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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, September 27, 2012 OUR 122nd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 39-2012 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS WF Voters Say ‘No’ to Combined Turf Field, Roof Repair Bond By LAUREN S. BARR special election, and was also high Mattessich said that he expected Specially Written for The Westfield Leader for a board of education election, the BOE’s buildings and grounds WESTFIELD – On Monday which are typically held in April. committee to meet within a week’s night, the Westfield Board of Edu- The issue of the lit turf field at time, and that the district “still cation heard a resounding “no” as WHS was hotly contested by resi- need[s] the roofs.” He also said that the voters turned down the $16.9- dents in the weeks leading up to the the board would likely look at a million bond referendum which vote, prompting many letters to the way to repair everything over time, would have repaired roofs at every editor, Internet forum comments and and would take the condition of school in the district and built a new lawn signs both for and against the each individual roof into consider- lit turf field at Westfield High School project. ation in terms of prioritizing (WHS). The final vote, including Superintendent Margaret Dolan projects. Though he did note, “We absentee ballots, was 3,874 to 1,508. said, “The voters spoke tonight and heard more comments on the turf The bond referendum was defeated we’re listening.” She added that she field than we did on the roofs.” in all of Westfield’s 25 voting dis- would work to “chart a new course In a press release handed out im- tricts. to address the issues that exist within mediately following the vote, Mr. Officials remarked that the 25 the district.” Mattessich thanked the voters of percent voter turnout was high for a Board President Richard Westfield who voted, attended meet- ings and communicated with the board. He also said, “Thank you to those who did acknowledge that our proposals for improving our facili- ties for the children of Westfield were worthwhile.” It was then handwritten at the bottom of the press release, “The results of this referendum will obvi- ously weigh heavily on our thinking.” Seven members of the BOE were at town hall on Monday night as the votes Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader FLIPPING OUT...This little girl does flips on the bungee jumping ride offered at the annual Festifall held in downtown were tallied, and they remained behind Westfield on Sunday. closed doors for approximately 15 min- utes after the results were in with Su- perintendent Dolan and Athletic Direc- tor Sandra Mamary. When asked by RVSA Hears Presentation On The Westfield Leader what the board was doing behind closed doors, Presi- dent Mattessich said that the board, “Sat around talking about nothing,” Planned Basic Costs for Repairs and likened it to them all going out to By WAYNE BAKER The bulk of last Thursday’s meet- problems proactively, the RVSA dinner. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ing was spent by the commissioners could, if Camden’s experience is any Board members did not comment to RAHWAY – The board of com- listening to a presentation by David indicator, save about 30 percent on Betsey Burgdorf for The Westfield Leader the press as they were exiting the con- missioners of the Rahway Valley Sew- Zimmer, executive director of the New its operating budget, Mr. Zimmer said. FALL BOUNTY... A vendor at the Westfield Farmers’ Market creates a colorful ference room, with member Mitch erage Authority (RVSA) last Thurs- Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Funding for these efforts is ex- display using fall’s bountiful harvest last Saturday. The farmers’ market is held Slater saying he was told not to com- day heard a presentation describing Trust (NJEIT). The idea of the pro- pected to come primarily from the in the south side train station parking lot Saturdays through the end of October. ment. how it might be able to reduce oper- gram is that major repairs or replace- savings, which were the result of The earliest the board could put an- ating costs by using benefits of a ments can be performed at far less refinancing many of the RVSA’s other question on the ballot would be refinance of its bonds. Also, the board cost than emergency work. Typically, bonds. The bonds were refinanced at Contract for GW AFC December. heard about a development in the the savings are between two-thirds two rates; some were taxable bonds See vote results on page 17. Passaic River litigation case. and four-fifths of emergency costs. paying 2.33 percent, while others Completed; Tax Appeals Told This means that by approaching these CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 By CHRISTINA M. HINKE