School Board Combines Bonding Questions, Fearing
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• HOW TO err THE LEADER Just Fill in the Form On Page 14 And Return It to Us! - Serving the Town Since 1890 — Seem* CUB PcMaf '*> •» WMMd, N J. Thursdiy, October 6, 1994 232-4407 FORTY CENTS SOME BOARD MEMBERS SEE MOVE AS DENYING CHOICE TO VOTERS School Board Combines Bonding Questions, Fearing Defeat of Classrooms' Proposal Board Had Voted for $1.6 Million in Improvements at the September 27 Meeting, But, at That Time, Did Not Have the Improvements Spelled Out, Awaking Committee Input By ELLEN RADIN construction of sevenclassrooms and Mrs. Darielle Walsh. Sptiiully Wriltrnfiir The Wejtfleld Leader lution said it had been their under- one large all-purpose room at standing the combined resolution was Westfield voters will be asked to Board members, Mrs. Susan Franklin School, four classrooms at what the board had been contemplat- approve a combined $7.6 million Jacobson, Dr. B. Carol Molnar, Mrs. McKinley School, six classrooms at ing all along. bond issue to finance both the con- Susan H. Pepper, Mrs. Eileen Satkin, Wilson School and four classrooms William J. Sweeney and Mrs. Darielle They were also concerned that pre- struction of 22 additional classrooms at Jefferson School. at four schools and certain repairs at Walsh voted for formal working of a senting two separate resolutions Up to $1.6 million of the bond resolution which allows voters only might lead to the repairs, but not the five other schools, according to ac- i ssue would finance the second group. tion taken at the Westfield Board of to approve or disapprove of all of the construction of the additional class- As approved by the board on October above construction and repairs as a rooms bcinj.' approved by the voters. Education's special board meeting 4, these repairs now consist of win- held on October 4. whole. Robert H. Flast, Thomas The additional classiooms, they felt, dow replacement and blacktop resur- Madaras and Mrs. Melba S. Nixon were more urgently needed and had The combined proposal, and not facing at the Tamaques School; floor opposed the resolution, favoring in- been the original pui pose of the bond two separate proposals, will be pre- tile replacement at the Washington stead two separate proposals that issue. sented to voters at a special school School; window replacement and would allow voters to approve or They were also concerned that if election to be held on Tuesday, De- lavatory renovation at the Roosevelt disapprove either the new classrooms only one group of pi ejects was ap- cember 13. Intermediate School; window and or the repairs. proved, some schools would not ben- The board had on September 27 roof replacement at the Edison Inter- Those favoring the combined reso- efit at all. Under the combined pro- decided to ask the voters to approve mediate School; and roof replage- posal, each of the nine schools re- financing the two groups of capital menl, window replacement, lavatory ceives some repair or construction. DEER, THEY'RE HERE...TM1 doe takes notice of passersby on Jefferson projects by means of a bond issue, renovation, and replacement of the Westfield Avenue Avenue in the Wychwood section or WesMeld. Deer, although beautiful, have although, at that time, the board, door and steps and other exterior work done • great deal of damage to the vegetation in the Watchung Reservation and when it voted, did not know what the on the portable classrooms at the Is Being Redone have presented the members of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders exact projects would be. Up to $6 Westfield High School. These par- Reconstruclionof Westfield Avenue with a large problem. This picture was given to The Westfield Uader by former million of the bond issue would fi- ticular repairs were recommended by from South Avenue to Park Street is Second Ward Councilwonun, Mrs. Betty List. nance the first group, consisting of the Facilities Committee, chaired by scheduled to begin on Monday, Octo- ber 17. The project will consist of Town Selected roadway reconstruction, new storm sewers, curb replacement, new drive- As Best-Run way aprons and limited sidewalk re- Dispute Arises Over Trees on Boynton Avenue; placement. In New Jersey The majority of the construction cost is being financed by a $150,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of In Report: 10-Acre Parcel Near Cranford Eyed to Be Sold Transportation. The project isexpected to lake six to eight weeks to complete. See Page 3 During construction, the street will Westfield Wants to Sell Parcel to a Developer and Give Jurisdiction to Cranford be open to local traffic only, and detour for its recycling contract, were all indi- signs will be posted to divert other By PAUL J. PEYTON the condition that boundaries arechanged the