County Introduces $33.4-Million Bond Ord. for Capital Budget Gov
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 2, 2008 OUR 118th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 40-2008 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Residents Have Strong Reaction to Fed’s Proposed $700-Billion Bailout By RAYNOR DENITZIO AND Fellow Westfielder William Covert and oversight are necessary “on these DEBBIE HOFFMAN agreed, saying Congress is “rushing people.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to judgment.” “I think they ought to “I think too many investment bank- AREA — Like Congress, local resi- take a lot more time to think about the ers who work on Wall Street and live dents have mixed views on the $700- consequences of this. It’s $700 bil- in Westfield… so now that they’re billion emergency bailout bill for the lion, which I heard at one time is going to have to sell their houses and nation’s financial system, legislation $7,000 for every individual, includ- move out, it might affect real estate that was defeated by Congress, 228- ing a newborn baby, who lives in the property values,” said Paul Duncan, 205, on Monday. The Westfield Leader United States. So if they’re spending also of Westfield. interviewed area residents at train their money like that, they ought to Westfield resident Jonathan Lloyd stations, outside food stores and at think about it… I’ve never gotten an said he opposes the bailout. “I think Sunday’s Festifall Street Fair in explanation that I can understand as the system has been pumped up too Westfield. to why this is so necessary,” he said. much. I don’t think you keep pump- Interviewed at the Westfield train “If it’s building, according to (Presi- ing up a system with, I’ll say, fake station on Friday, Michael McKay of dent) Bush, for 10 years, why do we money… That being the case, I would Westfield said he thought the rescue have to solve it in a week or two really like them to really push for all plan was “too rushed.” “Obviously weeks? It’s once again, it’s greed. It’s the restrictions that they can on they don’t know the results of what- greed that has fueled this crisis and CEOs… The CEOs that raped the ever actions they’re taking, where it’s the people who benefited from the country for short term profit should going to end up, and I think they need greed should be identified and pun- have their lives taken back.” just to take a little time to do it the ished, definitely monetarily, and any Interviewed Monday at the right way. Something has to be done, other way, criminally,” Mr. Colvert Fanwood station, Mike Novak of but put a little thought into it,” he said. said, adding that more regulations Scotch Plains responded that, “It’s not a Wall Street bailout. All those old people who have their money invested in the market who lost thousands to- day aren’t working on Wall Street. Now they’re on fixed incomes, their Raynor Denitzio for The Westfield Leader retirement savings [are] worth a lot SPEAKING OUT...Residents have much to say about the Federal government’s proposed $700-billion Wall Street Bailout. See story this page. Pictured, left to right, top to bottom, are: Nate Shaufler (SP), Antone Stevens (Orange), Maria Beardsley less and they had nothing to do with (SP), Steve Aronson (WF), Chris McDonough (Cranford), Meg Amelia (WF), unidentified (MS), Bruce Roach (New Wall Street. That’s Main Street. Con- Brunswick), Alan Weingarten (WF), Joe Shakis (Clark) and Ralph Jones (Hackensack). gress is completely scared to make a tough decision and now we’re going to be left to clean up the mess.” Another Scotch Plains resident, Gov. Corzine Extends Pay-to-Play Kevin Toth, had a similar sentiment. “I just feel that a quick solution is needed or we’re going to be in a lot of trouble very, very, very soon. Banks Ban to Towns and School Boards that you never thought would ever go By PAUL J. PEYTON tees, municipal candidates, and mu- seeking state contracts has now been under like Washington Mutual and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader nicipal committees where the school extended to the municipal political Wachovia being bought out is just TRENTON — Governor Jon district is located, and to ban contri- committees under the new reforms. Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader mind boggling,” he said. Corzine last week unveiled a new butions by audit firms and partners to Mr. Corzine said 60 of the state’s CAUGHT IN THE ACT...Ladies of the Rake and Hoe Club are discovered Westfield resident Meg Amelia, ethics reform package that extends audit clients. 