the NJ Transit underpass on Center County Installation of Solar Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Street was permanent and not por- GARWOOD – The contract for the table, which could cause the state to borough’s Athletic Field Complex not approve the grant. The area floods Panels Nearly Complete (AFC) has been completed and should in heavy rain storms. By PAUL J. PEYTON BOE building; Morris-Union Joint be approved by the end of the week Ms. Todisco said the council could Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Commission (MUJC): MUJC Trans- and signed next week, Borough At- either wait for the state’s final ap- COUNTY – Towns, school boards, portation Department; New Provi- torney Joseph Triarsi said at the Tues- proval at the end of October or add on Union County College (UCC) and dence Board of Education: New day night’s borough council meet- additional funding to the bond ordi- Union County Vocational-Technical Providence High School and Alan W. ing. nance. The council and mayor made Schools (UCVTS) are expected to Roberts School; Roselle BOE: Mr. Triarsi also said there were 10 no comment. save $251,000 in energy costs in the Charles Grace Wilday School; “significant” commercial properties, Borough Engineer Don Guarriello first year of the county’s renewable Roselle Park BOE: Roselle Park High including Home Depot and The Lofts, said the drainage on Willow Avenue energy program and $4.9 million over School, Roselle Park Middle School, owned by seven property owners who will begin at the end of the week and the next 15 years, Union County Im- Sherman Elementary School and EJF have appealed their property taxes. said it would take about two to three provement Authority (UCIA) Execu- Aldene Elementary School. He said the borough would need to weeks for it to be completed. tive Director Charlotte DeFilippo re- Town participants are: Township of hire an appraiser because the appeals The NJ Transit Village Study is ported to the Board of Chosen Free- Cranford: Cranford Community Cen- are being actively litigated, and each “slowly” moving along, Mayor holders last Thursday. The UCIA ter and Cranford Public Library; City appraisal would cost the borough Patricia Quattrocchi said. The bor- developed the program for the county of Rahway: Department of Public between $1,000 and $3,000. ough is waiting on a final report on and local governement units. Works (DPW); City of Linden: Senior A bond ordinance for capital items the community walkability study, she Through its contractor, Tioga En- Center, Public Library, DPW, munici- was omitted from the council agenda said. ergy, Inc., solar panels have been pal parking garages and Memorial Tuesday because “there was a bump Some residents, borough represen- installed in most of the 31 facilities in Field complex, and Plainfield DPW. in the road,” Council Finance Com- tatives and agents from a variety of 15 participating towns and school County installations include UCC, Wayne Baker for The Westfield Leader mittee Chairwoman Sara Todisco outside organizations recently toured districts, as well as UCC and UCVTS. Cranford campus; and the UCVTS in ADDRESSING CAPITAL NEEDS...David Zimmer, executive director of the said. A $42,000 state grant for the the borough in a walkable workshop, Jonathan Williams, UCIA general Scotch Plains, where solar panels have New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, right, addresses the Rahway police department had stated incor- said Kathy Villagio, the borough’s counsel, said solar panels have been been installed at West Hall, Baxel Hall, Valley Sewerage Authority's Board of Commissioners on Thursday night. Watch- ing the presentation pictured, from left to right, are: Randall Hering of Rahway, rectly that the generator needed for CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 installed at all buildings included in Bistocchi Hall and Mancuso Hall. the program with the exception of “I want to make it very clear that Allen Chin of Westfield and Frank Mazzarella of Clark. Roselle Borough Hall, where panels the program financing included re- are to be installed this week, and in imbursement by Tioga, the people Student Asks for CF Crossing Berkeley Heights schools, which just that are doing the program, and that received final inspection prior to in- absolutely no tax dollars from our stallation of solar at those schools. residents, our municipalities, those Guards to Be Re-Hired Panels are being installed at Gover- governing units, or the County of By FRED T. ROSSI student at Brookside Place School, nor Livingston High School and Union were used. Everything was Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Woodruff Elementary School, both reimbursed by Tioga per the original read a petition she said had been in Berkeley Heights. agreement,” Ms.

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