Outbreak of Criminal Mischief Prompts Scrutiny of Vandalism by Donald Plzzl Jr
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Colorful, bold, new treat Six students are awarded Dallying with Dylan for readers starts soon scholarships by the Jaycees in Introductions' Details in ad on page A-12 Photos and story on page A-5 Details in Classified section Do not feel certain of anything — Bertrand Russell. Vol. II, No. 34 A Forbes Newspaper Thursday, August 22,1991 233-9696 P.O. Box 2790, Westfield 07091 15 Cents Outbreak of criminal mischief prompts scrutiny of vandalism By Donald Plzzl Jr. "alive and well." Twenty-three of those were listed as Record staff writer Mebane promised that as a member of damage to property, while two were the liaison committee to the Board of described as theft or larceny. There was Recent incidents of vandalism to the Education, he would see that vandalism one incident of arson and one of break- bandstand of Mindowaskin Park have became a priority item as the new school ing and entering. prompted town officials to look closely at year began. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark C. what they perceive as town wide pro- Smith said that while no amount of van- blem. "The town of Westfield has made a substantial investment in helping to keep dalism is acceptable, the number of in- Police reported last week that elec- Westfield the beautiful community that it cidents in 1990-91 is down from the 32 trical wiring had appeared to have been reported the previous year. The es- ripped out of the bandstand on Saturday, is," Mebane said. Westfield's beauty must Aug. 10. It was the third incident of van- be preserved, Vandalism must be stop- timated cost of damages this year is dalism to the stand since June 25. The ped." $1,797.20, down from $2,925.97 in 1988-90. stand was formally dedicated on July 3. In the first attack on the bandstand on 'It's a very serious problem,' says a June 25, vandals lit a bonfire on the Town engineer Edward Gottko said stand's floor and then fled the scene. The that the stand's electrical box had been vbtim. 'Town officials are not in opened and a timer had been pulled. fire department extinguished the blaze, Gottko said there was no real damage control of the situation' which ruined the fresh paint on the in- done to the box, and that the timer has side ceiling of the bandstand, A sched- already been restored. uled June 27 concert was performed on a In Westfield last week, six incidents of rented bandstand. "It was just an inconvenience," he said criminal mischief' were reported to of the incident police. The incidents ranged from eggs Carol Ann Wilson, assistant director of Gottko said that the fact the stand is a being tossed at a car to fires lit behind the Westfield Memorial Library, said that constant hangout for kids is not a pro- the Post Office on Central Avenue and vandalism of library materials has not blem in its own right Brand Travel on Quimby Street to increased in the last few months. Wilson "The bandstand is there for people to chemicals being dumped in a Nevada said that over the summer months, when use it," he said. "It's for concerts, for Street pool. The antenna on a police car less students are around, the number of people to sit on the steps and the rail, for was also reported as being broken off. incidents tends to be lower. people to have lunch on, for people to sit One of the victims, Walter Brand, said "It's a tough time to measure it (van- and play guitars. I have no problem with he was lucky that his travel office suf- dalism) accurately, because we have a people using it for the purposes that it fered only smoke damage but he said ho different type of crowd during the sum- was intended. It's the other stuff that lost business because his phonos and his mer months," Wilson said. "There's been bugs me." reservation computer were knocked out nothing really out of the ordinary, no The recent incidents to the bandstand for a day. major incidents of vandalism this sum- have focused some attention on van- Vandalism "is a very serious problem mer. " Photo by Dianne Matilerd dalism in general in town. It has been a in Westfield and is now affecting peoples' The motion detection system was not topic of discussion at Town Council livelihood," he said. In his view, the town MADE IN WESTFIELD: commercial for Macy's was filmed in and out of the J yet in operation at the time of the first diner Tuesday and at Echo Lanes, with flashy convertibles carrying models meetings, as well as a letter to The Rec- government is "not in control of the sit- incident touting young men's and juniors department, at right. The results are cmL this week by Councilman David uation." Mebane. The Board of Education this week rel- Last month, vandals kicked holes in six scheduled to air on television starting next week. 