(908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 17, 2002 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 113th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 06-113 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] FIFTY CENTS Safety on Central Ave. WF Candidate Lazarowitz Broke Ordinance Worries Area Residents Forum Slated This Evening By LAUREN S. PASS weeks. Though other residents in Reports Mayor McDermott Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the room seemed very aware of the By HORACE R. CORBIN Proponents and opponents of a proposed light and had signed pre- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader By LAUREN S. PASS cussed at the council level, such as Committee. proposed traffic light at Central Av- vious petitions in favor of it. The Westfield Candidates Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the light at the corner of Springfield Mayor McDermott said that the enue and Clover Street were present Residents are concerned not only Forum will be held this Multiple issues arose during Tues- Avenue and East Broad Street. traffic light was a major concern for at a Public Safety Committee meet- about the aesthetic aspects of a evening, October 18, at 8 p.m., day night’s meeting of the Westfield Second Ward Republican Coun- the residents and that there will be a ing last Thursday night. traffic light, but also with the pos- at the Westfield Municipal Town Council after residents from cilman Matthew Albano said that the committee meeting to find out what Residents of Boulevard, Central Building on East Broad Street. the Central Avenue grid voiced their sibility that the installation of a issue was that a “committee meeting stage the process is in and to discuss Avenue, and multiple side streets, The public is invited to at- concerns and opinions about the pro- light will cause was called with out the majority of what the town is doing. including Clover tend. posed traffic light at the corner of the members.” He also noted that the Another point of discussion arose Street, were traffic to divert The event will be videotaped Clover Street and Central Avenue. “This is my meeting…if onto other light at the corner of Springfield surrounding a letter from then Town present to discuss by Westfield TV-36 and will be Frances Terrace resident Christine Avenue and East Broad Street was Administrator Thomas Shannon, to you’re not happy with it, then streets. the traffic light. aired several times on television Povalac presented the council with a discussed among council members County Engineer G. Bruce Conner, Third Ward please leave your note, and then “By helping prior to the election on Tuesday, petition against the light with over during the budget process earlier in which started the process on this Democratic Coun- leave the room.” some you’re November 5. 230 signatures from residents, while the year. traffic light. The letter, dated Febru- cilman and Public hurting others,” The election in Westfield in- Grandview Avenue resident Nicole Councilman Betancourt said that ary 20, 2001, was also sent with Third Ward one of the resi- Safety Committee Democratic Councilwoman cludes the race for Mayor and McEnerny, presented a petition for the town had, “put the cart before the traffic studies by the Westfield Po- Chairwoman Claire Lazarowitz dents said. one council seat for each of the the light with over 120 signatures. horse,” on this issue. lice Department. Claire Lazarowitz Residents also four wards. Incumbent Mayor Second Ward Republican Coun- Councilman Albano stated that The letter, which states, “The town had called the meet- wanted to know Greg McDermott seeks reelec- cilman Rafael Betancourt explained Councilwoman Lazarowitz could has been petitioned by parents in the ing after she heard “concerns and wor- why other options had not been tion, and Democrat Tom Fuccillo that the council does not make policy have held the meeting as the Third neighborhood,” was then copied to ries” from residents. looked into, and why a traffic light opposes him. during the public meetings. He said Ward representative, rather than the the Mayor and Town Council, Chief Also in attendance at the meeting was the only option on the table. Republican Sal Caruana and that there is a process that the council chairwoman of the Public Safety CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 were Westfield Police Chief Bernard Members of the BRAKES Group Democrat Mark Kuehn, seek the follows in which issues are discussed Tracy and Assistant County Engi- that were present are proponents of First Ward council seat, while at the committee level, and then at neer Tim Metland. the light for the purpose of crossing Democrat David Owens in the the council’s conference session. Second Ward opposes incum- Councilman Betancourt did not bent Republican Rafael want residents to “assume we made MS Council Distributes Betancourt. a decision,” because this issue “hasn’t In the Third Ward, Repub- been discussed.” lican Andy Skibitsky