OF MILLBURN AND SHORT HILLS Founded in 1888 40 Cents Volume 108, Number 40 Thursday, October 6,1994 D em ocrat charges G O P subverts school voting By Carter J. Bennett Ms. Fuller continued that there was no organized effort on the part Charges levied Tuesday that the of her committee in support of or township Republican organization opposition to the bond issue ana and the local Republican Club that two GOP committee mem­ were conducting a “subversive bers—Sandra Haimoff and Huda campaign” to defeat the Board of Shanawani—are charter members Education’s $36.8 million school of a citizens’ group supporting the bond referendum were described as bond issue (Ms. Seidman is also a “preposterous” and “bizarre” by charter member of the citizens’ hank-ranking town GOP officials. group, Champions of the Bond The charges were made in a Issue). “1 wouldn’t remotely con­ statement to The Item by Cathie sider having the Republican Com­ Seidman, chairman of the local mittee take a position on the Democratic party. referendum,” Ms, Fuller con­ Also denied was an assertion tinued. made by Ms. Seidman that a civic association president had reported Several members of the to his organization that telephone Township Committee used, the calls were being made by local word “bizarre” in their reactions Republicans—and possibly by a to Ms. Seidman’s charges. Each of Township Committee member- the Committee members said they recommending that the October 18 had their personal views on the referendum be defeated. Board of Education proposal and Ms. Seidman, in a telephone have, as individuals, discussed the interview with The Item, said she bond issue with neighbors, but felt had “heard” that at a recent South Cathie Seidman Cynthia Fuller they should not, in light of the Mountain Estates Civic Associa­ 'A subversive campaign' 'Preposterous' office they held, take a public tion meeting, Sal Bate, president oppose its passage—the club has ing to make the school expansion position. of that organization, reported to taken no position on the financing plan a partisan issue was his membership that the telephone Staff Photo by Jim Connolly referendum.” denied by Cynthia Q. Fuller, Mayor William J. Caveney, in BACKHAND RETURN-Carly Drum of Millburn hits calls were being made. Ms. Seidman also said that mem­ chairman of the township Repub­ his response to Ms. Seidman’s, Ms. Seidman continued that statement, also noted that he and a backhand during her third singles victory over bers of the Township Committee lican organization, and by all Township Committeeman Joel members of the Township Com­ his family had moved to this com­ Columbia's Tara Hass Friday. Tennis story, more were “found listening to a discus­ Weingarten was at that meeting sion o f the bond issue. .behind mittee. munity only after investigating the photos on Page 1 4 . _________ and when Mr. Bate made the state­ closed doors at a local Republican “Preposterous" was the initial public education systems in other ment, Mr. Weingarten left the meeting. It is unfortunate that the reaction .of Ms. Fuller to Ms. high-ranking New Jersey school room. local Republicans have tried to Seidman’s charge, “It (the bond districts. “I don’t know where she’s get­ turn this vote into a partisan issue) is a non-partisan issue. Why ting her inform ation,” Mr. Bate Becker and Hull issue.” is the chairman of the Democratic Committeewoman Mary McNett told. The Item, “but it’s not. The charge that the town’s Committee trying to make it said there was a “long tradition” accurate. I didn’t make the state­ Republican leadership is attempt- partisan? here of not having the Township ment, Ben Wasserman (a member Committee become involved in holding 2 debates of the Board of Education who was Board of Education affairs and she at the meeting) did. Joel supported that tradition. Debates between this year’s two as a member of the governing body’s oversight sub-committees Weingarten had been at the early School board holds candidates for election to the part of the meeting, but had left by Township Committee, Republican for social service and public works. In addition she is a member the time the statement was made. Columbus incumbent Elaine -Becker and " j r ftot thw mat— ■» Democratic chal lengef ElTiifbeth o f th e m u n ic ip a ttty ,‘8 Tomat Wasserman) was offensive and bond discussions Hull, will be held tonight and next assistance board and its downtown Day closings parking task force.' indefensible,” Mr. Bate said. Thursday night. Mr. Weingarten, when ques­ Town Hall, post offices and Tonight’s debate, sponsored by Prior to her election to the tioned about the incident, said Ms. most financial institutions will be the Wyoming and Merrywood Township