Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 17, 2018 OUR 128th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 20-2018 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] ONE DOLLAR Town Council Expected to Vote On Temp. Ice Rink on May 22 By MICHAEL BONACCORSO Review and Town Property Com- include community activities such Specially Written for The Westfield Leader mittee meeting addressing neighbor- as public skating sessions on Friday WESTFIELD — On Wednesday ing residents’ concerns. nights, as well as Saturday and Sun- evening, Councilwoman and Chair The ice rink has been reviewed by day afternoons. He said Westfield of the Code Review and Town Prop- the recreation commission and the High School Hockey teams and erty Committee Dawn Mackey, Rec- Code Review and Town Property Westfield Hockey Club teams will reation Commission Chairman Gary Committee. Mayor Shelley Brindle be offered priority rink times. The Fox and Union Sports Arena owner and the town council will be pre- Westfield hockey community is com- Ken Anderson broadcasted a sented with the revised proposal and prised of over 250 families. Facebook Live discussion address- will vote to enter into a contract with Mr. Anderson said high-school ing installation of an ice rink tempo- Union Sports at the Tuesday, May games are not appropriate for the rarily at Gumbert Park. The broad- 22, town council meeting. facility, but the Westfield High cast followed an investigative Code Mr. Anderson said the rink would School teams will have priority ice time during the week for practices. He explained that the ice rink would measure 200 feet by 85 feet. Ms. Mackey stated that the Code Review and Town Property Com- mittee “prudently” reached out to neighboring residents “who would be most affected by this proposal.” She stated that many concerns the committee heard were deemed “valid” so the committee sought to Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader “ameliorate and mitigate” those con- DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY...Westfield High School’s (WHS) second annual Dance Marathon to benefit Children's cerns. Specialized Hospital was held Friday night. The event was organized by the WHS Community Service Club. “I am very happy to say we have been able to take care of many of those concerns,” Ms. Mackey said. Board of Adjustment Approves Ms. Mackey stated that residents were concerned with the noise gen- erated by the chiller, an electrically- powered machine that keeps the ice Seven Applications, Denies One frozen. Susan M. Dougherty for The Westfield Leader Mr. Fox said the chillers will gen- By MICHAEL BONACCORSO dition the fence must have three Bible. A FOURSOME…On May 11, at the Westfield Historical Society’s 50–year erate noise between 70 and 90 deci- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader gates with a board-on-board fenc- Mr. Benacchio said he believed it anniversary dinner, Senator Tom Kean, Jr. (R-21st, Westfield), left, Westfield Historical Society President Nancy Priest, former Governor Thomas H. Kean bels. In comparison, a kitchen gar- WESTFIELD — The board of ing design. was an “honest mistake” on Mr. Sr.and Horace Corbin, publisher of The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains- bage disposal produces noise at 85 adjustment approved seven appli- Mr. Kierzkowski stated that the Bible’s part in erecting the pergola Fanwood Times, right, chat before the dinner. Governor Kean gave the keynote decibels, explained Mr. Fox. cations and denied one application fence would provide privacy from before attaining proper approval. address at the celebration. Resolutions were read from the Union County The chiller will be relocated closer at its Monday night meeting. Three car lights and pedestrians on a street Because Mr. Bible was compelled Freeholders and a joint resolution by the New Jersey Senate and General to the commercial district near North applications were carried to the June accessible through his backyard. to follow the proper procedure on Assembly congratulating Mary Orlando, the winner of The President’s Award, Avenue, stated Mr. Anderson. He meeting without any testimony pro- Board of Adjustment Chairman his own volition, Mr. Benacchio and to Mr. Corbin, recipient of the Society’s Trustees’ Award. said the chiller will be at least 300 vided. Chris Masciale said he does not see said he supported the application’s feet away from neighboring homes Applicant Pawel Kierzkowski, of the fence intruding into the front approval. and will be wrapped in a sound- 171 Tudor Oval, was approved to yard to where the design creates a Applicant John Kim, of 417 Tuttle Mountainside PD Facing absorbing material. install a six-foot fence in the front “box or compound” aesthetic. Parkway, was approved to add three The skating season will begin on yard