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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 112th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 19-112 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, January 17, 2002 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Deplorable Conditions, Renovations Force Westfield Tenants Out of Their Apartment By DEBORAH MADISON two women and several other tenants ally, what little heat there was in the and appeared to have only one gas- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader claimed they are no longer permitted apartment was escaping through large heating unit in the living room. There An 83-year-old woman and her to contact their landlord, Arthur Potyk holes in the walls created by the was a thick layer of dust covering all of granddaughter, who have been resi- of Soset Realty in Westfield, since renovations, she explained. the furniture, which had been pushed dents of Westfield for 23 years, claim Mr. Schilling took over managing They are still paying rent, even into the center of the rooms. they have been forced out of their the building a year ago. though they have not been able to Currently, Ms. Hernandez is staying apartment due to faulty renovations, According to Ms. Monterrosa, she live in the apartment since early with relatives in Scotch Plains and Ms. and they fear their superintendent and her grandmother received a let- December, Ms. Monterrosa stated. Monterrosa is living out of hotels and will attempt to have them evicted. ter in November informing them that “The renovations embedded a tre- with friends, while the renovations Beatrice Monterrosa and her renovations would begin shortly, mendous amount of dust and debris “drag on,” she explained. grandmother, Elena Hernandez, who causing some minor dust, but not in all of the furniture, which was not Ms. Monterrosa was told by Mr. live at 122 East Broad Street, told requiring them to leave their apart- covered as promised. We both had Schilling that the delay in completing The Westfield Leader that their su- ment. difficulty breathing and all of the the renovations was the fault of the perintendent, Anthony Schilling of Several tenants in the building’s heat escaped,” she said. Building Department not coming out Relocation Realty, who manages the other apartments told The Leader Westfield Leader reporters visited to inspect the work. However, the building, has not lived up to prom- they received a similar letter. the apartment and verified that all of Building Department told The ises to keep their apartment livable The renovations on Ms. the five rooms had numerous wires Westfield Leader and Ms. Monterrosa during a renovation process. Monterrosa’s apartment began in hanging down out of large holes in the delay was due to the electrical They also asserted that Mr. early December and they were forced the walls and ceilings. Some of the work failing to pass inspection numer- Schilling has been verbally abusive to leave the same week due to the wires were at head level and impos- ous times. to Ms. Monterrosa when she called excessive amount of dust and debris, sible to avoid without ducking. According to Ms. Monterrosa, Mr. to inquire about the situation. The Ms. Monterrosa claimed. Addition- The apartment was also ice-cold Schilling told her, “If you don’t like it, you can get out,” when she called to ask when the renovations would be completed. The Westfield Leader left telephone messages for Mr. Schilling, but the calls were not returned. Wayne Augenstein, Westfield attorney for Mr. Schilling, called back and said all of the tenants were sent notices in No- vember that the renovations might cause “some temporary inconvenience and minor dust.” He said there are a few small holes in the walls that must remain open until the inspections are completed, but that there is no reason why the women can’t occupy the apartment. Amy Horowitz for The Westfield Leader UNLIVABLE CONDITIONS…Wires hang from the tenants’ ceiling, pic- Frank Hirsch, Westfield Construc- tured above. A small, shoddy heater, pictured below, is supposed to suffice for tion Code Official, told The Westfield five small rooms in the apartment. These are some of the conditions which have Leader, “Our department has had a lot made life unlivable for Elena Hernandez and Beatrice Monterrosa. of problems with this building and with the landlord’s representative (Mr. Schilling).” Mr. Hirsch said it was his under- standing that the landlord intended on renovating the entire building, but hasn’t applied for the necessary per- mits or showed up with the plans, despite repeated requests. “He (Mr. Schilling) has a permit to complete electrical work in the one apartment, Mr. Hirsch confirmed. But that work Amy Horowitz for The Westfield Leader was not done properly and has failed HER HOUSE IS NOT A HOME…Beatrice Monterrosa stands in her kitchen, where loose