Committee, Ms. Becker i Seidman’s account of what took twice next week closed Monday, Columbus Day. Civic Associations, will get had been a member of the Planning place at the meeting was “not even The public library will be open underway at 8 p.m. in the Wyo­ Board, chairman of the environ­ Public discussion pertaining to editorially suggested by The Item close to the truth.” for its regular hours on Monday ming Presbyterian Church. mental commission and president the Board of Education’s proposed last week, but that various The Township Committee mem­ and the regular schedule for collec­ Next Thursday’s debate, of the Brookhaven and Short Hills $36.8 million school expansion materials had already been printed ber said he was at the meeting for tions of garbage and recyclable sponsored by the Short Hills Asso­ Associations and of the Millburn bond issue will take place at both advertising the Wednesday bond “only about five minutes” to give materials will be in effect. ciation, will take place in the Cora Conference of Parents and Monday night’s school board issue meeting. (The Wednesday some information to Mr. Bate Hartshorn Arboretum’s Stone Teachers. meeting and at a special Wednes­ night session occurs too late for “and then I left.” UllllllilllllillllllllM House beginning at 8:15 p.m. A township resident for more day night session of the board. local newspapers to cover in their than 20 years, Ms. Becker’s home Ms. Seidman, in her statement, editions of next week; the Both debates are open to the Although the bond issue, which is at 257 Brookhaven Way. also charged the school bond issue referendum will already have been public. will be before the public October Inside story Ms. Hull, who resides at 871Hwas H Halso H Hdiscussed I at a recent held before the next editions of the Ms. Becker is now completing 18 in the form o f a referendum, is Ridgewood Road, is a professor of meeting of the Millburn-Short newspapers.) Millburn Health Depart­ her first, 3-year term as a member not listed on the board’s agenda political science at the Newark Hills Republican Club, Although the board’s normal m ent is o ffe rin g fre e flu of the township’s governing body for Monday night, school board campus of Rutgers University and “The information I was given policy is too limit public discus­ and serves as the Committee’s vice president Vivian Steinberg said the shots to township resi­ has been a faculty member, spe- suggested that this discussion was sion to 30 minutes, Ms. Steinberg chairman. Ms. Becker is also the board will entertain all comments dents. Story, Page 3. cializing in public law and Amer­ planned and quite well organized,” said that policy would be Committee’s liaison with the members of the public wish to ican government, at Rutgers since Ms. Seidman said. “At least three suspended for Monday night’s Senior Citizen’s Advisory Board make at that time. 1980. She has been a resident here individuals presented information meeting in order to provide time Middle school students and the Downtown Millburn Ms. Steinberg said M onday’s about the bond issue, all of whom for all those who wish to speak on provide an assist for New Development Alliance and serves agenda for the 7:45 p.m. meeting opposed it. No one from the the proposed bond issue. Jersey's hungry. See was “extremely short” and she did school board or the administration not believe the board’s regular The school board president also Page 9. was asked to speak at this meet­ New rules pending business would -take more than noted that board members have ing.” attended more than 15 meetings of Arts and movies ........... 18 A different interpretation of one-half hour. Public comments on the bond issue proposal will follow local organization’s during the past what took place at the Republican Classified .................... 1 9 -2 1 the completion of the board’s regu­ several weeks to discuss the school Club session was reported by Coming events ......... .........4 at park intersection lar business. expansion program, that the bond Joseph Spector, organization presi­ Editorial..................... 4 Wednesday night’s 8 p.m. board issue has been the subject of dis­ One of the township’s most con- half dent. cussion at most school board meet­ O bituaries..............................6 There will be no change in the meeting will be devoted solely to fusing, intersections is, hopefully, “The bond issue referendum was ings since May and there was no Religious new s ......................6 location of the stop sign at the not on our agenda for the meet­ the bond issue. about to become a bit less confus­ Ms. Steinberg said she had con­ intention on the part of the board Senior events ...................