Happy Chanukah Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, December 10, 2009 OUR 119th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 50-2009 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Union County Proposes $6.5-Mil. Animal-Control Facility in Springfield By PAUL J. PEYTON He said wetlands, natural habitat tional wings to separate younger and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and other environmental studies have older dogs. Buildings on the site would ELIZABETH — The Union all been completed, and state officials use natural ventilation to reduce op- County Board of Chosen Freeholders have approved the location. “So those erational cost and to produce an envi- received a preliminary proposal hurdles have gone through already,” ronment using natural light for ani- Thursday night to build a $6.5-mil- Mr. Vinegra said. “The site is well mals and volunteers at the facility, he lion countywide animal shelter at the suited for this facility.” said. Houdaille Quarry, property owned Mr. Vinegra said the facility would Mr. Vinegra said the county’s 21 by the county located off Route 78 in serve two purposes – animal-control municipalities paid a total of $1.3 Springfield. The facility would be services and an adoption program for million in 2008 for outside animal- available to Union County towns as a homeless animals, as well as veteri- control agencies. shared-service initiative. nary services, including spaying and “For 2008, the average increase Victor Vinegra, a planner and engi- neutering. He said, upon arrival at the was 10 percent, and that has been neer with Harbor Consultants, Inc. of facility, animals would be logged in, going up 10 percent a year for many Cranford, contracted by the county to inspected by a veterinarian for any municipalities,” he said. draft a plan for the project, estimated diseases and photographed for place- Officials were told grants might be that the facility could be completed ment on the Internet in hopes of find- available for the project given that it within two years, with construction ing them a home. contains an environmentally friendly taking 18 months. The facility would be built in sec- component. Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich, a longtime proponent of a countywide animal shelter, in 2002, served on a state animal task force, which recommended that every county have a regional animal-con- trol function that would not be a “pound where animals are thrown Michael J. Pollack for The Westfield Leader [in] and eliminated” but rather have JOB WELL DONE...Westfield Councilmen Tom Bigosinski, left, and Sal Caruana congratulate each other and display “animal control and education” on satisfaction for their service to the town, as they serve at their final council meeting last week. how to properly care for animals, including spaying and neutering. Dianne O’Donnell, executive di- Sal Caruana Says Goodbye rector for People for Animals (PFA) in Hillside, said her service has ad- ministered over 125,000 spaying and neutering surgeries since 1985, aver- After Seven Years on Council aging 14,000 per year. She pledged By MICHAEL J. POLLACK and effort.” Caruana did “behind the scenes” for the service’s “full support” for the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Mr. Caruana, who assumed the role the greater good of Westfield, includ- proposed shelter. PFA charges $85 WESTFIELD – After seven years of Finance Policy Committee Chair- ing bringing smiles to kids’ faces for surgeries on dogs and $63 for cats. of serving on the Westfield Town man in January 2008, took the reins every Halloween, when his family She offered to provide the surger- Council, Sal Caruana took his seat on from former councilman Peter hosted an extravagant haunted house Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader ies for the new facility by either pro- the dais for the final time on Tuesday, Echausse, who came last Tuesday at his property; “tirelessly” raising NEW COUNCILWOMAN...Deanna Andre meets with staff of The Westfield viding transportation to and from PFA December 1. night to speak of his successor. money so kids have the opportunity Leader last week to discuss her appointment to fill a vacant seat on the Mountainside or by assisting in setting up an on-site One by one, current and former Mr. Echausse said he did not want to go to college and refurbishing old Borough Council. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 colleagues and friends emerged to to reiterate all of Mr. Caruana’s pro- computers for those who could not thank Mr. Caruana, who decided not fessional accomplishments; instead, afford them. to seek re-election to his First Ward he chose to talk about the work Mr. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Deanna Andre Begins Term seat this past November. Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (LD- 21, Westfield) said Mr. Caruana “rep- Villaggio Commended, Two On Mountainside Council resents pure intelligence and un- By PAUL J. PEYTON nity,” Mrs. Andre said. abashed opinion.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Garwood Officers Sworn In As a councilwoman, Mrs. Andre “Thank you for your intellect,” he MOUNTAINSIDE — The borough said, “We all have Bob’s (Viglianti) continued. “We won’t forget your time LAUREN S. BARR thanked her for her dedication and council welcomed its newest mem- interests in mind. We want to keep Specially Written for The Westfield Leader said that she “had the residents’ needs ber, Deanna Andre, earlier this month. what he built alive and growing.” GARWOOD — Tuesday night, the at heart.” She fills a vacancy left when Paul “As of right now, I am learning borough council welcomed two new Mayor McCarthy presented Ms. Mirabelli was named mayor follow- everything else,” she said. The police officers and bid farewell to Villaggio with a resolution to “pub- ing the death of six-term mayor Rob- Mountainside Republican Commit- nine-year Councilwoman Kathleen licly acknowledge and commend” her ert Viglianti in October. She is the tee, as well as Mayor Mirabelli and Villaggio. years of service on the council, which first woman to serve on the borough the borough council, interviewed the Mayor Dennis McCarthy swore in included a stint as council president council since Marilyn Hart served new councilwoman prior to her being Scott Erikson and Joseph Ostrander, and service on a variety of commit- from 1979 to 1991. selected to fill the council vacancy. recent police academy graduates, as tees. Citing Ms. Villagio’s work for An 11-year borough resident, Mrs. She was chosen over two other candi- probationary patrolmen. the “betterment of the townspeople,” Andre grew up in Linden and is a dates. As it was her final meeting, Ms. Mayor McCarthy stated, “This reso- graduate of Kean University where Mrs. Andre said she is willing to SOUNDS OF THE ALPS...Members Villaggio read a statement bidding lution just doesn’t seem to say she holds a bachelor’s degree in pub- help in any area the mayor and coun- of the New Jersey Workshop for the farewell. “It was truly an honor, and enough.” lic relations. She is employed as a cil need assistance, although recre- Arts International and American I gave 110 percent,” she said. She In other business, the borough is marketing representative in the area ation is an area with which she would Alphorn Society will entertain holiday thanked the members of the govern- applying for three Community De- of industrial development for Twin especially like to be involved. shoppers in downtown Westfield this ing body, borough employees, vol- velopment Block Grants. The ap- season. Directed by Ted Schlosberg, Boro Physical Therapy, which has Eyeing how the community may the Alphorn Society will recreate the unteers and her family. She said, plications will be submitted request- offices around the state, including view the borough with a new mayor sounds of the Alps on Saturdays in “For myself, having a speech dis- ing $25,000 for the Senior Citizen Westfield. and councilwoman, Mrs. Andre said December, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., on Lauren Barr for The Westfield Leader ability… I never hesitated to answer program, $12,000 for Senior Citi- Mrs. Andre and her husband, it was important to note that, “We are the corner of East Broad and Elm THANK YOU...Kathleen Villaggio is questions or give detailed reports… zen Transportation and $10,000 for Michael, have two children, Zoe, 7, not looking to change anything nec- Streets. In the event of rain, the en- commended by Garwood Mayor Den- It is not easy sitting up here.” She the Senior Citizen Handyman pro- and Roman, 5, who attend the essarily, but just improve what is our semble will perform the following nis McCarthy for her nine years of said she is proud of her accomplish- gram. borough’s school system. Mrs. Andre foundation that Bob (Viglianti) has Thursday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. service on the borough council. ments. Ms. Villaggio announced during has been involved in the PTA, where given us.” Ms. Villaggio also congratulated the Finance Committee report that she worked on its Tricky Tray Mrs. Andre said Mayor Mirabelli Councilman-elect Tim Hak, who de- the state is withholding the Decem- fundraisers. She is also involved with “was one of the biggest reasons why WF Planning Bd. Approves feated her in the November election, ber state aid, in the amount of $10,600, the Girl Scouts and the Mountainside I felt very confident and comfortable and wished him “the best in years to due to budget shortfalls. She added Education Foundation, where she coming on board.” come.” that this will not affect the borough’s serves on the Grant Review Commit- Her term expires next year, al- Subdivision, New Lot Line Council President Keith Sluka regular operating budget.