Development, Traffic Safety Top Town's Agenda
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Vol. 20, No. Friday, January 7. 2005 50 cents Development, traffic safety top town's agenda ual homeowners' rights to build new guided in part by studies conducted in Finally, he said, the town will under- THE KECORD-PRESS homes or to add on or renovate existing 2004, he said. take a modernization of its ordinances, homes but to encourage a smarter and McDermott also spoke of plans to which still include regulations about the WESTFIELD — New curbs on develop- more consistent approach to residential improve the town's athletic fields. A proj- use of horses and buggies in the down- ment and improved traffic safety will be improvements in order to keep neighbor- ect to replace the Houlihan and Sid Faye town. Once that project is complete, all of among the Town Council's top priorities in hood character consistent," he said. fields with synthetic turf is in the works. the town's statutes will be posted online. 2005, Mayor Greg McDermott said in his With respect to traffic safety, he spoke The town also plans to resurface the Also at the meeting, McDermott and address at the town's annual reorganiza- of plans to work with county and state offi- Tamaques Park tennis courts and install the council made appointments to various tion meeting Tuesday night. cials to install a light at the clogged inter- new lighting there, and to modernize its boards and committees. Mark Ciarrocca In a brief speech, McDermott spoke of section of Central, East Broad and turf-feeding techniques. will chair the council's Public Safety, the need to create a "controlled develop- Mountain avenues and also at Crossway With the recent rejection by voters of a Transportation and Parking Committee; ment plan for residential neighborhoods." Place and North Avenue; and to create a plan to build a municipal parking deck, Peter Echausse the Finance Committee; Such a plan will include an examination of better signal nt South and Central better management of existing spaces will JoAnn Neylan the Public Works current limits on building height, lot cov- avenues. be another of the town's goals, McDermott Committee; and Jim Foerst the Code erage and floor-area ratios, McDermott In addition, he said, the town will con- said. Parking fees will be continue to be Review and Town Property Committee. said. He said the town will seek a way to tinue to pursue a "line of sight" initiative dedicated to making system improve- Rafael Betancourt will be acting mayor in curb the spread of "McMansions" without to make sure trees, bushes and other ments such as new meters and pay sta- McDermott's absence. Rallying the placing undue limits on property rights. structures do not impair drivers' vision. tions, improved signage and landscaping troops "Our goal will not be to inhibit individ- The pending safety improvements will be and potential re-allocation of spaces. (Continued on page A-2) Raider's boys basketball coach Dan Dougherty gives his team a pep Westfield talk at halftime of the Raiders' eventual 73-48 win over Cranford Tuesday. See Story, Page B-1. Brownies share clerk holiday spirit with Bernie Mobile Meals Members of the first-grade Brownie Heeney, Troop 986 of the Jefferson Elementary School in Westtield recently baked and delivered more than 200 cookies, which 56, dies were given as holiday gifts to Mobile Meals clients. The Brownie Troop was just one of numerous local organiza- By MUD tions that helped Mobile Meals brighten THE KECORD-PRESS the holidays for its elderly and house- bound clients. See the story in WESTFIELD — He was Community Life, Page B-2. unmistakable, ambling up and down East Broad Street, Lawrence Avenue, and points Rabbi wins beyond in his stark white sneak- ers. Municipal clerk Bernard Knterfalth award Heeney, 56, who worked for the Invin Fishbein of Westfield recently town for more than 25 years, died received an award from the suddenly in New York City on Dovetails Institute for his work pro- Boro's focus is on redevelopment, parks New Year's Eve of a heart attack. moting understanding between He was a lifelong resident of interfaith couples. See the story on ly successful — decision was the meetings will get underway in a changes are formally approved in Bayonne. Page B-2. THE RECORD-PRKSS most contentious issue for the few weeks, and a preliminary February, Mahr said downtown Co-workers described Heeney Borough Council in 2004. To be budget will likely be introduced property owners will be free to as a hard-working, passionate, FANWOOD — Before a stand- considered for extraordinary aid, at a Bpecial meeting toward the file development applications and intelligent man who was ing-room-only crowd at Borough the council will have to introduce end of February, Mahr explained. before