Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, December 16, 2010 OUR 120th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 50-2010 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield BOE Defies State Mandate To Void School Super’s Contract By MICHAEL J. POLLACK June 30, 2011 – through the 2014- November, Governor Chris Christie Specially Written for The Westfield Leader 2015 school year. was announcing a superintendent-pay WESTFIELD – In response to the Ms. Dolan, who has been employed edict that would put caps on a county superintendent’s office and the in the education field for more than 30 superintendent’s salary; one’s pay state Department of Education (DOE) years, currently earns $195,718, a sal- would be relative to the size of one’s failing to approve the Westfield Board ary she would have continued to re- school district. of Education’s multi-year contract ceive for the 2010-2011 and 2011- In the most up-to-date numbers, extension with Superintendent Mar- 2012 school years under the terms of issued in early November from the garet Dolan, the board voted unani- the now-rejected contract. That con- governor’s office, Westfield would slot mously on Tuesday to petition the tract also would have bumped up her in at the second-highest enrollment DOE to recognize that the contract salary 2 percent for the 2012-2013 tier, for districts of between 3,001 and was “duly approved under the law” or year, to $199,632. In 2013-2014, fol- 6,500 students. The new limit for a to “give the county superintendent, lowing another year-over-year in- Westfield superintendent’s pay would Carmen Centuolo, the authority to crease, the salary would have reached now be $167,500 ($165,000 plus acknowledge her prior approval of the $203,625. Her maximum salary, in $2,500 added for districts that contain contract.” the 2014-2015 school year, would high schools), in addition to merit pay On November 9, the BOE voted reach $207,700. of up to 15 percent. If the 15-percent unanimously to extend Ms. Dolan’s While the board was approving the figure was earned, the salary could contract – which was set to expire on superintendent’s contract in early reach $192,625, as BOE President Julia Walker told The Westfield Leader last week in a sit-down interview. As Mrs. Walker said in that inter- view, not only did she feel that Westfield’s superintendent-contract Susan Dougherty for The Westfield Leader figures were “in the ballpark” of the WESTFIELD OR BETHLEHEM?...Members of The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, dressed for the Live Nativity pay cap, she also understood that Mrs. presentation of Sunday, December 5, gather on the lawn of the historic church. The Reverend Dr. Ray Roberts welcomed Centuolo had given verbal approval of a large crowd at 4 p.m., while the costumed characters presented a tableau of the nativity scene. A petting zoo featured sheep, the contract in November before dis- a goat, donkey, cow and llama. Lending to the feel of an old-fashioned town, choir members joined the audience to sing approving of the measure in Decem- Christmas carols and warmed themselves with hot chocolate and cookies. ber. In the words of BOE Vice-Presi- dent Ann Cary, last week, Mrs. Centuolo did “an about-face.” BOE Adopts Redistricting Plan, Also, under the newest superinten- dent-cap proposal, the merit bonuses are not factored into one’s pension; according to Ms. Cary, this provision Apologizes to Washington Parents impacted Ms. Dolan’s decision on By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL because of a ruling through the courts said. Michael Pollack for The Westfield Leader and The Times Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “YOU HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY”...Westfield resident John whether to return to the district. In ordered by the New Jersey Acting Board member David Finn, who Blake, right, addresses the superintendent-contract situation at Tuesday night’s fact, Mrs. Walker said on Tuesday that WESTFIELD — In a 6-3 vote Tues- Education Commissioner Rochelle also voted against the ordinance, said board of education meeting, held at Westfield High School’s Cafeteria B. Mr. Ms. Dolan would retire “if she were day night, the Westfield Board of Edu- Hendricks after a state administrative that he did not agree with Ms. Dolan’s Blake questioned why the board deemed Superintendent Margaret Dolan, second forced into the salary caps.” cation approved, upon its second read- judge found that the BOE violated its statement made at the November 16 from left, “so important” that it defied the superintendent-pay cap, to be Citing the continuity of leadership ing, an attendance-zone policy that own by-laws by having the second meeting that the redistricting is al- instituted next February by Governor Chris Christie. Board member Mitch and the high cost of undergoing a requires some Washington School chil- reading of the policy read only three ready saving