wires have been left to hang, inspection,” he said. the wall remains un-renovated and debris blankets the appliances and furniture. “We’ve been after him (Mr. Schilling) for months to submit the proper permits and complete the work, but he is ignoring our requests,” Mr. Officials Say Probe of Assault Hirsch stated. Other tenants in this building and the one next door told The Westfield Leader they will not permit Mr. Schilling to renovate their apartments. Was Handled Appropriately Rose Peer, a tenant in the next build- ing, also owned by Mr. Potyk and By DEBORAH MADISON students from Scotch Plains- Robert O’Leary, Executive Assistant Specially Written for The Times managed by Mr. Schilling, said Mr. Fanwood High School, all residents Prosecutor for the Prosecutor’s Of- Schilling has harassed and threatened Union County Prosecutor Thomas of Scotch Plains, allegedly coaxed fice. Manahan publicly released his deci- the victim out of the Park Middle CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 sion to pursue charging five Scotch School building on Park Avenue, then Plains High School Youths as adults, forcibly dragged her to a creek em- rather than juveniles, in connection bankment in a wooded area about Borough Council Says Sidewalk Cafés For Five with their alleged involvement in the 100 yards from the school. kidnapping and sexual assault of a Prosecutors said the girl may have 13-year old female Park Middle previously dated one of the boys and School student. Described by Pros- was acquainted with two of them. Restaurants in Downtown Will be Permitted ecutor Manahan as “a senseless and Four of the boys forced her to By LAUREN PASS taurant requested that Mayor Robert The council examined ordinances the downtown area of Mountain Av- horrible act by five individuals who perform oral sex, while one of the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader boys stood as lookout. The F. Viglianti and members of the coun- from other towns, including enue, excluding taverns. The busi- An ordinance allowing downtown cil consider allowing businesses to Westfield, Garwood, Springfield, nesses must apply for an annual per- girl, who lives in Fanwood, restaurants to have sidewalk cafés in was also slapped and operate sidewalk tables. Roselle Park and Chatham in order mit, which will cost $75. Location Of Mountainside was given a second Councilman William Lane com- to develop their own guidelines. The council will grant permits upon Alleged punched, suffering cuts and Assault reading by the Borough Council on bruises, by one of the boys mented that it was a “long investiga- The borough’s ordinance would recommendations from the borough’s Athletic Fields Tuesday evening. tive process that the mayor and coun- permit the presence of sidewalk health and zoning officers. Foot Bridge in the group during the at- The ordinance, proposed last Au- Park tack, according to local au- cil went through to establish an ordi- tables for food establishments in CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Middle gust, arose when the owners of J&M School thorities. nance that we felt would best fit the Market and Daimatsu Japanese Res- town.” School After the attack, the girl AGENDA ITEMS PASSED IN RECORD TIME Parking Lot Post ran back into the school Offic building, but was followed by one of the boys, who Sommers Being Considered Park Avenue To Rte. 22 allegedly sexually victim- Horace R. Corbin and Michael L. Bartiromo for ized her again in a stairwell, As Parking Service Director The Westfield Leader SITE SKETCH…A small map depicts the site the girl told authorities. The names of the five sus- By NANCY CROSTA LANDALE Month, as urged by the New Jersey behind Park Middle School where the alleged Specially Written for The Westfield Leader assault took place. pects, who are sophomores State League of Municipalities and and juniors at the high In its regular meeting on Tues- New Jersey School Boards Associa- school, are being withheld day, the Westfield Town Council tion. took tremendous advantage of a 13- because they are all minors, between unanimously passed all of the items An ordinance increasing member- year-old girl,” he said that the nature the ages of 15 and 17. However, if addressed in its conference session ship fees for the Memorial Pool and of the crime warranted the more Superior Court Judge Rudolph last week. Because there was no establishing new membership cat- serious charges. Hawkins, Jr. decides to uphold the discussion on any item and no pub- egories also was passed. Resident The incident, which was reported Prosecutor’s decision to try the boys lic comment, the meeting lasted families will now pay $242 (non- to local officials on January 2 by the as adults, their names will be re- less than a half hour. resident families will pay $454); resi- girl’s parents, has left many resi- leased.

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