chal- Mayor Gregory McDermott told lenges incumbent Democrat Third Ward Democratic Council- Mabel Young Awards Claire Lazarowitz. Incumbent woman and Public Safety Commit- By MARY RONK the St. Joseph Social Service Center. Democrat Larry Goldman is tee Chairwoman Claire Lazarowitz Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Ms. Spinelli moved to opposed by Republican Chris that the council would have been Mayor Robert Viglianti and the Mountainside with her husband 20 Panagos. better prepared for the evening’s dis- Mountainside Borough Council be- years ago to enjoy their retirement. The Westfield Leader and the cussion of the traffic light if her gan the open meeting this past Tues- Unfortunately, family tragedy re- League of Women Voters, co- committee had submitted a report to day with the presentation of the Mabel sulted in the death of her daughter- sponsors of the event, have as- the council. Young Good Neighbor Award. in-law. Ms. Spinelli took up the chal- sembled questions for the candi- He also pointed out that she held Mabel Young was a Mountainside lenge of helping to raise her grand- dates with input from the parties Thursday’s meeting of the Public resident of indomitable spirit, im- daughter and could be seen driving and the public. Safety Committee with no other com- bued with the belief that we are all, her to school, dance lessons, etc. She The topics will include public mittee members present. First Ward truly, our brothers’ keeper. Each year, also became a Brownie Troop Leader safety, parking, parking deck, Councilmen Carl Salisbury, Demo- Mountainside recognizes and salutes and a parent volunteer in the school property taxes, traffic, trees, crat, and Peter Echausse, Republi- individuals in the community who library. Ms. Spinelli has always been emergency preparedness, town can, are also members of that com- like Mabel, have made outstanding available to assist a neighbor, whether communications, development, mittee. contributions for the betterment and to run an errand for a friend or to help Ben Corbin for The Westfield Leader public works and partisan poli- Councilwoman Lazarowitz stated welfare of others. those who have lost a family mem- CROSSING CENTRAL...A crossing guard at the corner of Clover Street and tics. that she held the committee meeting Bill Biunno, Committee Chairman ber. Central Avenue crosses a Jefferson Elementary School student one morning this No questions will be received “to deflate a political problem and for Mabel Young, awarded Angela Both Ms. Richard and Ms. Spinelli week. Approximately eight students cross at this spot on a daily basis. from the audience. political issue.” She added that she Richard and Julie Spinelli. had their names inscribed on the By prior agreement, the for- was threatened by one of the resi- Ms. Richard, a 10-year resident Mabel Young Plaque, which has been Former Councilman Ken Central Avenue, but were more vo- mat will be 15 minutes total for dents in the audience. and mother of three, is active in the permanently hung in Borough Hall McRitchie had presented an 8-page cal on the need for sidewalks. Stat- each of the four wards; starting Fourth Ward Democratic Council- Mountainside school system. She has since 1998. memorandum to the Public Safety ing that the, “light does no good with the First Ward, Second man Lawrence Goldman said that he been a member of the Deerfield After the awards ceremony, addi- Committee in 1990, recommending without sidewalks.” Ward, Third Ward and Fourth did not think the process had “gone School Parent-Teacher Association tional topics of discussion were the a traffic light at the intersection. Vic Trzesniowski, who resides CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 awry,” being that other lights be- for nine years. Ms. Richard has vol- proclamation of Band Appreciation The corner has been on the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 longing to the county were not dis- unteered for various community ac- Week, which is slated for November BRAKES (Bikers, Riders and Kids tivities. She is an active parishioner 19 through 24. This is in recognition are Entitled to Safety) Group list of at Lady of Lourdes Church, a dedi- of the Governor Livingston High- problem areas since May of 1998. In Fucillo, McDermott Enjoy Talking cated Girl Scout leader and has given lander Band. February of 1998, the crossing guard her time to the Mountainside Recre- Resolutions were also covered. The at the corner was given the first cell ation swim team. Additionally, Ms. first was number 104-2002, a Liquor phone for emergency use in the pro- Richard has made sandwiches for CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 gram started by then-First Ward Councilwoman Gail Vernick. With Residents During Campaign In 2000, Councilwoman Lazarowitz By LAUREN S. PASS with the Westfield Board of Educa- time to learn the processes of the proposed a light at Central and Clover Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tion on shared services.