Traffic Study Proposal Draws Mixed Reactions Candidates for Board Appear in First Forum
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Volume117 Number 11 THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2004 75 Cents Traffic study proposal draws mixed reactions By Patricia Harris tial concept was to calm traffic On the other hand, he said, of The Item by creating bump-outs in the narrowing the street is unneces- roadway. Township officials sary, as new signalization, speed The traffic study to be con- were advised by county engi- limits and enforcement are capa- ducted along Millburn Avenue neers last year bump-outs would ble of calming traffic. beginning next month is drawing pose problems for snowplowing Of greater concern, Futter mixed reactions from those who and other maintenance, however. said, is the idea of widening the have been involved with down- Officials then came up with the sidewalks. He has not observed town development for a long idea of narrowing the lanes to overcrowding on the sidewalks, time. achieve the same effect, she said. and “we don’t need a year’s The study, to take place over a Paul Gomperz, president of worth of construction,” he said. three-week period starting April the DMDA, said the issue of Joel Manning, owner of Man- 2, will narrow lanes of traffic calming traffic in the downtown nings clothing store, said al- along a two-block stretch of originated with the Downtown though the goal of slowing traffic Millburn Avenue east and west Millburn Master Plan developed traveling through town is impor- of Main Street. Township offi- about four years ago by a com- tant, narrowing the lanes will cials will evaluate if reducing the mittee of DMDA and township result in traffic jams and mo- number of lanes from three to officials, business and property torists diverting into residential two has the desired effect of owners and residents. That plan neighborhoods surrounding the calming traffic and ensuring was adopted by the Township downtown. Harry Trumbore/staff photographer pedestrian safety. They will then Committee in 2001. While the “This is not a solution,” he TIME TO TALK—Candidates for seats on the Board of Education were invited to speak before consider making the changes specific idea of narrowing two said, “It’s a transference of the the Wyoming Civic Association March 11 at the Wyoming Presbyterian Church. Pictured are, permanent and widening the lanes is not a plan of the DMDA, problem.” from left, Lee Goldman, Jessica Smith (representing her father, Kim Smith), Al Mazzorana, sidewalks. he said, officials in the organiza- He suggested the traffic study moderator and association president Abbott Gorin, Carol Marcus, Brenda White, Joshua Township Committeewoman tion support traffic calming and will show the problems of nar- Scharf and Debra Camitta. Mary F. McNett, who has been are willing to give the two-lane rowing lanes. A better way to en- involved with downtown devel- concept a try. courage motorists to slow down opment for nearly 15 years, said “Although change is not would be to place signs at the en- last week she is glad the project always necessarily for the trance to town and enforce is going forward and a date has better,” he said, “it’s impossible posted speed limits, as others Candidates for board been selected for the study to to improve something without towns, such as Maplewood and begin. change.” Westfield, have done, Manning “I’ve been in favor of changes Patricia Holden, executive di- said. along Millburn Avenue for a rector of the DMDA, endorsed Meanwhile, Timothy P. appear in first forum number of years,” McNett said. the experiment, saying, “We are Gordon, the township business “In narrowing the lanes, we will supporting traffic calming and administrator, supplied more de- By Harry Trumbore said. She made the point supervi- being market driven. Lee Gold- give strollers more room and pedestrian safety in whatever tails on how the traffic study is to of The Item sors have the responsibilities of man took it a step further, com- shorten the distance pedestrians form works. If this concept be conducted. Initial counts of oversight and mentoring of paring the salary to what execu- have to cross from one side to the works, wonderful. If it doesn’t, traffic flowing through the down- The campaign for the four teachers. tives earn in the private sector. other.” we’ll look for some other way to town district will be taken later Board of Education seats up for Joshua Scharf, one of two can- “I can’t believe the superinten- McNett, who also is the town- accomplish our objectives.” this month, and then traffic bar- grabs in next month’s elections didates for one board seat with a dent only makes $200,000,” ship’s liaison to the Downtown Carrie Lemerman, executive rels will be placed along the got underway March 11 when term of two unexpired years, Goldman said. After Mazzorana Millburn Development