contrary to existing land ordi- “I am thinking this is the excep- dormers to the third floor of his November 1, 2018, and will con- nances. The town’s land use ordi- tion,” Mr. Masciale said. home although the land use ordi- Lawsuit; Budget Adopted tinue operating until the end of Feb- nance permits a maximum four-foot- Board member Robert Benacchio nance allows for a maximum two- ruary 2019, stated Mr. Anderson. He high front-yard fence. The board said the fence ordinance was en- and-a-half-story building height. By CHRISTINA M. HINKE public comments at this time, Mayor CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 approved the application on the con- acted to prevent residents from Mr. Kim proposed an addition de- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Paul Mirabelli told The Westfield building a “compound around their veloping his home to three stories. MOUNTAINSIDE — A lawsuit Leader. The full statement can be home” with the fence starting from Mr. Kim stated that the third floor has been filed against the borough in found on the borough’s website. BOE Honors Students for the streetscape. will have “just an additional 135 the Superior Court of New Jersey by At its meeting Tuesday night, the Mr. Kierzkowski said that al- more square feet” than the second five members of the Mountainside borough also adopted its 2018 bud- though the fence is designated as in floor. His architect, David Bailey, Police Department and one female get of $13,152,104, appropriating a Honor Soc. Status, Artwork the front yard, it will mainly pro- said Mr. Kim will convert attic space employee, according to a statement tax levy of $8,775,292. The ordi- vide privacy in the rear. The appli- and renovate an existing bedroom posted on the borough’s website. nance was passed unanimously. By MICHAEL BONACCORSO Lincoln School teacher and student cant said the fence will be gated on the third floor. Mountainside PBA attorney Mayor Mirabelli said the total budget Specially Written for The Westfield Leader council advisor Tamara Benc. more towards the back of the home Mr. Bailey said a small bathroom Leonard C. Schiro said at a closed has increased over last year by GARWOOD — Superintendent All 12 student council members where it will stop. will be designed to accommodate meeting on February 28 that he was $60,000. Increases over last year in- Teresa Quigley, Ed.D., and the board adopt borough official roles and “con- Board member Frank Fortino those living on the third floor. representing five Mountainside po- clude a $3,000 increase in the operat- of education honored more than 30 duct” the business of their local gov- voted no on the application. Mr. Masciale stated that he sup- lice officers, Christopher Feighner, ing budget, a $90,000 increase in Lincoln School students who had erning body. Applicant William Bible, of 29 ported the applicant because the Richard Latargia, Thomas Norton, snow removal, a $50,000 increase for achieved Honor Society status for the “This is a special hands-on learn- Gallowaem, was unanimously ap- third story is being slightly expanded Jeffrey Stinner and James Urban, and the Rahway Valley Sewerage Author- third marking period at its meeting ing experience for our young leaders proved for a pergola in his rear yard for the family’s needed living space. a part-time female employee in the ity, a $54,000 increase in legal fees, a Tuesday night. Lincoln School stu- and we are grateful to Mayor (Charles) that was already installed. Mr. Bible The third story is not being built to police department, Amy Colineri, who $72,000 increase in the police de- dent Reina Ridente was recognized Lombardo and the members of the said he was unaware a variance was add an expansive “McMansion ef- claim “they had experienced a hostile partment, a $132,000 increase in po- for her outstanding artwork. Reina’s council for once again extending an needed. However, he wanted to ad- fect,” stated Mr. Masciale. work environment due to the actions” lice department and non-union sala- drawing, entitled “Up, Up, and Away,” invitation to our students,” Ms. Benc dress the issue immediately, “doing Mr. Masciale said he believed the of Police Officers Andrew Huber and ries, an increase of $92,000 in capital will be on a 10-month art tour through- said. everything correctly,” stated Mr. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Thomas Murphy, according to the items, a $52,000 increase in tax ap- out Union County. Student Joseph Carney was the statement. Since that time, Mr. Schiro peals and a $54,000 increase in health The art tour will include other mayor, Peyton Collings was council is no longer representing the com- expenses. “youth drawn pieces” selected as out- president, while council members plainants, according to the statement. Surplus also increased by $420,000, standing and unique.