Westfield money. Mr. Slater looks on at left. search for a new superintendent, the dren to be re-zoned to attend Edison weeks after the first reading. BOE by- Finn said he also wanted some time to board believed it had sufficient rea- Intermediate School instead of laws require four weeks as the manda- study the cost effect of the redistrict- soning to bring back Ms. Dolan. Roosevelt Intermediate School. tory period of time allotted between ing. He noted, “We as a board have the Westfield Council Hears Legally, as BOE attorney Phil Stern According to Board of Education readings of district policies. power of the benefit of time.” explained to the board, the BOE must President Julia Walker, the policy, Last month, Superintendent of He also stated, “I am proud to be Multiple Applications “exhaust” all administrative possibili- which was first passed in 2009, must Schools Margaret Dolan addressed part of the Washington School com- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 go through the adoption process again the audience, stating that having the munity.” He concluded that he wanted By THOMAS S. FORTUNATO In addition, the ordinance adds a redistricting in place since 2009 has to amend the redistricting ordinance Specially Written for The Westfield Leader stop sign on Topping Hill Road to be saved the town almost $100,000 in by ending the redistricting at the con- WESTFIELD – During the govern- installed at the intersection of Kimball Improvements to Westfield’s additional salaries that would have clusion of the 2010-2011 school year ing body’s regular meeting Tuesday, Avenue. been needed to pay for additional and then analyzing the document be- Mayor Andy Skibitsky and the town All five of the applications were Roosevelt teachers. fore moving forward for future years. council addressed, among other mat- passed without any comment from the Downtown on Hold for Now Board of education member Rich- The amended policy was not passed, ters, five advertised resolutions to be public. By MANDY L. RUSSELL economic development rolling. Ms. ard Mattessich, who voted against the as the only “yes” votes came from Mr. voted upon. The board additionally passed reso- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Cronin suggested that going forward, ordinance, said he felt the BOE should Mattessich, Mr. Finn and board mem- These included an application fund- lutions, including awarding a contract WESTFIELD — The South Av- their negotiations with the town re-open the discussion so that the pub- ber Mitchell Slater. ing $12,000 of building improvements to purchase four new Crown Victorias enue development improvements should not be to match 50 percent on lic knows why this particular area was Board member Gary McCready said to the Westfield Community Center; for the police department; approving have been a success in Westfield’s phase two’s cost, but rather to present targeted for redistricting. He said, “In he was not sure what some board an application to set the community the transfer of a liquor license for a downtown economic development them with a financial number. the 2011-2012 school year, why bur- members’ “level of proof” was that the center coordinator’s salary at $17,000 business expanding its premises; ap- plan, according to the Downtown Mr. Verdic said the DWC would den an already-broken system on a redistricting was not the right choice a year; an ordinance to amend Chapter proving final acceptance for the im- Westfield Corporation (DWC) offi- need the town council to allow them targeted group of 10-year-old boys for the district. He said he has had 13 of the town code regarding right provement of Knollwood Terrace, cials. six to eight months to work with and girls?” He said he wanted to see “many years of helping to decide what turns at controlled intersections; an Boulevard and South Avenue, and “Streetscape,” as the plan was called engineers to have a better idea on a the discussion re-opened to make sure to do and that there is not one particu- ordinance to retrofit existing storm lastly a resolution authorizing the town by the DWC design committee, has price. “We need an engineering plan,” the board is “going forward on a deci- lar right solution.” He said the work drains in the town, and an ordinance attorney to “engage the services of an more phases yet to go in completion of Mr. Verdic said. sion that makes economic sense.” and analysis had already been done by mandating that all dumpsters and out- authorized professional to assist in the entire plan, but South Avenue is “We should have the amount of He added that he has no analysis of the administration and that it was not door garbage cans be covered to pre- determining the value of the land and ready for a grand reopening and a linear footage of sidewalk, materials, information to refer to as to why this the board’s job to “micro-manage” vent rainwater from causing the con- improvements located at Block 4901, ribbon-cutting ceremony.