S I 3 FI ................. * * * C A R - R T LOT* *C01 S # 2 W EST11Ki0 MEMORIAL LIBRARY 550 E BR ■ A' ,;r WESTFIELL N I 07090 21 16 36 $opulos. /Ion amtus. flcrtenimus (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, June 5, 2003 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 FIFTY CENTS OUR 113th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 39-113 Periodical - Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] WF Parents Bring Class Size Concerns to BOE Meeting By CHARLOTTE I.EDERMAN five sections at Franklin School and In reviewing the 2002-2003 Specially Written for The Westfield Leader lo approve the new policy of lower progress. Ms. Kylie noted, ‘Thirty- A crowd of concerned parents numbers in elementary classes. Sev­ four students in need of intervention packed the room as the Westfield eral Franklin and McKinley School were identified in third and sixth Board of Education met for their parents spoke to this end. grades using the Wechsler Intelligence bimonthly meeiing. In response. Dr. Foley said that he Scale for Children. Identified students The parents, who have children in too believes that class size is a very were clustered in regular classrooms.” the school district, are worried about important issue. He noted, however, Furthermore, all participating the class sizes at the elementary level, that a class size of 24 or 23 in the fourth teachers this year have received train­ specifically Franklin School. To suc­ grade is not unusual or unreasonable. ing. and next year, there will be a pull cinctly represent over 30 parents, the "I allocated the 22 positions as out component. Ms. Kylie contin­ board heard from two unofficial equitably as I could, slaying with the ued, showing that in the future, the spokespeople. policy,” said Dr. Foley. program will "work on enrichment Summarizing the concerns of par­ What is more, he shares “with opportunities for all students and ents at Franklin School, they sup­ parents the goal of preparing our inclusion of more grades.” ported the reinstatement of the extra students to achieve excellence. I be­ Regarding business matters, the teacher and section in the fourth grade. lieve we can do that with the class board approved for first reading the Though noting that Superintendent sizes I have recommended." class rank policy, or the “reporting of Schools Dr. William Foley was And though the board did believe it student achievement to colleges." well within the guidelines in making was a legilimate role for them to In this form, the document slates this decision, the spokesmen ques­ review future class size policy, Dr. that, “Specific class rank will not tioned if his decision was ultimalely Foley informed them that, at this time, appear on any documents sent by “optimal, or simply sufficient." it is not their decision lo take a vole on Westfield High School to college Overall, the parents' goals include this particular matter, as it falls within admission offices except as required TIME OF THEIR FIVES...Before Friday night's Westfield High School prom, some attendees gathered at revisiting the issue of maintaining budget and policy confines. by military academies and for schol­ arship applications. Parents/legal Mr. and Mrs. Toriello. Pictured, left to right, are: Greg Mathews. Lauren Rites. Matt Torlello, Kate Albino, Dave In other business, Supervisor of Ucciferri, Emily Warren, Vincent Shen, Annie Tabaehnick, Joe McCabe, Christine Lei/., Doug Chananie and Kelly guardians may request their child’s ihc Gifted and Talented Education Cocuz/a. The prom was held al the Pine's Manor in Edison. Program, Lindsey Kylie. reported class rank." WF Meets about the pilot of the program in the The board will reconvene on Tues­ Westfield public school district. day, June 24. With Deck Incumbents Munoz, Bramnick Developer Sweep Assembly GOP Primary By LAUREN S. PASS By MICHAEL POLLACK and Governor Thomas Kean, ran unop­ previously served on (he Summit Specially Written for The Westfield Leader MARIA WOEHR posed for the GOP Senate seat. City Council. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The Westfield Town Council “I am so excited. I have to compli­ "Bramnick and 1 have an excellent held a short public meeting on As the results for the 21st Legisla­ ment Thomas Kean. He really did a partnership. We both bring our ex­ Tuesday night in order to hold tive District Assembly came pouring good job keeping the campaign up­ pertise to the job and we’ll keep on their first meeting with newly in, it became more apparent the in­ beat." Assemblyman Bramnick said. strong through elections in Novem­ selected parking developer cumbents would take the ballots for The other victor, Dr. Munoz is a ber.” Dr. Munoz, said. Nassau HKT Associates. the Republican Party and that Ellen trauma surgeo/gjf Newark’s Univer­ One pressing issue Assemblymen Bob Goldsmith, the town’s Steinberg and Norman Albert would