$13 PI »********»CAR-RT L0T*»C01S • 3 WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY 550 E BROAD ST WESTFIELD NJ 07090-2116 “ge r n tm ic * PEARL H A R B O R December 7,194 07090211650 rsp s 6*ino2o M O M In , Tkanaq Stan IM (908) 232-4407 Thursday. December 9, 2004 SIXTY CENTS OUR 115th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 15-115 Periodical - Potfagr Paid al Westfield. NJ. www .Rtdeadcr.com pms60Roleadcr.com WF Council Hears Project Updates; Discusses Leaf Pickup, FAR Study By LAUREN S. PASS in town to be using septic systems. Continuing on the topic of shared Spettalh W rifle* for TV Westfield Leader Mr. Marsh also reported that the services. Mr. Gildea told the council At Tuesday night's Westfield Town first pass around town to pick up that he met with officials from Scotch Council conference meeting. Town leaves would be finished yesterday Plains to discuss several cost saving Engineer Ken Marsh updated the and a second round should be com- possibilities. council on the projects that were com­ Mr. Gildea reported that they wilt pleted this year, as well as a lengthy continue to meet, but had a good discussion on leaf pick-up. / Public W orks Com m ittee discussion on sharing bulky waste While most of the town's road pav­ Chairm an Andrew Skibitsky pick up costs, recycling costs and tree ing projects were completed over the said that his com m ittee w ill service costs. summer. Clark Street was anticipated be “looking at leaf pick-up Third Ward Councilman Mark to be finished yesterday. very aggressively" next year. Ciarrocca said that while it is “very Mr. Marsh said that the town was encouraging" to hear the town talk­ able to continue working because of ing about shared services, he said the high temperatures that have con­ pleted in two weeks. He said that "We really need to have concerted tinued late into the season. because of the high volume of leaves, efforts with our budgetary con­ The repaving of Dorian Road will straints." He said that in the past, wait for next summer, when school is the first pass took longer than ex­ pected. shared services have been “done on a out and the repaving of Elm Street catch as catch can basis.” will also wait until next year due to Town Administrator James Gildea noted that residents who still have The council could approve a new cost problems. leaves out after the second pass can contract for recycling as early as next The town is also working on ease­ week with Central Jersey for $716,400 ment agreements and environmental call the Department of Public Works at (908) 789-4100 to schedule a pick- for three years. This means the town SIGN OF THE TIMES...Westfield held its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony last Sunday. Hundreds filled the north permits in order to connect homes on up. would pay $238,8(X) per year, slightly side train station parking lot with one of the biggest crowds yet to see the Christmas tree and Santa Claus. Parents flocked Springfield Avenue to the town’s Mayor Gregory McDermott said less than they are currently paying. to take pictures of their children sitting with Santa Claus. As shown above, it was a sign of the times as many used their cell sewer lines. Those homes are the last The new contract would also mean phones to take the photos. the town needs to looks at a "more efficient way’’ of collecting leaves. that pickups would lake place four He noted that with recent heavy rains, days a week every other week, one Seneca Place Subdivision Plans to Be Revised, leaves were a contributing factor in ward per day; unlike the current north flooding. side, south side pick-up schedule. Mr. Marsh said that the starting In other business First Ward Coun­ date should be more flexible, as this cilman and Code Review and Town Planning Board Hearings to Continue in 2005 year the leaves fell earlier than ex­ Property Committee Chairman Sal pected. Caruana reported to the council that By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL new ideas for the subdivision which what was is in the best interest of Planning Board Chairman Jay Third Ward Councilman and Pub­ Town Planner Blaise Brancheu is still Specially Written for The Westfield Leader included re-configuring the lots and everyone, not just the developer." Boyle stated that he didn't have a lic Works Committee Chairman An­ working on a study of Floor Area Many Seneca Place and surround­ the proposed right of way. Seneca Place resident and lawyer, problem having discussions about the drew Skibitsky said that his commit­ Ratios (FAR) around town. ing neighborhood residents were He stated that the applicant was Tom Walsh objected to the give and application, but that a decision re­ tee will be "looking at leaf pick up Over the past year, the town has present at the December Westfield open to compromise and was inter­ take idea proposed by Mr. Kraus stat­ garding the