Alliance director of the Millburn-Short curbs on both sides of Millburn the candidates appeared before questioned the board’s judge- asked why anyone would pay (DMDA), the organization Hills Chamber of Commerce, Avenue beginning east of Spring the Wyoming Civic Association ment in hiring an out-of-state $50,000 for a Cadillac when it charged with managing the said the business organization Street and extending to Lack- at the Wyoming Presbyterian school superintendent for can be bought for $25,000, Gold- downtown district, said the pro- has not taken an official position awanna Place. Church. $200,000 when, at the same man responded one might end up ject is part of an overall design on narrowing Millburn Avenue. Counts will be taken of cars The forum was the first of time, Livingston was able to hire with a 1960 Cadillac. for the downtown that includes She did note, however, that indi- that go through seven intersec- three appearances scheduled for a New Jersey educator for In terms of generating new resignalization, repaving of Mill- vidual business and property tions designated for the study, as the candidates this month. $40,000 less. sources of revenues, Mazzorana, burn Avenue and the installation owners can join forces to express well as those cars that turn off to Six of the seven candidates at- Brenda White said it was hard a bond analyst, said he is investi- of decorative crosswalks. The themselves on the issue. travel through residential neigh- tended the Wyoming forum. Al- to evaluate the board’s decision gating the viability of creating a resignalization and repaving “Anything that merchants per- borhoods. though the forum lasted only an regarding the hire without a phases of the plan were complet- ceive as helping or hurting their “With two lanes, you want hour, several questions asked by more comprehensive analysis. Continued on Page D7 ed by Essex County this past business will engender strong people to get a better look at the the approximately 25 audience “People haven’t seen the docu- summer and fall, and the town- feelings,” Lemerman said. downtown, but, on the other members gave the candidates the ments supporting the decisions ship is to install the crosswalks Two Millburn Avenue mer- hand, if more people are divert- opportunity to sound off on a that have been made,” White this spring. chants who have been outspoken ing from the district, that might number of issues. said. BOE candidates “We’re moving along,” critics of narrowing the roadway be bad for business,” Gordon Addressing the topic of admin- Al Mazzorana called for per- McNett said, noting the resignal- expressed concerns last week said. istrative costs, board incumbent formance measurements for ad- express views ization has been operating even about making any permanent He noted township officials Debra Camitta said the recently ministrators. The Item invited the seven better than officials expected in changes. Richard Futter, owner may decide they are not willing released state report cards “If we’re going to reward candidates for the Board of keeping the traffic flowing. “It’s of Futter’s Shoes, supported the to pay the price of having less showed Millburn’s administra- them, we should have measure- Education to answer ques- gratifying to see the whole pro- traffic study, saying, “We’re not traffic through the district, espe- tive costs were in line with com- ments that should be made tions for publication. Their ject coming to fruition.” going to know whether the plan cially if merchants are reporting parable districts. public,” Mazzorana said. answers start on Page B2. McNett said the design’s ini- works or not until we try.” a drop in sales. “In order to have a great Carol Marcus, the current school system, you have to have board vice president defended great administrators,” Camitta the superintendent’s salary as Committee meeting Tuesday, weather postpones session By Patricia Harris Street attempted to turn left onto The second ordinance to be in- of The Item Millburn Avenue. troduced at Tuesday’s session Police Sgt. Peter Eakley said will be read by Sandra H. This week’s wintry weather last year 20 motor vehicle acci- Haimoff. The capital ordinance forced township officials to dents had occurred at the inter- appropriates an additional sum cancel the scheduled Township section during 2003 alone. of $250,000 from the township’s Committee meeting. The meet- Earlier this year, members of capital fund for Phase 2 of im- ing has been rescheduled for the Township Committee’s provements to the municipal next Tuesday and will begin at 8 public safety subcommittee, Sal- swimming pool in Gero Park. p.m. at Town Hall. vatore J. Bate and Linda Z. Seel- Those improvements—which in- The Committee is slated to in- bach, met with members of the cluded a new bath house, gazebo troduce two ordinances for first police and fire departments to and additional landscaping— reading that evening.