Sullivan, Weinstein Bid Fond Farewell to Colleagues
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
I USPS 680020 OUR 112th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 16-112 Thursday, December 27, 2001 Published Kverv I hiirsdat Periodical - Portage Paid .1 Westfield. N J. Since 1890 (008) 2.12-4407 FIFTY CENTS Sullivan, Weinstein Bid Fond Farewell to Colleagues By NANCY CROSTA I.ANDA1.E plaque will be erected at a later sentiments, characterizing Mrs. P 1 Specially Written fur The Westfield Leader date. Weinstein as a “true leader." Westfield Town Council members In expressing appreciation on be First Ward Councilman Peter Neil Sullivan and Janis Weinstein half of all present. Mayor Gregory Echausse complimented Mrs. presided at their final regular gov McDermott remarked that Mrs. Weinstein for being “a fighter for erning body meetings last Tuesday Weinstein "brought tremendous what she believes in”, and Coun night, both concluding years of ser emotion to her job, to the benefit of cilman Salisbury expressed his vice after many and varied accom the entire town.” gratification that even during dis plishments for the collective benefit Second Ward Councilman Mat agreements, Mrs. Weinstein main of Westfield and its citizens. thew Albano noted Mrs. Weinstein's tained the utmost honesty and in Mrs. Weinstein, having lost her reputation as a "strong-willed, emo tegrity. hid for reelection this fall to Demo- tional person who was a tremendous Mr. Sullivan's seven-year tenure crat Susan Jacobson, most recently advocate not only to the fourth ward, on the council representing the third ■Tved the fourth ward since 1998. but to the entire town." ward also ended on Tuesday, after having lost his bid for reelection this fall to Democrat Kevin Walsh. * „ „ Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Lender LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!...Westfield Mayor Gregory S. McDermott cut the ceremonial red ribbon to officially Mr. Sullivan served mark the opening of the broadcasting studio lor Westfield Communitv Television (WCT) also known as TV-36 at the as Acting Mayor this Municipal Building on April 24. Also pictured, left to right, are: TV-36 Advisory Hoard Chairman Phil Falcone, and past year and held a former Westfield mayors Thomas C. Jardlm and Garland “Bud" Boothe. myriad of positions on several council com mittees, including transportation, park ing and traffic, which he chaired in 2001; public safety, and fi nance. Recounting Mr. Sullivan’s many ac complishments, Mayor McDermott noted Mr. Sullivan’s work to modernize equipment at the fire and police depart ments; his work on the special improve rto iii h i® ttiutivtjb ut inn westneiu Laauer ment district and to fOND FAREWELL...During their earlier years of service to the Town of Westfield, Council- renew the cable tele ivoniun Janis Fried Weinstein and Neil Sullivan participated in a spirited debate in Council vision franchise con "ham bers. tract; his initiatives to promptly notify citi !be also served on the council in Fourth Ward Councilman zens of tax overpayments and re 996. Lawrence Goldman noted that the quire immediate reimbursement; A resolution passed by her council cooperation between he and Mrs. his role as liaison to the Senior :olleagues noted that Mrs. Weinstein Weinstein, despite their differing Citizens’ Housing Corporation, and vas instrumental in initiating im- political parties, “set an example his efforts regarding placement of telecommunications towers, shade ovements to the pond at Tamaques for the other council members now Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader k as well as the expansion project and in the future.” tree rezoning, and traffic calming. REELIN' THEM IN...Crowds gathered at Mindowaskln Park in Westfield for the annual Fishing Derby, sponsored by t is about to begin at the Memorial Second Ward Councilman The Mayor remarked that Mr. the Westfield Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Local No. 90. The festivities were held for youngsters ages 14 and il complex. She served on several Raphael Betancourt echoed these CONTINUED ON PAGE I under. mmittees, including the personnel md public works. WESXE1ELD 2001:A MONTH-TO-MONTH SYNOPSIS THROUGH THE PAGES OF THE LEADER After the terrorist attacks of Sep- ember 11, Mrs. Weinstein suggested hat a memorial be erected on town iroperty to honor Westfielders who New Year Rings In New Mayor, Town Attorney; Sealfons Closes; Dst their lives in the tragedy. The and is in a small park to the left of ji area known as The Plaza, near Police Begin Initiative to Combat Speeding; Alan Augustine Dies he First Union Bank where com puters exit from the trains at North By PAUL J. PEYTON JANUARY as the new second ward councilman, named town public defender, replac ation Commission, saying his pri tvenue and East Broad Street. