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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, April 20, 2017 OUR 127th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 16-2017 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] ONE DOLLAR Westfield Adopts 2017 Budget At 1.43-Percent Increase By CHRISTINA M. HINKE He noted that the council was able to A $2.7-million bond ordinance was Specially Written for The Westfield Leader reduce costs to residents for use of the introduced that will fund milling and WESTFIELD — The town council conservation center and a reduction of paving of a portion of 26 different on Tuesday adopted its 2017 budget of sewer fees. roadways in town, Councilman David $45,378,388, with a municipal tax levy The Special Improvement District Oliveira said. The public hearing is of $27,662,382, representing a 1.43- (SID) budget also was adopted by the Tuesday, May 2. percent increase in municipal taxes over council. The SID funds the Downtown The roads include: Harrison Avenue, 2016. The average assessed home of Westfield Corporation, the manage- Cory Place, Raymond Street, Parkview $180,900 would see an increase of ment entity for the SID. The budget is Avenue, Edgewood Avenue, Effingham about $45 in 2017. flat for about the sixth straight year and Place, Ramapo Way, Stanley Avenue, “It is another impressive budget. We is funded by the property owners in the Archibold Place, Arlington Avenue, are under the state-mandated, 2-per- SID, Councilman Della Fera said. Cranford Avenue, Sherbrook Drive, cent property-tax levy cap, and just as The town’s audit also came back Sherman Drive, Oak Avenue, Linden important, we did it without using any with no recommendations for need of Avenue, Roger Avenue, Grandview allowable exemptions,” Councilman improvement for the second year in a Avenue, Pine Grove, Manchester Drive, Sam Della Fera said. row, Mr. Della Fera said. Fontana Drive, Reese Place, Byron Court, Summit Court, Shackamaxon Drive, First Street, and Shadowlawn Drive. The town will have a list on its website this week that will spell out the description of work and if it is the entire length of the road or which portions of the road are to be paved. The bond also will fund refreshing Susan M. Dougherty for The Westfield Leader some striping and crosswalks, as well FIND THE EASTER EGGS...Mindowaskin Park was the perfect spot for an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. The Lions Club as a four-year program to replace sani- sponsored the 1 p.m. event complete with a costumed Easter Bunny (a.k.a. past president Peter Mitchell). This year the Lions tary sewer pumping stations in town. Club was assisted by volunteers from The Friends of Mindowaskin Park and the Kiwanis Clubs of Greater Westfield and The pump station at Tamaques Way is Clark. to be replaced this year, Town Admin- istrator Jim Gildea said. An ordinance was introduced pro- Garwood Fair Share Agreement viding for new curbing and paving of First Street between Scotch Plains Av- enue and Florence Avenue, and a por- tion of Edgewood Avenue. The resi- Heads to Superior Court Today dents who own property there “will be assessed and they are aware of that,” By MICHAEL BONACCORSO households pursuant to the state’s Fair do everything I can to protect our Wayne Baker for The Westfield Leader Councilman Della Fera said. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Housing Act. residents from over development. I REMEMBERING ALLEN CHIN...Former Westfield Mayor Allen Chin, left, passed away last week at the age of 80. He is shown here in a picture taken in It also was noted by Mr. Gildea that GARWOOD — The borough coun- “Today’s special meeting was held believe we should do whatever it takes December 2009 presenting Charles Lombardo, right, current mayor of Garwood, the roadwork on Boulevard between cil on Tuesday night passed a resolu- in preparation for Thursday’s hear- to protect our town,” Ms. Cuccaro with a resolution honoring Mr. Lombardo upon his retirement from the Rahway Park Drive and Washington Street “will tion endorsing its 2017 Housing Ele- ing. Importantly, we want residents to said. Valley Sewerage Authority’s (RVSA) board, as then Commissioner Maria Abram be back on for this year” and the town ment and Fair Share Plan. A hearing understand where Garwood is in the “For our township’s welfare, I find of Springfield looks on. Please see obituary on page 8. has applied for additional Transporta- in State Superior Court in Elizabeth process, heading into Thursday’s it disadvantageous for our council to tion Trust Fund monies for roadwork today, April 20, will determine court hearing,” said Council Presi- oppose state court legal precedents. for another section of Boulevard and whether Garwood’s Summary of Plan dent Sara Todisco. We would gamble with perhaps 20- MS Passes Restrictions on Grove Street. provides a realistic opportunity to New Jersey Superior Court granted to-1 odds of winning, challenging Bleachers are being installed at satisfy legally required “fair share” of Garwood a transitional period to de- state statutes on affordable housing. Tamaques