TWO WORKERS FIRE EAVING POOL FACILITY Lifeguards, Town Settle Dispute After Job Action B> ADAM BERNSTEIN lifeguards on duty also left the Sfm uaih Written for The Westfield leader “They turned their backs on premises, and were subsequently This past Thursday, as tempera­ fired. tures all over the state soared past the our community." "They turned their backs on our century mark, lifeguards staged a job community." said Acting Town Ad­ Acting Town Administrator ministrator Jim Gildca, a former action that shut down the Westfield Jim Gildca Memorial Pool. Westfield lifeguard. The conflict, at the heart of which The remaining 13 guards stayed were concerns about salary, working members the right to swim on one of on pool grounds to discuss their con­ conditions and job security, was pre­ the hottest days of the past 25 yeurs. cerns w ith the management. At 3:30 cipitated by an influx of children "I believe that every time they (the p.m., there was a closed-door meet­ from the Recreation Department's lifeguards) have a worry or concern, ing during which many of their is­ summer playground program. The it is legitimate,' he said, but that "it sues were addressed. Approximately action lasted for three hours in the is absolutely wrong to deny pool one hour following that meeting, the sweltering afternoon sun, and at 6 access." lifeguards returned to work. p.m., with the situation adequately On Thursday, children from the The laundry list of guard concerns resolved, the pool reopened to serve Recreation Department's summer ranged from the amount of drinking its 9,200 members. Over I (X) persons playground arrived at the pool with water available, to salary, to a broken were at the pool when it closed at .1 their counselors in order to cool down. air conditioner in their cool down t'A I. RII'KIN THIRD PLACE FINISHFKS...The Westfield 10-year-old Blue baseball I p.m. This additional strain, coupled with room. Some complained about the placed third ill the Cal Rlpkin Babe Ruth World Series held In Vincennes, Ind. on August J Keith S. Hertell, President of the the heat and what the guards per­ nature of their lunch breaks and, 10. Pictured, left to right, are: front row ; team princesses and bathoy - supplied by Vincennes with many of the guards leaving early Baseball Association; second row, Michael Eorgash, David Pusar, Danny Sullivan, Michael Westfield Recreation Commission, ceived as disrespectful behavior by Kent, Mlehucl Cnrpetto and Dylan Clark; third row, Matthew Reiss, Brendan Burgdorf, to return to college, others have felt viewed the temporary work stop­ the counselors — lounging about and Matthew Muiii/./.t, Spencer Cassidy, Michael l,essner and Todd Saunders; hack row, Coach page as a "misunderstanding." He leaving all the supervision to the overworked. ( harlic Burgdorf, Munuger Geffrey Kent and Coach Bob Saunders. said the guards never approached the lifeguards — began the work stop­ Another issue that irked the life­ guards wus a decision by the Recre­ pool manager with their concerns page- „ prior to Thursday, and that their ac­ When the pool shut down, all of ation Department to foot the bill for tions were irresponsible — denying the members left. Two of the 15 a CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resusci­ tation) program the playground Freeholders Board Approves counselors took part in, while leav­ ing them to pay for their own train­ ing. And, as next year the Memo- CONTINUEO ON U S C 10 $50 Mil. Barge to Rail Facility By> project, a barge-to-rail garbage trans­ suid Freeholder and Westfield resi­ Specially Writ ten for The Westfield leader fer station to be located on Linden's dent Mary P. Ruotolo, referring to a In an 8-0 vote, the Union County waterfront. At the height of the meet­ state investigation into the Linden Board of Chosen Freeholders gave ing, which lasted about five and a property. the go-ahead to a proposed $50 mil­ half hours, crowds outside the al- The landlord group for the facility lion trash transfer station early Tues­ includes Linden Mayor John T. day morning, the next step in a plan — 1 uregorio s son-in-iaw, uominicK that has been fraught with debate, Pucillo, a law partner of State Scna- protest and controversy. The board’s “1 call on this board not to I lor Raymond J. Lesniak (D-20lh, decision amended (he county's Solid vote on the party line for special Union), and Agnes Villani, whose Waste Management Plan to permit interest or for profit.” such a facility to operate in the J. Ricky Badillo. Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader county. EVERYONE OUT OF THE Roselle Park resident, “We support this application It was in the earliest hours of the GOP Freeholder Candidate POOL...Westfield Memorial Pool us­ morning that the board, presiding because it’s good for Linden, it’s ers stand around the facility after it was temporary closed last Thursday before a tired and thinning crowd, goodfor central New Jersey and following a Job action by lifeguards. gave unanimous support to the ready packed meeting room were in fact it’s good for the region.” reportedly as large as l(K) people. If the project is put inlo action. John T. Gregorio, Westfielders to Pay $5,075 In Local School Taxes; Browning Ferris Industries (BFI) Mayor of Linden | Tremlcy Point in Linden. BF1 has requested permission to process husband was reportedly barred for IO,(XX)lonsofNewYorkCity’shouse- life from New York’s waste-hauling TUition and Utility Costs Among Hikes This Year hold waste per day, over three times business for price fixing. more than any garbage transfer facil­ This group would receive about not generate a lot of savings between the assessed value is equal to 50 By PAUL J. PEYTON and one high school. ity in the state. $ 1.2 million per month in rent from Specially Written for The Westfield leader percent of the market value. “Right now, all the elementary the salaries of the new hires and the The majority of the 30-plus people the facility, four times the amount . One of the biggest hits in the school Editor's Note: This is the third and grades have over 400 students in retired veteran teachers they replaced who spoke attacked the plan from a that Linden would make in hosting budget this year included all forms final part of a three-part series on each level,” Mr. Berman explained. due to the need to hire a few more variety of angles, citing environmen­ fees. of insurance, which totaled $5.8 mil­ 2001 Westfield residential property The high school, which the district is teachers to fill new grade sections at tal concerns, potential public safety Republican Freeholder Candidate lion, up 10 percent from the previous tax bills. putting an addition on, has 1,300 two elementary schools, as well as hazards and an investigation by State J. Ricky Badillo, a Roselle Park Coun­ year. - ■ ■ ***** students, but will eclipse 1,700 stu­ new teacher aids. Attorney General John J. Farmer into cilman, said that in light of the state’s Mr. Berman noted that the district Sixty-four percent of this year’s dents over the next few years. Mr. Berman noted that enrollment Linden's deal to house the station. investigation, which recently uncov­ saved “several hundreds of thousands average Westfield residential prop­ “As student enrollment increases is growing at an average increase of But the freeholders said that many ered that Ihe Linden City Council dollars” hy switching from Cigna to erty tax bill of $7,886. That amounts you have to hire more staff," he said. 100 students per year. of these concerns were simply out­ had not been made aware of compa­ Horizon Blue Cross-Blue Shield. to $5,075 on a house assessed at The district has been averaging 50 to Of the average tax bill increase in rable and more lucrative deals, the “Cigna was looking initially at side their control. $175,000. 75 retiring staff members each of the town of $450, $300 is for school “This freeholder board has no ju­ board should not vote favorably. taxes. In Westfield, Mr. Berman said, This past spring, Westfield voters last three years. The district also did CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 risdiction over who owns the land,” “I call on this board not to vote on overwhelmingly supported, through the party line for special interest or two ballot questions, a total school for profit,” he said. Mr. Badillo’s tax levy of $52,566,163 out of a Demand for Daycare Centers Continues to Grow comments were echoed by a number budget of $59.8 million. Included in of those present, many of whom asked that amount is debt service of that the vote be put on hold. $1,074,00 for a debt payment of the Prior to Mr. Badillo’s remarks. 1998 bond referendum of $11.7 mil­ As Does Population of Area Children Under Age 5 Mayor Gregorio praised the deal. lion. “We support this application be­ “For the first time in many years By DEBORAH MADISON crease of more than 1 percent for this children under the age of 5 for those dren who eross-enroll in these towns. cause it’s good for Linden, it’s good we actually received some state aid Specially Written for The Westfield leader age group over 1990 figures. Many six neighboring towns by 2000, In Westfield, there are only a few for central New Jersey and in fact it's for debt service of around $143,000 Any parent in search of daycare or of the surrounding towns also show It is estimated that approximately facilities that can accommodate 200 good for the region," he said, adding (on the 1998 bond referendum),” said preschool for their infant or toddler similar increases in the under five 80 percent of families arc either two- children or more, including Wesley that “there are no secrets” about the Robert A.