S13 . CAR-RT-.... LOT»»C015 * 1 WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY 550 E BROAD ST WESTFIELD NJ 07090-2116 07090211650 9b ftoputw, Aon 9bitut. Prrbrmmus DSPS 680020 F»MkM ta q ISsrvi.; Stan Sqamkn J. new OUR 115th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 41-2005 Thursday. October 13, 2005 (9081 232-4407 Periodical - Postage Paid al Westfield. NJ. www.goleader.com press v goleader.com SIXTY CENTS Westfield to Bag On-Street Meters From Thanksgiving to New Year’s By PAUL J. PEYTON enue, which bagged 100 on-street said Scudder Road qualifies as a Specially Written for The Westfield lfatter meters for a day last year, received a neighborhood access road and re­ WESTFIELD — Westfield shop­ great deal of good feedback from that quires the street be widened from 18 pers will have the opportunity to park marketing decision. to 24 feet in width to allow sufficient for free this holiday season. "You can't measure that impact," space for on-street parking and for As part of a recommendation by Ms. Cronin said. cars to pass. the Downtown Westfield Corpora­ In other business, the council re­ Mr. Gildea said all 14 residents on tion (DWC), the management entity moved Scudder Road from the list of the street would be notified of the for the downtown special improve­ various road projects being completed town's decision to widen the road­ ment district, and the Westfield Area by Schifano Construction Corp. of way. He told The Westfield Leader Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Andy Middlesex. The town hired the com­ that the road is not consistent in width Skibitsky and the town council signed pany to mill and pave Scudder Road due to the curbing and brush. off on a plan last Wednesday to bag and numerous others in town. The governing body also discussed 300 on-street meters from Thanks­ Town Engineer Ken Marsh said the updating the downtown streetscape giving until New Year's Day. contractor discovered that curbing improvement project. The town coun­ After a lengthy lapse, last year the was improperly installed in the right- cil appropriated $75,000 last year for town offered the program for two of-way of the road. In addition, bushes project. Mr. Gildea told The Leader weeks. Shoppers will be able to park on the street created a sight problem the DWC came before the town coun­ for free for up to two hours. Munici­ for motorists. He also said people are cil each of the past two years for pal lots will not be included. parking in an area bf the street that capital budget requests ranging from "We are trying to provide a more makes it difficult for motorists to $ 1 to $ 1.5 million for various parts of shopper-friendly downtown," Mayor pass. Fourteen homes are located on the improvement plan. Skibitsky said at the council's Octo­ the street. The council acted Tuesday night ber 5 conference meeting. "1 person­ Mr. Marsh described Scudder as a by approving a $67,000 contract with POPULARITY ...Rudy Giuliani campaigns Wednesday afternoon for New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester ally think it is a good idea to do this." "substandard road" in terms of its Christopher Statile, Pa, an architec­ at the Knights of Columbus on North Avenue in Scotch Plains. The former New York City mayor introduces Mr. Forrester The mayor said he wants the Cham­ current condition. tural and professional engineering and draws an enthusiastic cheer. Heavy rains forced moving the event from outside the Westfield Municipal Building on East ber and DWC to communicate with ‘The (road) shows some very seri­ firm based in Oakland. Mr. Gildea Broad Street Pictured, from left to right, are: Asm. Jon Bramnick, Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks and Mr. Giuliani. downtown employees that they are to ous encroachment," Mr. Marsh told said the town is seeking reimburse­ park in municipal lots and not on the council. "Over the years, people ment from the DWC for the contract. streets in the downtown area during have put in curbing without a permit." Mr. Gildea said the company would the holiday season. He said as part of the permit pro­ update the bid specifications for each WF Council Passes Height “There is nothing more impactful cess. building department officials of the remaining Downtown Improve­ than driving through our downtown provide the location and elevation for ment Plan projects with current cost and seeing that the meters are cov­ placement of the curbing. Mr. Marsh estimates. Doing so, the town can be ered,” DWC Executive Director said as a result, the Scudder Road act accordingly over the next few Sherry Cronin told the mayor and work has been put on hold and will be years, starting in 2006. Limits On First Reading council. re-bid as a separate project. Once updated, Mr. Gildea said By MICHAEL J. POLLACK Mrs. Stockwell said she combed the done in the dark of