Park, where the town also regional need for housing affordable velop a Housing Element and Fair Other neighboring towns have done Pets; Introduces Budget CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 to low-income and moderate-income Share Plan. If the council-approved so and lost considerable amounts of summary plan is validated in Supe- control over what is developed and By KATE BROWNE ing the proposed mountain bike rior Court, Garwood will be granted paid substantial legal fees,” Council- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader paths in Watchung Reservation. Scotch Plains Downtown protections as constitutionally com- man Joseph Sarno said. MOUNTAINSIDE — During According to Mayor Mirabelli, the pliant. Public comments echoed concerns their public meeting Tuesday night, planned 13.5 miles of trails are ex- “Constitutional compliance with on the developments’ impact on the the borough council conducted a cessive and many are in close prox- Committee Holds First Mtg. the New Jersey Council on Afford- community. “I am venting my frustra- first reading of two ordinances im- imity to a residents’ homes particu- able Housing or COAH (Council on tions. I feel our town should be re- pacting pet owners in the commu- larly in the Ridge Drive and FRED T. ROSSI ments in three- and four-story buildings Affordable Housing) is important in named Garboken. I am concerned nity. Saddlebrook Road area. The Mayor Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and a parking garage facility for resi- protecting Garwood from costly with traffic issues and student over- The first ordinance would require reminded residents that the Free- SCOTCH PLAINS — The latest dents “to minimize surface parking lots.” builders’ remedy lawsuits,” Borough population in our school system,” cats over the age of seven months to holders will consider the issues of effort to kick-start downtown redevel- The statement also urges “a traffic flow Attorney Robert Renaud said. “It resident Joseph Gola said. receive a rabies vaccine and be li- the trails at their Thursday, May 18 opment got underway last week when design that relieves Park Avenue as would not be smart to put our taxpay- “I am concerned with the flood censed. The second proposed ordi- meeting. the newly-formed downtown develop- being a main through street to other ers and town at risk by not complying impacts post development and our nance would limit the number of The council also unanimously ment committee held its first meeting major roads.” Instead, it is hoped that with COAH,” Councilwoman Jen township’s FEMA rating,” said 40- dogs and cats that are permitted to passed a $12,673,661 municipal and Mayor Alexander Smith called for Park Avenue could be “like a village Blumenstock said. year resident Jason Broski. Mayor live in residences within the bor- budget to cover the community’s a redevelopment plan to be ready by square — the hub of the downtown The resolution passed by a 5-to-1 Charles Lombardo said specific find- ough and prohibit the outdoor feed- expenditures for the 2017-2018 fis- October. experience where people can walk to vote. Councilwoman Ileen Cuccaro ings regarding the FEMA (Federal ing of stray or feral cats. If enacted, cal year. The budget is $112,000 The 17-member committee — the use other public transportation to travel voted against the resolution. “I will CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 no more than six dogs or cats would over the 2016 adopted budget while efforts of which the mayor said would to other parts of the downtown.” be permitted to the kept in any the amount to be raised in taxes is “help shape the lives of between 25-to- Mayor Smith said the committee “will single-family residence and no more up $176,650 with another $592,241 30,000 people who live or will live in face many challenges, but knowing the than three dogs or cats could be to be raised in support of the Moun- Scotch Plains” — is composed of resi- people on this committee, I am sure we kept in a single unit of a multi-unit tainside Public Library. dents, representatives from the munici- will succeed.” Over the past two de- dwelling. The increase is due to higher costs pal government and local business cades, a number of efforts have been Mayor Paul N. Mirabelli also ad- associated with employee health in- people. undertaken to revive the central busi- vised the public that he had written surance, premiums payable to the “The participation of each group will ness district, including the now-inac- a letter to the Union County Board Suburban Municipal Joint Insurance be necessary to successfully achieve a tive Special Improvement District of Chosen Freeholders expressing Fund, pension contributions for pub- redeveloped downtown that is prosper- (SID), which was created in mid-2008 the community’s concerns regard- ous, walkable, diverse, distinctive and after six months of hearings and after a CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 green,” the mayor said at the April 12 similar effort to create a SID failed in township council meeting.

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