566 municipal governments have pay- beautifying the gardens behind the north side of the Westfield train station in CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 restrictions on political contributions During an afternoon conference call to-play restrictions on political con- cooperation with NJ Transit. See story on page 7. by companies and individuals seek- with weekly newspaper reporters, tributions from municipal contrac- ing contracts from the state down to including The Westfield Leader, Gov- tors. the municipal and school district level. ernor Corzine said through ethics re- “What we are asking for is unifor- County Introduces $33.4-Million Executive orders signed by Mr. form his administration is “trying to mity on that so that the public can Corzine bans pay-to-play at every make sure we are not spending money have greater confidence at all levels level of government, bans contribu- that we do not need to be spending on of government, that money or politi- tions by state redevelopers and their the government contracting effort.” cal contributions are not determining Bond Ord. for Capital Budget consultants, and creates an all-pub- “We need to take steps to make sure where contracts go,” Mr. Corzine said. By PAUL J. PEYTON and Science Center in Mountainside, preliminary and that this was the final lic-member State Ethics Commission. that the public’s interests is probably The governor said he is seeking Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the installation of athletic field light- bill for the event. The governor is also calling on the reflected in how contracting is done Legislature action to end the practice ELIZABETH — The Union County ing at Nomahegan Park in Cranford, Tina Renna of Cranford, president of Legislature to pass his proposed re- at every level of government. And of wheeling. This is the process Board of Chosen Freeholders intro- implementation of a master plan to the Union County Watchdog Associa- forms to ban no-bid contracting, that’s what we are trying to do here,” whereby a county political commit- duced a $33.4-million bond ordinance improve the Watchung Reservation tion, said the increase for MusicFest wheeling, contributions by county and he said. “We have closed the door tee gives campaign contributions to a for the implementation of the county’s bridle trails, erosion control improve- would be equal to the salary of the local redevelopers and their consult- very seriously to the concerns about campaign committee in another annual capital budget. The final read- ments at Lake Surprise in the reserva- Fanwood police officer that was laid off ants, and contributions by developers pay-to-play, wheeling, contracting in county. ing and adoption vote will be held tion, and reconstruction of the Echo as a result of municipal budget cuts. seeking development approvals. that we have made pace setting strides “What we want to do is have money Thursday, October 9, at 7 p.m. Lake service yard. Mrs. Renna of Cranford was criti- Governor Corzine also seeks to that the nation will be taking up with raised in Bergen stay in Bergen and Director of Finance Larry Caroselli The county will spend another cal of the board’s spending in an extend the ban to cover contributions regard to these kinds of issues.” money raised at the local level to stay said at the September 18 board agenda $334,750 on Springfield firearms ongoing lawsuit by former county by school district contractors to The $300 limit on political contri- at the local levels, subject to limits,” meeting that the capital budget was range as requested by the county employee Robert Travisano. Mr. county candidates, county commit- butions for individuals or entities he said. Similarly, he said the pro- reduced $15 million from what was sheriff’s office. Another $1.6 million Travisano, 62, filed a $5 million law- posed legislation would limit the originally sought by department di- will be spent for improvements to the suit against the county last year alleg- amount of campaign cash that could rectors. The bonds will have a life of Union County Vocational-Technical ing discrimination against the county Garwood Board Considers be transferred by county and munici- between five and 15 years. Schools on Raritan Road in Scotch in what he said was his forced retire- pal political committees to their state The capital program includes Plains, including improvements to ment. The board voted to approve political committees. $772,500 for upgrading a fire detection restrooms in West Hall, as well as another $30,000 to defend the county Construction Fence Law However, county committees system at the county jail, and fire alarms lighting, fencing, signage, exterior and $184,500 for five law firms rep- By RAYNOR DENITZIO time the fencing must remain. would still be able to make donations systems and control at other county building and grounds improvements.