chairman of WCAAN. "(Air noise) levels in Ueslfield are high building up to state code, Vincentsen by any standards, " Koder told the eoun- 1986-87 515 458 973 465 424 889 475 431 906 urged the council Tuesday to join Scotch .said. Plains in liiiing a law firm to liuht the eil, "except for those of lh<- FAA, and 1985-86 513 455 968 464 425 889 475 431 906 Tin? project was first estimated to cost FAA. even exceed some of'then >. ImdanK." According lo Feder, eni- -i HIL; into a about S2.(i million. In the plans Vincent- Mayor Richard Bagger acknowledged lawsuit would "make a sinu-ineiii about son unveiled Tuesday, the project would that Scotch Plains Mayor Alan Augustine the seriousness of the problem."' Also, In- has asked that the town consider joining stated thai ll Would help 1:1enei,t!e mo them in hiring the seiviees of Cutler and meiilum, po.v-:hl\ pnimpl mi1, other nun Stanfield, a Washington DC, law linn inuililies to enter nilu rti< nil a- well Woman who handled rabid cat is found that has expertise in jet uni;;e litigation. Bagger invited Feder lo address the I-'ediT said that in the p;r.l.