the night. It was Specially Written far The Weitfietd leader She said Starbucks on Central Av­ Under state guidelines. Mr. Marsh DWC officials would come before town’s parking areas at roughly 11 presented to the public." the council starting next year to re­ WESTFIELD — On Tuesday, the a.m. on Tuesday morning and noticed First Ward Counci Iman Sal Caruana BOE Reviews Policies, quest inclusion of parts of the plan in Westfield Town Council passed park­ that 196 spaces were not being uti­ told Mr. Solomon that he was “the the 2006 capital budget, as well as in ing restrictions on Codding Road, lized. She asked the council how the first person in a year and a half to say subsequent years. He said the entire discussed implementing pre-con­ rates of oversell are determined. ■you don't like it (the pay stations.)"' Accountant’s Position plan would be completed over three struction surveys and passed an ordi­ Third Ward Councilman Mark The council stressed that the com­ years. nance on first reading to lower the Ciarrocea responded. “No specific puterized meters are accessible from By BETSEY BURGDORF It also was reported that the district The DWC will seek grants to fi­ maximum building height. target number is used. The transpor­ anywhere ill town and present a more Specially Written for The Westfield Utuler would participate in the NJSSI (New nance the improvement plan, which On second reading, the council ap­ tation committee meets regularly and aesthetically-pleasing and modern MOUNTAINSIDE - At the bi­ Jersey Statewide Systematic Initia­ includes pedestrian walkways, new proved unanimously an amendment monitors the amount of permits sold. approach. monthly meeting of the Mountainside tive) along with Berkeley Heights. street lighting fixtures, brick pavers, to town parking restrictions. The or­ To look at one day as a snapshot To begin Tuesday's council meet­ Board of Education (BOE), Presi­ "We're going to piggy-back and share new trees protected by iron fencing dinance curtails parking on Codding doesn't tell the whole story." ing. Mayor Andy Skibitsky and the dent John Perrin reported that a copy some of the cost (with Berkeley and a downtown sidewalk replace­ Road’s west side, between Rahway Mrs. Stockwell said that while her town council honored Chris Miele, a of the district’s policies had been sent Heights),” Dr. O'Malley said. ment plan. Parts of the plan have and a point north of Hyslip Avenues sample size may be small, she no­ Westfield soldier returning after serv­ to the New Jersey School Boards The NJSSI consortium will give the already been implemented, includ­ between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on school ticed “routinely on a basis of three ing just over a year in Iraq. Promoted Association. district access to low cost mathemat­ ing sample lighting fixtures, improve­ days. weeks that two rows in lot three to sergeant major, “a very unique “We put together a matrix of the ics and science workshops. "We’re ments near the Rialto Theatre and on Fourth Ward Councilman Jim (south side train station) are empty accomplishment for such a young policy,” Mr. Perrin said. “Many poli­ glad that we've been selected to par­ Central Avenue under the railroad Foerst said that the Code Review and before noon." soldier" while in Iraq, Sergeant Ma­ cies needed review." ticipate in this,” Dr. O’Malley stated. overpass and up to South Avenue. Town Property committee developed Allen Solomon of Orenda Circle jor Miele received a standing ovation ‘There is a huge need for existing poli­ No acts of violence or vandalism Improvements to the East Broad Street a new amendment requiring an appli­ spoke concerning the pay stations. before Mayor Skibitsky bestowed the cies to be reviewed,” Chief School Admin­ were cited in the annual district report and Elm Street intersection were also cant to submit a property survey be­ Acknowledging that his expertise in­ commendation. On behalf of the town istrator Dr. Richard O’Malley added. for the 2004-2005 school year. “God completed. fore construction so the town can volved "unofficial surveys” con­ and council, the mayor "officially Dr. O'Malley stated that there were bless Mountainside," Mr. Perrin said. The town is looking for the DWC check for grade changes and "see ducted across from the post office, welcomed Chris home." three policies that required immediate A motion to change the part-time and/or businesses to finance half of problems before they happen. We are Mr. Solomon said he questioned resi­ Mayor Skibitsky said that the 250th attention. The Gifted and Talented position of accountant to that of a the project, similar to the residential aware of, and we made immediate dents as to their opinion on the pay Battalion would soon be returning policy, the building use policy and the full-time position was met with op­ sidewalk replacement program, Mr.