the Planning Board. dedicated to his family. He had Hall, Mayor Colleen Mahr laid its operating budget in February, "I am hoping that this year we "When the plan was under been contemplating retirement out her agenda for 2005. months before other municipali- can have less political drama as review, any developer or property sometime this year or next, said At the borough's annual reor- ties. And Fanwood's final budget the borough again will seek owner was in limbo," Mahr said former town administrator Jack ganization meeting Sunday, will not be approved until the money from Trenton to keep this week. "Once we've revised Malloy, who hired Heeney in the Mahr pledged to continue summer, after the state concludes increases to our property taxes to and adopted (a new plan), this late 1970s. progress on downtown redevelop- its budget process. a minimum," Mahr said. process as far as I'm concerned is ment and to upgrade two But an undaunted Mahr said In her speech, Mahr also over" and developers can start "It's a great loss," Malloy said. Fanwood parks. She also the budget process will begin pressed the need for downtown building, she said. It will be up to "He was a very memorable man." announced the council's intention shortly, as budget requests by revitalization. Next week, the the council to "cultivate and pro- Heeney read several newspa- to pursue extraordinary state aid department heads should be sub- Borough Council will introduce mote development," Mahr added. pers every day and was an active for a second straight year. mitted by the end of the week. changes to the downtown rede- letter-writer. His letters to the That historic — and ultimate- The council's special budget velopment plan. Once the (Continued on page A-2) editor were published in The New Republic, The Star-Ledger, The New York Times, and numer- ous other publications. In 2003, he received The Star-Ledger's Scotch Plains hopes to build senior center Silver Pen award, given annually ByHUDMSHOP ship will be contending with two to writers of the 10 best letters to the editor. THE RECOHD-PRESS public works issues in 2005 — WHS Band olwos bulky waste pickup during the "Bernie had a grout knowledge SCOTCH PLAINS — After spring, and leaf collection during of local government, politics, and reviewing the outcome of key pol- the fall. how governments work." said for- boost to tree sale icy debates during 2004, Mayor Because of a "financial crisis" mer town administrator Ed Members of the Westtield High Martin Marks outlined the caused by a 60 percent increase in Gottko, who first met Heeney School Marching Band performed last framework of the Township the cost of the township's spring when the two worked for the city month at the Y's Men's Club Council's upcoming policy discus- cleanup program, Marks said of Bayonne in the early 1970s. "I Christmas tree sale, which raised sions during his New Year's changes to the program are know Bernie for 30 years. He was substantial funds for community Address. "almost definite," Township offi- n colleague, a co-worker, and a Organizations. See the picture on At the township's well-attend- cials have proposed modifying the friend." Page A-7. ed reorganization mooting Jan. 2, current program into a township- The two kept in touch after Marks said a proposed communi- administered permit system akin Gottko's retirement in 2000. ty and senior center — possibly at to programs currently in place in Heeney often chatted with his Brookside. Park — will head the Cranford und Westfield. former boss from the municipal council's agenda in 2005. "Wo may auk that our resi- building, where he wa« known to Architecture and engineering dents purchnse n permit, perhaps put in extra time during the .specifications for n potential jointly with n neighbor, in order to weekends. Policing Alliance recreation nnd senior meeting participate in the program with a "He was a tireless worker," facility are being conducted for mnximum allowable, weight of BROOKS CRANDALIVCORRESPONDENT Gottko said. "He was kind of n the Recreation Commission, refu.su at curbside," Marks said. Surrounded by his family members, Mayor Martin Marks takes the stonrly man — as things were to meet Jan. 13 Murks said in his address. The Fanwood Community Policing oath of office from Scotch Plains municipal clerk Barbara RIepe. Mori; immediately, the town- (Continued on ptige A-2) (Continued on page A-2) Alliance will hold its next monthly Marks began a new term Sunday. meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. The meeting will be held on the second floor of the Fanwood New book details history of county's black residents Community House at the train sta- tion All residents are invited; for WIIH the firHt black player to com- sketches, documents, und photos work," Washington laughed.