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Westfield ushered in the new year replacing veteran James Gruba who ing Michael Diamond. mary goal was to improve the quality The area has been electrified in Editor's Note: The following is a with the changing of mayors and chose not to seek another term. Incumbents Carl Salisbury, first and condition of the town’s piaying Irder to light an American flag that recap of news that was reported in town attorneys. Gregory McDermott Robert Cockren, the former Re ward; Claire Lazarowitz, third ward, fields. las been hung from an existing pole, the first half of 2001 by The Westfield assumed the mayor’s chair, stressing publican chairman in town and a and Lawrence Goldman, began their Later in the month, the recreation drs. Weinstein donated the Ameri- Leader. The second half of the year a bi-partnership working relation long-time board of adjustment attor new terms. Peter Echausse was sworn commission approved a plan for a an flag flown from the pole. A will be published next week. ship that “encourages debates but ney, was named town attorney, re in to replace Mr. McDermott as the four-man dedicated field mainte respects differences.” placing William Jeremiah who had other first ward councilman. nance crew from the Department of Former town prosecutor Rafael served the previous two years. In Keith Hertell began his new role as Public Works. Betancourt joined the governing body addition, Christine Nugent was chairman of the Westfield Recre- Superintendent of Westfield pub lic schools, Dr. William Foley, an nounced that enrollment projections for the 2004-2005 school year put DiFrancesco’s Year As Governor student population around 5,800. After 20 years in town, Sealfons Young World on East Broad Street Ends Distinguished Political Career announced it was going out of busi ness. The town thought they had their By FRED ROSSI guy in Tony Longo from Las Vegas Specially Written for The Westfield Leader 1991 elections, he was The New Year will ring in a num as the new executive director for the chosen to serve as Downtown Westfield Corporation, ber of changes, both locally and in Senate President — the state government, but January 1 the managing entity for the special the first of his unprec improvement district. He would later will also mark the end of the long edented five consecu political career of Donald T. pull out of consideration following a tive terms in that post. death in his family. DiFrancesco of Scotch Plains, who While in the State has represented the area in the State Sherry Cronin, a member of the Legislature. Mr. DWC's Board of Directors, was later Legislature for more than a quarter DiFrancesco had a of a century. named to fill the vacancy. Previous hand in enacting sev Executive Director Michael LaPlace Since late January, Mr. eral pieces of legisla DiFrancesco, 57, has served as Act resigned in the fall of 2000 to take tion that foreshad another position. ing Governor of New Jersey, a post owed similar efforts The town’s annual tribute to Dr. he assumed after the resignation of elsewhere in other Governor Christine Whitman. The Martin Luther King, Jr. was held at states and at the fed St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church State Constitution mandates that, in eral level as well. He in town. the event of a vacancy in the backed the Cata Vincent Wilt was named chairman governor’s office, the State Senate strophic Illness in of the board of adjustment. President, a post Mr. DiFrancesco Children Relief Fund, Westfield and Mountainside’s state has held since 1992, becomes Acting the KidCare subsi- Paul J. Peyton for The Westfield Leader senator for the past decade, Donald Governor until the next scheduled “‘ecu I’A'llfltUk-UlUi {fVcii**1 1 1 .) U 4 MR. ACTING GOVERNOR...Senate President DonaW gyJjgjjjjjjQjjjlJ T» D iF ranm fft o f Plains: jg Jjy his |yjfe, I. un-rancesco, prepared to assume saw jtwjgftHit and the the office or Acting Governor fol Mr. DiFrancesco, a lawyer whose Diane; three daughters, Marci, Marie and Traci New Jersey Family lowing the resignation of Christine family has been active in Scotch DiFrancesco, and son-in-law, Rob Ferris, during a Leave Act of 1989. Whitman, who joined the Bush Ad Plains political, business and civic December 22,2000 press conference in anticipation of He was also a major ministration as Environmental Pro affairs for several decades, served in his becoming Acting Governor. supporter of legisla tection Agency Commissioner. the State Assembly from 1976 until tion restoring the property tax de Although his tenure as Acting FEBRUARY 1979, when he was elected to the duction on the state income tax. Mr. Governor was a brief one, it was The town council began to hear the State Senate. He served as Senate DiFrancesco also sponsored legisla certainly not a dull 11-month-long makings of what would become a Minority Leader from 1982 to 1984, AIL TO THE CHIEF...Westfield Police Chief Bernard Tracy, right, accepted tion that dedicated funding to pre stewardship.