'Mebarie described himself as appalled eased its annual vandalism report from of the eight columns during daylight by the damage to the bandstand. He fur- July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1991. A total of 27 Five have quit town service ther stated,_,,., that vandalism in Westfield is incidents of vandalism were reported, . (Please turn to page A-3) posts over state ethics rules Teachers, board reach a tentative By Donald Pizzi Jr. Record staff writer atives in excess of $400, addresses of all contract but are mum on dollars A member of the Planning Board has real estate owned in state and the name scheduled to vote on the proposed con- Michael Setter, #*e association pre- resigned over the new state-imposed of all businesses in which a board mem- By Donald Plzzl Jr. tract on that date, the opening day of ber has 10 percent or more ownership. sident, ac)tnoMrJe0fM. Tuesday that an Local Government Ethics Law, the fifth Record staff writer school. The board will vote at a special agreement had been reached "in prin- appointee of a town board to do so since Disclosure forms are filed with the public meeting at 8 pm. in the board ciple", but said that there were still is- the taw was announced. Local Finance Board in Trenton and A tentative agreement for a new con- meeting room at 303 Elm Street The as- sues that needed to be worked out before Gerald Barton, an alternate on the were due Monday. tract has been reach between the West- sociation will vote that night at its the contract was ready lor ratification. board, gave his resignation to Mayor In May, when the law was first an- Held Board of Education and WesUleld scheduled meeting. He would not comment on any speci- Richard Bagger Monday. nounced, Historic Preservation Commis- Education Association, which represents fics of the contract until it is presented to "I was very disappointed to learn of his sion member Barbara Vincentsen, and teachers in the Westfield Public School*. Smith said he did not want to disclose the WEA membership. Seiler said he resignation," Bagger said, "which he att- Joseph Biren, Robert Eckman and Negotiating teams for the two sides specific details of the contract, since it would make a formal comment on Sept ributed to the disclosure requirement (of Robert Denman of the Construction reached the tentative agreement during a had not yet been reviewed by both sides. 4. the law), on a philosophical basis." Board of Appeals resigned because of a meeting on Aug. 12, according to Supe- As of Tuesday afternoon, the full Board A press release from the board said Bagger said that Barton's is the first disqualification stipulation. The stipula- rintendent of Schools Dr Mark C Smith. of Education had not yet reviewed the that details of the new contract would be resignation because of the disclosure re- tion prohibits a board member from ap- "I look forward to ratification of the agreement, but had planned to do so in released after it has been ratified by both. quirement, which mandates that sources pearing before a board on behalf of an agreement on Sept A" Smith said. an executive session following its Tues- sides. ' of earned and unearned income over applicant for a year after leaving the The full board and the association are day night regular meeting, Smith said. $2,000 by members of boards charged board. with the power to dictate policy be dis- Because that aspect directly effected closed. Only the source of the income, not their livelihoods, Bagger said he felt the Holy Trinity School the amount, must be disclosed. four who resigned in May "really had no The disclosure restriction includes other choice." takes a new name speaking fees and honorariums in excess (Please turn to page A-3) Holy Trinity School takes on a new of $250, gifts from anyone except rel- name and a new identity this fall and will be under multiple sponsorship. The venerable institution on First School board will assume nursing Street opens the new term as Holy Trinity Interparorchial School. And dur- ing the 1991-92 school year it will be co- chores for three non-public schools sponsored by the two Catholic parishes of Westfield and Our Lady of Lourdes By Donald Pizzi Jr. nursing services. If the $10 million is not enough, Smith parish in Mountainside. Record staff writer said the amount would not be increased. Enrollment under the new arrangement \' Nursing services for three non-public Instead, a system of redistribution of the is expected to rise to 300 students this \ schools in Westfield will soon become the funding would then be devised and im- year.