application would not be very aggressively” next year. He also been analyzing the amount of livable Planning Board meeting Monday ested in a “give and take" discussion ing that if the developer had new heard until new plans are submitted. said that compliance with the new space versus the size of the properties evening, where the members were regarding the subdivision. plans to submit, then the application Testifying on behalf of the appli­ federal storm water regulations could in order to look for ways to curb the discussing the proposed major subdi­ Mr. Kraus stated that Mr. should be re-submitted giving inter­ cant, Professional Planner Kevin be very costly for towns and that the building of "McMansions" in neigh­ vision at 254 Seneca Place. Buontempo was. interested in “talk­ ested residents ample time to review O’Brien stated that they felt having committee will examine shared ser- borhoods where they do not aestheti­ The applicant, Joseph Buontempo, v ir» * c cally fit. ing through the application and doing the new plans. CONTINUED ON PAGE I I is seeking to create two new building lots from an existing single lot and create a new single family home on each of the lots. He also proposes to Westfield Bd. of Ed. Hears Report build an 18-foot wide access drive with a 40-foot Right of Way to be dedicated to Westfield and includes an extension of utilities on Coleman On Freshman Transition Activities Place. By ED COONEY according to a report by WHS Stu­ such as stress management. Before testimony began, Robert Specially Written for The Westfield Leader dent Assistance Counselor Maureen All the outreach programs are Kraus, attorney for the applicant, Every freshman at Westfield High Mazzarese to the Westfield Board of scheduled during the freshmen’s stated that the applicant and Engineer School (WHS) has been taking part Education this Tuesday. physical-education periods so as not for the project. Edward Dec, had some in Ninth Grade Transition activities The new transition activities in to disrupt their adjustment to the aca­ place at WHS this year are the brain­ demic rigors of high school. child of a committee of students, par­ The outreaches provide “lots of ents, and WHS staff that met in spring opportunity forpersonalization,” said of this year. Ms. Mazzarese. The committee’s goal, according An outreach consists of “planned to Ms. Mazzarese, was to find “what student-to-student contact, structured students need from us to make a outreach activities, and identification smooth transition from middle school of ninth graders in need of further to high school.” assistance,” according to the report. As part of the project, Ms. SEASON’S GREETINGS.. .The Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC) The group agreed that there were had a packed holiday party December 1 at the Northside Trattoria in Westfield. Mazzarese conducted an anonymous opportunities to improve the transi­ Pictured, left to right, are: Aretha Slade, WACC Director Allison O'Hara, tion activities at WHS, and suggested poll asking ninth grade students what WACC Chairman Richard Fromkin and Denise Morrell. improvements in the areas of com­ CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 munication, personalization, and stu- dent-to-student contact, specifically with upperclassmen. Freeholders Ban Lead Shots As a result of the group’s recom­ mendations, Ms. Mazzarese, along with the rest of the WHS Guidance Department staff expanded on a stu­ At Lenape Park Skeet Range dent-led orientation program that be­ gan on a limited basis in the 2003- By DAVID GiALANELLA keley Heights. In other business the freeholder 2004 school year. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Also bidding farewell to the board board introduced a proposal for ban­ New appointments and farewells Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leaader For this year, 108 upperclassmen, was clerk Sharda Badri. Individual ning lead shot at the Lenape Park ON THE JOB...The Westfield Fire Department responded to a house fire at 470 both boys and girls, were assigned to were the focus at last Thursday’s members of the board thanked her for Trap and Skeet Range. The board Edgewood Avenue on Friday morning. The fire orignated from the electrical groups of freshmen in teams of three. meeting of the Union County Board her service. Nicole Tedeschi, former also approved several construction system and started on the second floor of the home. The fire extended to the attic The upperclassmen, called ‘Tran­ of Chosen Freeholders. Director of Intergovernmental Rela­ and legal service contracts. before fire fighters could bring it under control. sition Leaders,” went on a two-day Angela Devanney, Administrator tions for Union County, was appointed After meeting in executive session, retreat in order to be trained in ‘facili­ of the Union County Open Space, as the new Clerk of the Board.