Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, February 9, 2012 OUR 122nd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 06-2012 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield BOE Approves Moving School Election to November By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL two weeks ago, where members dis- nouncement was sent to all school Specially Written for The Westfield Leader cussed at length the new law and newsletters requesting parent input. WESTFIELD – At the start of Tues- tabled their vote to first seek public Ms. Cary concluded by saying the day evening’s board of education opinion. board received 14 e-mails in total, of meeting, members of the board unani- Ms. Cary noted that board mem- which 10 were in favor of moving the mously voted to move the school bers have raised the topic at the election and four were opposed. She board election to November. This Jefferson and McKinley PTO meet- also noted that the Legislative Com- action was taken just weeks after ing, the PTC General meeting and mittee met on three different occa- Governor Chris Christie signed leg- the PTO President’s meeting. She sions to discuss the pros and cons of islation making it possible for dis- also stated that the topic was covered moving the election. She said that at tricts to have voters choose board of by The Westfield Leader, the Patch the present time, 228 other districts education members at polls in No- and the Alternative Press and that a have already passed resolutions to vember. letter to the editor on the subject move the election. Legislative Committee Chairper- appeared in last week’s Leader. It was noted that this new law es- son Ann Cary gave a synopsis of the She additionally noted that infor- tablishes procedures for districts, actions taken by board members since mation on the new law was posted on municipalities or voters to opt to move the last board of education meeting the district’s website and that an an- the annual school election to Novem- ber and eliminates the vote on school budgets for such districts. This is only if the school budget stayed within the 2-percent cap. As the law is written, the only way the election could be moved is by a school-board resolution, a town- Gene Jannotti for The Westfield Leader PACKED HOUSE…Governor Chris Christie held a Town Hall meeting at the Westfield Armory in Westfield on council resolution or by a public vote Wednesday morning. With approximately 600 in attendance, including Advanced Placement governemnt students from only if 15 percent of registered voters Westfield High School, the governor spoke for 90 minutes. who participated in the last Presiden- tial election sign a petition. The law also states that if a school election is moved to November, it must remain Christie Talks of ‘Comeback’ in November for a minimum of four years. Mrs. Cary stated, “the community will no longer have a vote on the At Armory Town Hall Meeting budget, but they will continue to have By PAUL J. PEYTON center of politics in New Jersey.” his wife, Mary Pat, once lived in a a voice. We urge the public to follow Specially Written for The Westfield Leader He noted that Senate Republican second-floor apartment at 247 Pros- our budget presentations and we wel- WESTFIELD – Governor Chris Leader Tom Kean, Jr. and Assem- pect Street. come your thoughts and opinions.” Christie followed up on his State of blyman Jon Bramnick live in town, Governor Christie said that Ms. Cary concluded by noting that the State speech in January with a as does his longtime friend and shortly after he took office, his trea- Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader KNOCKOUT…The Westfield College Men’s Club held its eighth annual boxing any members of the public who were Town Hall meeting yesterday morn- former law partner, Bill Palatucci, surer and Mr. Bagger told him that event last Friday at the Newark Airport Marriott to raise funds for college scholar- considering a potential run for the ing before some 600 attendees at and former Chief of Staff Richard without a $2-billion major cut in ships for seniors at Westfield High School. The event was a success, with 22 tables sold board would have until June to de- the National Guard Armory in Bagger. spending, the state would not be out for dinner and a standing-room-only crowd. The College Men’s Club, started in clare their candidacy and that the Westfield. “I am thrilled to be here,” the able to make payroll. “So we did 1922, has given out over $250,000 in scholarships in the past five years. public vote would be on November 6, The Governor spoke for nearly Governor said, noting that he and CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 2012. She also stated, “all sitting 90 minutes, saying the “Jersey board members who are up for re- Comeback,” as he alluded to in his Rec. Commission Opts Not to election will serve until January, when State of the State, has started. Plainfield Teens Arrested In the new board will be organized.” As he entered the Armory 15 min- The next board of education meet- utes beyond the 10:30 a.m. sched- Increase Pool Member Fees ing will take place on February 28, uled start time, the Governor joked SP Armed Robbery, Shooting By DELL SIMEONE According to its website, fees are 2012 at 8 p.m. The agenda will in- that many news articles have re- SCOTCH PLAINS – Scotch Plains The suspects then began to ransack Specially Written for The Westfield Leader as follows: individual member, resi- clude a presentation on technology. ported Westfield as being the “epi- police arrested two Plainfield resi- a part of the residence. After taking WESTFIELD — Loren dent $180 and non-resident $345; dents in connection with the robbery the phone and attempting to remove Weinstein, chairman of the pool one parent and one child, resident and shooting of a township man last other electronics, one of the suspects committee of the Westfield Recre- $270 and non-resident $520; hus- County Clerk Faces Challenge week, Scotch Plains Police Chief produced a handgun, pointed it at the ation Commission, told the com- band and wife or domestic/civil Brian Mahoney said. victim and fired one shot into his leg. missioners on Monday night that union partners, resident $270 and According to police, at approxi- Both actors then fled the scene, au- the pool fees for this year at the non-resident $520; family, husband To Reconfigure Ballots mately 10 a.m. on February 3, Scotch thorities reported. Westfield Municipal Pool would and/or wife or domestic partners By PAUL J. PEYTON towns with elections by wards as well Plains police received a 9-1-1 call Fanwood Rescue Squad personnel remain at the current prices. and children, resident $360 for four Specially Written for The Westfield Leader as those towns where bilingual bal- from a resident on Emil Place stating responded and transported the victim “There is no reason to raise them,” members or $450 for five members, COUNTY – Union County Clerk lots must be printed. that he was robbed at gunpoint inside to Overlook Medical Center in Sum- he said. “We’ll be moving forward and non-resident fees, $630 for four Joanne Rajoppi told the Union County She said current state law requires his residence and that during the rob- mit. He was treated and released. to make registration easier. There members and $720 for five mem- Freeholder Board last Thursday that an interpretative statement for each bery, he was shot. Upon arrival, offic- The Scotch Plains Police Detec- are about 1,500 people on the wait- bers. she does not know how the transfer of question on the ballot. Ms. Rajoppi ers from the Scotch Plains Police tive Bureau responded to the scene. ing list, and there is expected to be Other rates are: Family with indi- school elections to the date of the said officials in the New Jersey Divi- Department found the victim, a 19- After interviewing several people and about $400,000 in surplus after the vidual full-time childcare, resident General Election in November will sion of Elections are “looking at that year-old male, with a gunshot wound collecting evidence, arrest warrants budget process.” $540 (four members) and $630 (five impact her election costs. As of Thurs- right now” to see whether or not that to his leg. were issued for the suspects. Recreation Director Bruce members) or non-resident $975 day, Cranford, Elizabeth, Linden, requirement can be waived due to The victim stated that he was home Alquan Green, 18, of Plainfield Kaufmann said Thursday, April 12, (four members) and $1,065 (five Roselle Park and Winfield Park had space limitations on ballots. She said with a relative when two males was arrested in Plainfield on Febru- would be the cutoff date for mem- members). Senior citizen rates are switched from April to November the division might issue a rule or the knocked on the back door. When ary 5, at approximately 6:30 p.m. He bers to re-register. He said he would $90 for residents and $155 for non- per a new state law signed in January issue might have to go to the state they opened the door, the two sus- was identified as the shooter during send out e-mails and postcards to residents. by Governor Chris Christie. The dead- Legislature.