sity of Dentistry in New Jersey and CONTINUED ON PAGE B attorney through the consulting emerge victorious for the Democrats. firm, The Atlantic Group, ex­ In the Union County Freeholder plained ihat to minimize the Democrat Primary election, incum­ impact the construction would bents Deborah Scanlon, Chester have on downtown businesses, Holmes and Alexander Mirabella Planning Board Delays construction should begin at the came out the winners. end of the holiday season. He Assemblyman Dr. Eric Munoz of said that ihe council needs to Summit took 35 percent of the vot­ Decision on Subdivision adopt the redevelopment plans ers’ ballots, while Jon Bramnick of recently approved by the plan­ Westfield drew in 32 percent. ning board and to bring in envi­ “I am so proud. It was a very ronmental consultants. commanding victory. Actually it was Of Woodbrook Circle Bob Powell, a principal with close to a blowout. We fought a hard PRIMARY WINNER...Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, left, and his Campaign Nassau introduced the rest of race and took the challenge seri­ By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL Variances for the subdivision of the Manager Michelle Albann. right, are already working on their strategies for the Specially Written for The Westfield leader the team, which includes the ously,” said Assemblyman Bramnick. second proposed property are the same November election. Assemblymen Bramnick and Eric Munoz won the 21st A resolution honoring Vic design teams from Morris "We had a very positive race,” he and include a proposal of a front lot District Assembly Republican primary on Tuesday over Betty LaRosa, Helen Treznowski and the contributions that Ritchie and Associates and added. “Everybody worked hard and width of 52.42 feet, a lot frontage of Ryan and James Barry, Jr. he made toward the Planning Board Minno and Wasko Architects and the voters decided to keep us in office." 37.82 feet and a front yard setback of and the Town of Westfield was pre­ Planners; the construction team Assemblymen Bramnick and 94.53 feet. sented to his wife, Karen, and read to After hours of testimony given by of the Troast Group; and Munoz defeated challengers Betty members of the audience at the June Engineer Edward Dec and Professional Edwards and Kelcey, LLC. LaRosa, Helen Ryan, and James 2 Planning Board Meeting. Planner Michael Tobia, members of Mr. Powell said the council Barry, Jr. who together took in 34 According to Planning Board Chair­ needs lo agree on a develop­ percent of the vote. the Planning Board decided that they man, Jay Boyle. Mr. Treznowski served needed further legal information be­ ment plan, which will legally “Their disadvantage was organi­ the Planning Baud from 19% to 1998 fore they could make a decision about govern what happens on the lots. zation. As incumbents we already and again from January 2001 until his He stated that three studies; a had that under the belt,” commented the proposed subdivision. death on April 24 of this year. It was also Both witnesses gave testimony that survey, environmental assess­ Assemblyman Munoz. noted that Mr. Treznowski, served on a second but less desirable proposi­ ment and geological testing need Assemblyman Bramnick and the Subdivision Site Plan Committee. tion for the property could he sought to be done soon. Munoz hope now that elections are In other business, a decision re­ by the owners and would not require He also slated that the geo­ over they can work with all three garding an application to subdivide technical testing would test core challengers for the district. any variances. property at 33 Woodbrook Circle has This proposal, according to Mr. samples from the properties, “This is all about unification after been postponed until the next Plan­ Dec and Mr. Tobia, would include which will tell the development a family fight. After all we’re work­ ning Board Meeting presently sched­ making a cul-de-sac for these two team the bearing capacity of the ing for the same causes,” said As­ uled for Monday, July 7, at 8 p.m. properties thus requiring no vari­ land. He stated that his team has semblyman Munoz. Charles Brandt, Esq., represented ances as the measurements for the already taken proposals from “We ran against some very nice the owners. Needle Point Homes. ordinances are made from the street. consultants for these studies, and people." Assemblyman Bramnick Variances for the subdivision of With a new street made by the own­ that once begun it will take six said. "We are still working with them; the first proposed property include: ers, measurements would fall into to eight weeks to get results. especially Betty LaRosa who has relief from lot width requirement of what is requested by the ordinance. Mayor Gregory McDermott some very strong ideas.” 75 feet, relief from lot frontage re­ According to testimony given by questioned why the firm would This was Mr.