end of its contract with Advanced traffic around the project. Specially Written far The Weit/ield Under vidual contracts. He ruled in favor of Recycling, Westfield officials would want to indicate the parcel becomes part of The entire roadway will be closed Cranford. Westfield has been in contact Scotch Plains in releasing the township assurances they would be protected un- Opponents to presenting a com- The Westfield Town Council has for three to fcw days during.lhe mill- agreed to hold in escrow money owed to with .Cranford to try and obtain sewer of iis contract wilh Advanced Recycling. der the law until a new recycling firm is bined proposal said they thought the rights from the township. Scotch Plains sought to get out of the found to take over the contract. ing and paving operation, which is board had always been contemplat- the builder of a development in the 100 tentatively scheduled for the week of block of Boynton Avenue until a dispute The matter was tabled until the Tues- contract after its governing body learned "We have to deal with this very care- ing two separate proposals. They also day, October 18 agenda session or until that the officials of the company's parent fully. We would hope there would be November 14. Residents and business felt that it was more appropriate to over the number of trees planted and the along Weslfield Avenue will be given amount included in the subdivision the title to the property is completed. firm had pleaded guilty to fraud. some new people getting into this busi- give voters a choice of the precise The Judge has asked the towns, which ample prior notice of any operations granted on January 30, 1992 is settled. Mr. Brandt said he had received a letter ness," he said. construction or repairs they wished include Westfield, if they would be in which limit driveway access. Officials said $8,000 remains in the from attorneys for the Union County Utili- Mr. Brandt said the contract states that to fund. There was also concern that favor of having the ruling reconsidered Questions concerning this project escrow account for the project. The five ties Authority indicating that Superior Advanced Recycling would continue to thus allowing for a ruling on whether may be directed to the Town Engineer, funds originally intended for a spe- owners of the properties are seeking to Court Judge James J. Walsh was not service the town until anew firm is found. their contracts with the firm through the Kenneth B. Marsh, at 787-4100 or cific improvement might be diverted have five more trees planted to bring the aware that the nine towns contracted with The council supported Mr. Brandt's utilities authority arc now broken. Police Traffic Safety Bureau at 789- to another, if the referendum did not total to 12 as agreed to in the subdivision Advanced Recycling Technologies Sys- recommendation not to give Advanced Mr. Brandt said he indicated to Judge 4020. delineate which funds were intended at a total cost of SI ,700. The neighbors tems, the utilities authority subcontractor have said as an option they would prefer Walsh that, win Ic the town would support for which improvement. to have six trees planted at $100 a piece The board also unanimously ap- and 20 arbor vitae which cost $20 each proved the appointment of the law for a total cost to the builder of $1,000. firm of McCarter & English as bond In addition, the property owners have Town Moves to Sell Union Street Parcels; counsel, saying that the firm's prices sought the removal of debris in a wooded were very reasonable for this highly area at the beginning of the development. technical field of law. Mrs. Jacqueline Third Ward Councilman Kenneth L. P. Shanes, theparticularattorney who MacRitchie said he met with residents on Ways Sought to Address Drainage Problems will work with the board, was very October 1 to discuss the problem. He recommendedthetownreleaseallmoney highly recommended, according to from the escrow account except the Another Public Sale Envisioned Soon for Lexington Heights Properties Dr. Mark C. Smith, Superintendent amount owed for the unplanted trees. of Schools. Mrs. Nixon stated her Mayor Garland C. "Bud" Boothe, Jr. By JEANNE WHITNEY town the option of requiring potential construction of homes on the pro- At this time, the road runoff water approval of the bond counsel should SjitdtlHy Written for The Westfielil Lender originally suggested paying half of the developers to share "pro-rate" or pro- posed two lots. at the intersection of Union and not be construed as approval of all the escrow or $4,000. He later concurred The Westfield Planning Board portionally in the costs of a drainage Town Attorney Charles H. Brandt Sherman Streets flows directly into a mechanics of the election, such as with Councilman MacRitchie that only moved unanimously last night to clas- system.