Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 112th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 21-112 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, January 31, 2002 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Involvement in Ward Suit Angers Westfield Residents By NANCY CROSTA LANDALE live in very tenuous times. There is a tions, but you can’t ignore that the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tremendous (state) budget shortfall. I outcome of the suit affects the com- Emotions ran high on Tuesday believe all of you were elected to do the position of the council. Therefore, to when, by a 5-4 vote, the Westfield right thing and accepted this position have the council participate in who Town Council passed a resolution of honor. eventually is seated on the council is for the town to intervene in the Ward “You’re responsible to take good wrong. The town government needs Commission suit, an action pending care to spend the taxpayers’ money in to be impartial and let the judicial in New Jersey Superior Court chal- the most appropriate way. This hap- branch do what it’s supposed to do.” lenging the 2001 redrawing of pens in most cases, but not this one.” Echoing these sentiments, resident Westfield’s ward boundaries. Democratic Third Ward Council- Victor Trzesniowski asked, “How does The resolution directs the town to woman Claire Lazarowitz interjected, a resolution with a political basis get retain a separate attorney, Ronald J. “We’ve been saying ‘United We Stand’ on the dais to subsidize the Demo- Riccio of Morristown’s McElroy, for months. These people deserve our cratic party?” Deutsch and Mulvaney, at a capped fee standing together and support. That is In response, Republican First Ward of $17,500, to avoid any conflict of what this is all about. We’ve let them Councilman Peter Echausse advised interest or appearance of impropriety down in the past — often. The ap- that only Democratic council mem- caused by Town Attorney Robert plause tonight grieves me deeply. These bers Mrs. Lazarowitz, Susan Cockren’s prior representation of the are our neighbors. Let’s protect them.” Jacobson (Fourth Ward), Kevin Walsh Ward Commission. Responding to Councilwoman (Third Ward) and Lawrence Goldman Despite insistence that the decision Lazarowitz, resident Joanne Neylan (Fourth Ward) had presented the reso- to intervene is not politically based, said, “I am appalled at the thought lution, and without prior notice. all five Democratic council members that I am less patriotic because I don’t Then, directing a charge to Coun- voted in favor of the resolution, while want to support the use of taxpayer cilman Carl Salisbury, Councilman remaining Republican council mem- money for a political issue.” Echausse said, “If there was true bers and Republican Mayor Gregory Nermene Simaika for The Westfield Leader Resident Michael Teschner said gerrymandering, it should have been MAKING A POINT…The Reverend Leon Randall, shown above at last night’s Westfield Town Council meeting, said, McDermott voted in opposition. he was glad to see the suit pending so brought up last October or Novem- “People are relying only on what they’ve heard or read. This is a moral issue. Perhaps the people affected are poor or on Tuesday’s meeting was well-at- that if gerrymandering did occur, it is ber with your Republican colleagues. welfare or don’t even pay taxes, but that’s not the point. tended, with public discussion of the set aside. The true plaintiff in this case is the Ward Commission suit and parking Stressing the political forces at Westfield Democratic organization. issues extending the session well into work, Mr. Teschner continued, “I The Ward Commission statute says the night. can appreciate your personal convic- Chamber Breakfast Mtg. Serves Up Since the council had not discussed CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 the proposed Ward Commission reso- lution in its conference session prior Discussion of Westfield Parking Plan to the meeting, discussion among council members was lengthy and, at Man Poses as State Worker By AMY HOROWITZ station and lots 1 and 8). tions. times, discordant. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader In an interview with The Westfield He stated that adding retail and During open public discussion, Jon The Mayor’s Parking Advisory Leader, Mayor McDermott said that residential units with the proposed M. Bramnick, Chairman of the In Burglary of Residence Committee presented its proposed parking decks would offset costs. Westfield Republican Party, said the parking plan for Westfield on Tues- Further, through tax abatements, the resolution to appoint an attorney to By SUZETTE F. STALKER tracting the homeowner pretended day, January 29, at the quarterly project would be funded through represent the town against the Ward Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to be talking to a supervisor at meeting of the Westfield Area Cham- “self-sufficient” debt. Commission was “unprecedented in A man posing as a utility worker another location, but was actually ber of Commerce. Additionally, increased parking state history” and “clearly a political gained access to a Westfield resi- speaking with his partner in an- Approximately 40 individuals, in- fees and permit rates have already issue.” He added that, “it is unfair to the dence last week, distracting the other part of the house. cluding residents, business owners, been implemented to further fund taxpayers to fight this political fight.” homeowner while an accomplice The suspects only stayed in realtors, architects and engineers, the potential parking deck projects. Arguing that the actual party with ransacked rooms in another part of the house for a few minutes before attended the breakfast meeting, Taking over the presentation, Mr. an interest is the Democratic party, the house. leaving, the Lieutenant said. While which as held at the Westfield Y. Weidman stated that the original which objects to the redistricting map Lieutenant John Parizeau of the authorities initially believed they Mayor Gregory McDermott, Charles committee consisted of 15 members. drawn by the Ward Commission, Mr. Westfield Police Department said had taken some jewelry, it was Weidman and Michael Zemsky made A dozen more were added, as the Bramnick urged that the Democrats the owner of the Westfield Avenue later determined that they had left presentations. fact-finding mission became exten- “pay to combat the decision.” home answered her door at 12:47 empty-handed. Westfield area residents and vol- sive. In the first phase, the commit- Mr. Bramnick warned that, if a p.m. on January 24 to a man who The men were observed exiting unteers have been working as a com- tee revalidated existing reports and decision was made to use taxpayer said he was from the state and was the home by a friend of the home- mittee since May 2001 on parking recounted every parking space (mu- money to fight the Ward Commission’s there to check the water pressure. owner who arrived at the scene. solutions for Westfield. Mr. nicipal and private) in downtown. decision, “the Republicans will have The suspect, described as a white They were last seen traveling down Weidman, served as Chairman. He is He said that a model was created to to take a position immediately on the male in his 30s with a slim build, Westfield Avenue on foot toward also the Mayor’s designee to the measure commuter parking supply use of such moneys.” dark hair and wearing a brown Dorian Road. Planning Board. Mr. Zemsky served and demand. A parking shortfall of To thunderous applause from the leather coat, showed an identifica- The second suspect was also de- on the committee and is a Westfield Amy Horowitz for The Westfield Leader audience, Mr. Bramnick intoned, tion card bearing the words “State IN OPPOSITION…Owner of the 450-500 spaces was determined. scribed as a white male in his 30s, architect. Currently, 1,000 commuters are on a “Let’s keep the fight in the political Employee” and some numbers, but wearing a beige trench coat and a Rialto Theatre Jesse Sayegh expressed realm and use the taxpayers’ money The committee recommended that his concern over the impact of dis- four-year waiting list. no photograph. Legitimate utility brown hat. Westfield build three parking struc- rupting existing parking to build the Mr. Weidman said that the Parking for Westfield.” workers have company-issued The homeowner was not harmed tures to accommodate the needs of new parking structures, and its subse- Committee’s plan for a deck at the Resident Jay MacDonald voiced his identification badges with pictures, and realized the burglary occurred shoppers, downtown employees, resi- quent effect on local business. south side train station would bring outrage over the use of town money for the lieutenant said. almost immediately, Lieutenant dents and commuters. The down that wait down to one year. “a totally politically-motivated fight.” Lieutenant Parizeau said the sus- Parizeau said. He said that while committee’s plan calls for parking He further stated that analyses were Citing the economic recession and pect had the woman bring him to no similar cases have been reported decks at the south side train station, the next steps “would be to go for an done on the north side as well, taking Governor James McGreevey’s freez- the basement, where he then had in Westfield since the start of the at lots 1 and 8 (Trader Joe’s) and at RFQ (Request for Qualification), into account business square footage ing of moneys to municipalities as her turn on a sink and washing new year, “we’ve had similar inci- the parking area behind the Rialto which would take the current report and supply and demand of available reasons for conserving taxpayer dol- machine.