Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 110th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 15-110 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, December 21, 2000 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Peter Echausse Top Choice To Fill Council Vacancy By DEBORAH MADISON experience in municipal finance and degree from Manhattan College and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader public service as a credit analyst, a master’s degree in business admin- Westfield Recreation Commission including 10 years collectively with istration from Fordham University member Peter Echausse has been Standard & Poors and Merrill Lynch. in the Bronx. He has been a member chosen by the Westfield Republican He is employed as a Vice President of the Westfield Recreation Com- Committee as its candidate to fill the at Toronto Dominion Securities in mission for two years and is on the vacancy to be left by Republican New York City, where he works as a Westfield Expenditure Review Com- First Ward Councilman Gregory S. credit research analyst for the firm’s mittee. McDermott, who will take over as Leveraged Loan Group. Mr. Echausse is a member of the Mayor come Monday, January 1. Mr. Echausse told The Westfield Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church Mr. Echausse was recommended Leader that he hopes to bring to the in Westfield, where he sits on the to fill the remaining year of Mayor- council his extensive experience in financial review committee. elect McDermott’s un-expired term. analyzing municipal finances, which He and his wife, Colleen, have three Mr. McDermott, who was elected he did while at Standard and Poors. children, Kevin, Laurie and Michael, Mayor this past November, held the Assessing municipal stability and and reside on Tuttle Parkway. First Ward council seat for three years. the financial philosophy of munici- Other candidates also recom- Mr. Echausse, who ran for council palities, especially as it relates to mended by the Republican Commit- in the November General Elections, bonds and long-range capital plan- tee were Coleman Place resident was defeated by Democrat Carl A. ning, was his primary job descrip- Frank Arena and Elm Street resident Salisbury for the other First Ward tion while employed at Standard & Andy Cataldo. It is required by law seat. Westfield has four wards and Poors, he said. that the party submit three nominees each ward has two seats. “As a representative of the First and customary for them to recom- SILENT NIGHT…Visitors are invited to attend any of the three Christmas Eve services this Sunday, December 24, at The prospective new councilman, Ward, I expect to become a voice for mend one as their first choice. the First Congregational Church in Westfield, to be held at 10 a.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Children of the church school will who has to be approved by the Town the residents of that ward. I am con- Robert Cockren, the Republican perform their annual Nativity Pageant during the 6 p.m. service. The church is located at 125 Elmer Street. Council, has 12 years of combined cerned how the parking deck will Committee Chairman, said the can- impact the residents in the commu- didates’ names will be submitted to nity and also think that traffic and the council for its vote. The govern- pedestrian safety needs to be ad- ing body will vote on filling the seat Town Council Votes to Double Meter Fees; dressed in every ward,” Mr. Echausse after Mr. McDermott officially sub- stated. mits his resignation, sometime in the Mayor Jardim, Councilman Gruba End Tenures Mr. Echausse holds a bachelor’s next few days. By PAUL J. PEYTON hours of the meters from 8 a.m. to 8 the north side. “must find money to pay for an im- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Speaking against the new rates, proved (parking) system some- The council made it official Tues- The new rates are aimed at gener- Prospect Street resident Barbara where.” day night by adopting an ordinance ating sufficient revenue to offset the Shields called the meter hike a “mean He said the parking system being to double short-term meter rates in first few years of operation of a park- spirited and cheap, tacky way” to developed by the town will create a town to 50 cents an hour. The ordi- ing deck in town, planned for lots 1 finance a parking deck. She also largely user-supported parking facil- nance also extends the operating and 8 on Elm and Prospect Streets on questioned the reasoning for a deck ity among commuters, downtown at the proposed location. employees and shoppers. Permit rates Mayor Thomas C. Jardim indi- have also been raised to support a cated the Elm and Prospect location deck. Westfield Man Charged was scored the highest in terms of Randy Aronoff of Randal Shoes desirability among sites considered on Elm Street accused the council of With Assault at Pizzeria by Rich and Associates, a consulting trying to “nickel and dime the shop- firm hired by the town to develop a pers, the residents and the people comprehensive parking plan. that work in town” in an effort to pay By SUZETTE F. STALKER When he was refused, Hall went Specially Written for The Westfield Leader He also noted that Rich and Asso- for a deck that he said is going in the behind the counter and allegedly ciates recommended construction of A Westfield resident was being struck the owner several times in the wrong location. two decks, the second of which was Mr. Aronoff said he believes the held on $50,000 bail this week for face before throwing him through recommended for the South Avenue allegedly assaulting the owner of a the window, Lieutenant Parizeau lot behind Baron’s pharmacy on East train station parking lot. The con- Broad Street would be the “perfect local pizzeria Sunday and then throw- said. sultant said the South Avenue lot ing him through the front window of The suspect fled the scene and was spot” for a parking structure since it should have been built first. would be hidden by stores. Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader and The Times the establishment. apprehended “without further inci- “None of us has a great desire to Lieutenant John M. Parizeau of dent” a short time later on West “I can’t believe people didn’t show MEET “ED”...Tom Cavannaugh, the star of the TV series “Ed,” is interviewed raise the rates,” said Mayor Jardim, up to complain about this because by Star-Ledger reporter Debra Dowling, a Westfield resident, during a filming the Westfield Police Department said Broad Street by Officers Anthony V. indicating however, that the town break of scenes for the show at Westfield Police Headquarters. Jack T. Hall, Jr., 37, was charged Vastano and Gregory Hobson of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 with aggravated assault and criminal Westfield Police Department, the mischief in connection with the inci- lieutenant confirmed. dent. The victim was taken to Over- According to the lieutenant, Hall look Hospital in Summit, where he School Board Approves on First Reading Policies entered Domino’s Pizza on West was treated for cuts to his forearm Broad Street at 1:38 p.m. He initially and back before being released. told the 40-year-old victim that he Hall was being held in the Union wanted to get warm, then asked for a County Jail, Lieutenant Parizeau Dealing With Religion in Schools; Copying Materials free pizza. said. By MELISSA BETKOWSKI of study on the basis of religious Dr. William J. Foley, Superinten- that discourages students from giv- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader freedom. dent of Schools, noted that it is up to ing gifts to staff members, and the The Westfield Board of Educa- As it is written, the policy stipu- the superintendent to approve a writ- board discussed ways to enforce that tion, at its regular board meeting lates that the school must approve an ten request from the pupil’s parents policy. Tuesday night, approved the first alternative educational program for to excuse the student from participa- The policy on copying copyrighted reading of an amendment to district’s the pupil that does not interfere with tion in coursework that the family materials was passed by a 6-0-0 vote, policies on religion in schools and the free exercise of the pupil’s reli- feels is offensive to their religious with little discussion. The policy sets copying copyrighted materials. gion. The discussion focused on beliefs. standards for how staff members can After a lengthy discussion on the whether the schools themselves had Another portion of the policy on copy materials and still be in accor- wording, the policy regarding reli- to create alternative educational pro- religion in schools addresses the is- dance with federal statutes. gion in the schools was approved by grams for students in such instances, sue of holiday decorations in school The policy directs the Superinten- a 5-0-1 vote. The policy contains a or if the parents, in conjunction with buildings and the exchange of holi- dent “to promulgate regulations” on paragraph about the guidelines for the schools, would agree upon an day gifts by students. copyrighting and distribution of copy- excusing students from attendance individualized alternative course of It was noted by the board that the righted materials. The policy applies or course work in a required course education. Westfield schools do have a policy CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Concierge And Errand Service Proposal Aimed At Keeping Commuter Business in Town By PAUL J.