Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, August 3, 2006 OUR 116th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 31-2006 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS BOE OKs Early Childhood Center, Tables Roosevelt School Motion By MEGHAN GILL larger than what we discussed at the last crease Roosevelt’s library/media cen- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader meeting,” board member Beth Cassie ter to 5,000 square feet. WESTFIELD – The board of edu- said. “We need to find out the best size Robert Berman, board secretary and cation held a special meeting on Tues- for a cafeteria for 750 students.” business administrator, confirmed that day night to submit plans to the State The plan for Roosevelt includes the size of the proposed library is smaller Department of Education for the reno- increasing the cafeteria to 5,500 than the current state building code, vation of Lincoln School into an early square feet, from its current size of which calls for 5,600 square feet. childhood center and the expansion 3,160. Edison Intermediate School’s “It may be possible to scale this of the Roosevelt Intermediate School cafeteria measures 3,850 square feet. back. I’m not sure. It seems educa- cafeteria and library media center. This proposal also includes the tionally logical to me, given Roosevelt The board unanimously voted in renovation of the Roosevelt library/ School’s size,” Superintendent Of favor of the motion for the early child- media center. Currently, the library at Schools William Foley said. hood center; however, it tabled the Roosevelt is 2,850 square feet, while Moira Abraham, school librarian motion for the Roosevelt renovation. Edison’s library measures 3,570 and media specialist for Roosevelt, “This plan (Roosevelt) looks much square feet. The proposal would in- addressed the board. “The library needs to be updated. There is no air conditioner. We have a very lively Town Negotiates With Three library/media center. The library is the hub of what goes on,” she said. Board member Alice Hunnicutt said Of Four Employee Unions the plan “doesn’t seem to address the By PAUL J. PEYTON deputy chiefs are not included among issue of imbalance in classrooms.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the 38 firefighters in the contract. She also said residents need to remem- Horace R. Corbin for The Westfield Leader WESTFIELD – The Westfield Although the decision by the arbi- ber that children living in the Roosevelt AND THEY’RE OFF…Runners race down East Broad Street at the start of last Wednesday’s fifth annual Downtown firefighters’ contract is in binding arbi- trator is binding, Mr. Gildea said both district may still need to attend Edison. Westfield Corporation (DWC) 5K & Pizza Extravaganza. The picture is taken from the balcony of the James Ward Mansion. tration. The town Policemen’s Benevo- sides would have the option to appeal The cost for this renovation is $2 lent Association (PBA) has filed for the arbitrator’s decision. He said the million for the library and $600,000 arbitration and the Teamsters union rep- FMBA membership rejected two pro- for the cafeteria. “I like this plan; I Legislature Takes on Prop. Taxes; resenting public works and a division of posed settlements offered by the town. think it will be very well received by engineering employees has filed for me- The PBA and Teamsters contracts parents. But I recognize the cost in diation. The three contracts cover 138 of expired December 31 of last year. this,” Mr. Foley said. the town’s 250 full-time employees. The union filed for arbitration fol- The board voted to table this and Scutari to Co-Chair Pension Panel Town Administrator Jim Gildea said lowing several negotiation sessions. agreed to take action at its next meet- By PAUL J. PEYTON and reduce costs. He encouraged coun- (Monmouth) and Assemblyman Jo- negotiations with three of the four The previous contract was settled in ing on Tuesday, August 29. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ties, towns and school districts to offer seph Malone (Burlington). town employee collective bargaining 2002 through mediation. The plan for the early childhood TRENTON – The state legislature more regional services. Governor Joint Committee on Public School units are “unique” in the town’s his- “In this case we will try to mediate center at Lincoln School includes acted last Friday to approve legisla- Corzine also proposed giving local Funding Reform – Democrats, co- tory. “This is the first year we have first, and I have very high hopes for making all rooms accessible to people tion to dedicate half of the state’s governments the opportunity to “raise chairs, Senator John Adler (Camden) ever had two contracts expire at the that. And if not we will obviously go to with disabilities and equipped with a sales tax for property tax relief. In new revenues, including the right to and Assemblyman Herbert Conaway same time…It’s exacerbated by the the arbitration steps,” Mr. Gildea said. bathroom. For security purposes, ev- addition, the legislature approved bills impose impact fees.” (Burlington), Senators Joseph Doria, fact we are still doing the arbitration Under the previous contract a eryone must enter through the office to create four joint committees to The governor also favors creating a Jr. (Hudson) and Assemblymen Brian for the FMBA (Firemen’s Mutual Be- Westfield police officer makes to get into the school. look at reforming public school fund- state comptroller position to review Stack (Hudson) and Republicans, nevolent Association) the same year $33,277 in his first year and $72,524 This center, capable of holding 400 ing, public employee benefits, gov- financial activities “of all governmen- Gerald Cardinale (Bergen) and David we are doing two other contracts.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ernment consolidation and shared tal units and authorities.” Wolfe (Ocean). “This is the first time in many years services, along with a citizens prop- Senate President and former Gov- Joint Committee on Constitutional that we actually have gone to arbitra- erty tax constitutional convention. ernor Richard Codey said Governor Reform and Citizens Property Tax Con- tion for a contract,” he said. WF Council Taps Thornton Lawmakers approved a bill to use Corzine “didn’t sugar-coat the situa- vention – co-chairs, Democrats, Senate He said the 38-member FMBA 50 percent of revenue generated from tion” and gave a “realistic address” Majority Leader Bernard Kenny, Jr. branch No. 30 would be the first con- the state sales tax, which will now be on his proposed reforms. (Hudson) and Assemblyman John tract settled through binding arbitra- As Full-Time Town Planner 7 percent, for property tax relief and Senator Nicholas Scutari (LD-22, Burzichelli (Gloucester), Senators Fred tion in the town’s history. Summary By MICHAEL J. POLLACK proachability, it’s a great fit.” to put a referendum on the November Linden), who represents Scotch Plains Madden, Jr. (Gloucester) and Assem- briefs were received from town and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The council later conducted first ballot making this change permanent. and Fanwood, was named Monday to blyman Louis Manzo (Hudson) and FMBA representatives in March. WESTFIELD – At its August 1 reading on an ordinance, which cre- The Office of Legislative Services, a co-chair the joint committee on public Republicans, Senate Minority Leader “We are now awaiting a response,” meeting, the Westfield Town Council ated the position and amended the non-partisan arm of state government employee pension benefits reform with Leonard Lance (Hunterdon) and Rich- Mr. Gildea said. “We’re optimistic we’ll named its first town planner after con- town code, establishing a salary range that reviews legislation, estimates that Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (Passaic). ard Merkt (Morris). get one soon – I’m hoping August.” ducting first reading on two ordinances of $55,973 to $92,633 for the posi- $625 million would be generated in “It’s an honor. I’m a freshman (in The joint legislative committees will The town seeks a number of to establish the position and its respec- tion. Ms. Thornton will begin in late fiscal year 2007, $650 million in 2008 the Legislature) and they named me hold their opening sessions as follows: changes, including adding three steps tive salary. Mayor Andy Skibitsky also August. and $675 million in 2009. chairman of a major committee,” Mr. Citizens Convention panel, tomorrow, at the top of the FMBA’s salary guide. formally named his Mayor Skibitsky out- In a speech to the legislature, Gov- Scutari said when reached on Mon- Friday, August 4, at noon; Consolida- “(There would be) some savings to land-use task force to lined the land-use ernor Jon Corzine presented his “blue- day night for comment. tion, Tuesday, August 8, at 10 a.m.; the town (with the added steps). The handle the issue of over- taskforce, formed to ad- print” for reforming New Jersey’s He promised an open discussion Public Pensions, Wednesday, August men would still get to it but it might development. dress changes and sug- property tax system. “The total prop- on pensions by his committee. “We 9, at 10 a.m.; School Funding, Thurs- take them an extra year to achieve the The council also gestions the planning erty tax levy today is $20 billion. need a system that is fair to public day, August 10, at 10 a.m. max pay,” Mr. Gildea said. “Adding raised several fees per- board made in response Without action, it will double to nearly employees and taxpayers,” he said.