Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, July 6, 2006 OUR 116th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 27-2006 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS UCESC Files Petition With State To Extend Hillcrest Lease for Year By MEGHAN GILL Westfield Board of Education (BOE) The petition requests a 12-month Specially Written for The Westfield Leader lease termination of Hillcrest Acad- extension to the lease, which com- WESTFIELD – The board of the emy South at 728 Westfield Avenue. menced July 1, until June 30, 2007. Union County Educational Services “As I am coming in, clearly the UCESC General Counsel Linda Ott Commission (UCESC) last Thursday Hillcrest situation has become an emo- told The Westfield Leader that UCESC unanimously approved the filing of a tionally charged issue. (We should) pro- has a “90-day quit notice” on its lease petition with State Department of Edu- mote it in a fair and objective way. The and thus will not have to vacate the cation Commissioner Lucille Davy for petition should reflect this,” UCESC premises until October 1. emergency relief regarding the Superintendent Bill Petrino said. The timeline for this process is “hard to predict. (The commissioner) tries to process petitions quickly,” she said. Det. Allen Retires After 21 She said once the petition is filed, the process could take two or three weeks. She said the UCESC has requested Years in Juvenile Bureau that the one-year lease end July 1, 2007, By CASSIE LO the Police Athletic League (PAL) pro- not October 1, 2006, when the 90-day Specially Written for The Westfield Leader gram for over 20 years. Since assuming notice to vacate the premises expires. photo courtesy of Eileen O’Donnell WESTFIELD – Detective Ron Allen that responsibility, the program, he said, The UCESC has retained Dennis INDEPENDENCE…The Westfield Community Band performs last Thursday and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick addresses will retire after 25 years of service in has jumped from working with 40 chil- Collins as outside counsel to repre- the crowd in celebration of the birth of the Unites States of America at the annual Independence Day concert sponsored by Westfield. He has worked at Westfield dren to over 200 in the PAL football sent the commission with the petition the Sons of the American Revolution at Mindowaskin Park in Westfield. High School (WHS) for four years as program alone in recent years. and all matters related to Hillcrest a part of his role in the juvenile detec- “One of the things I wanted to do Academy South in Westfield. tive bureau of the department, which was to balance the program for boys Retiring Superintendent Edward State Shutdown and Budget Crisis; he has been part of for 21 years. and girls,” he said, referring to the Hartnett later told The Leader, “I am “I think it is important to build rela- fact that he has created multiple pro- very hopeful that the commissioner tionships with high school students,” grams for just females and males and of education is going to understand he said in an interview at The Westfield females, including flag football. In the plight of UCESC and the students Impacts Begin for NJ Residents Leader offices. addition to playing at Hillcrest Academy.” By PAUL J. PEYTON proposal to raise the state sales tax from Lottery and Motor Vehicle Services. Throughout his time at sports, PAL takes trips “I am optimistic that she will inter- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader 6 to 7 percent to plug a budget deficit. State parks and historic sites were sched- WHS, Detective Allen to Ellis Island and to vene to give us sufficient time to AREA – New Jersey’s shutdown of The governor is proposing an 11 per- uled to close yesterday, along with At- led programs and pre- baseball and hockey locate a new facility if it is within her state government this week has caused cent increase in state spending to $31 lantic City Casinos. Casinos and racing sentations for the stu- games. He cited the jurisdiction to do so,” he said. interruptions into the lives of area resi- billion, the highest in state history. tracks went to court challenge Gover- dents in health, law and success of the pro- Mr. Hartnett, who started his re- dents. Governor Jon Corzine signed an The governor on Monday signed nor Corzine on his shutdown order. issues classes, was in- gram to the residents tirement as of July 1, said he plans to executive order for the shutdown when another executive order requiring both Although the DMV has closed its volved with the athletic of Westfield. assist the new superintendent in the the Legislature did not present a state houses of the legislature to work start- operations, New Jersey Motor Vehicle department and “I am blessed be- dispute on a voluntary basis. budget for him to sign by the state- ing at 9 a.m. on July 4 “and continuing Commission Chief Administrator worked closely with the cause we have great “Having worked for the UCESC mandated July 1 deadline. Assembly for each day thereafter” until a “bal- Sharon Harrington has extended dead- administration on any support from the com- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Democrats are opposed to Mr. Corzine’s anced general appropriations law” is lines to July 31 for driver’s licenses, problems that arose. He munity,” he said. passed for Fiscal Year 2007. vehicle registration cards and vehicle also attended several of In his spare time, Wyandotte Resident Calls The state constitution does not al- inspections that were to expire June 30. the post-graduation Detective Ron Allen Detective Allen is a low the state to draw money from the Documents that were previously to ex- BASH events, working pastor at the Pilgrim treasury without an adopted state bud- pire July 31 have been extended to with the Optimist Club to ensure the Baptist Church in Summit. He was get in place, according to the August 31. (Readers are urged to check safety of the graduates. ordained nine years ago and hopes to For Demolition Notification governor’s office. the state web site for daily updates.) Before becoming a police officer, be more involved in his retirement. By MICHAEL J. POLLACK tection will be killed,” Mr. Rippe said. Due to the shutdown, the New Jersey CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Detective Allen said he took classes at When asked about his greatest Specially Written for The Westfield Leader He noted that the zoning department Union County College and was the memories from the job, Detective Allen WESTFIELD – Paul Rippe of responded to his concern by saying the assistant director at the Westfield Com- responded that his 21 years with the Wyandotte Trail lives adjacent to a demolition and excavation is legal and WF School Administrators munity Center on West Broad Street. juvenile department were “great.” new proposed development on “they can dig as deep as they want.” He expressed interest in working with “When kids come back to me to say Minisink Way. Recently, after watch- Town Council members took time juveniles because of his experience at ‘thank you’ – that to me is the greatest ing excavation reach his property line, out on a Saturday morning to visit the Get Pay Boost from BOE the center, and he was able to do so after reward of the job – to know you’ve creating a “moat” by his home, resi- Rippe house and “were pretty By MEGHAN GILL The contract includes automatic “only a few short years” on the squad. helped somebody,” he said. “You have to dents of the Indian Forest community shocked,” according to Mr. Rippe. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader enrollment in the Point of Service In addition to his detective duties, do this job to make a difference in kids’ have organized and hope to eventually Recently, the planning board heard WESTFIELD – The Westfield As- (POS) health insurance plan. The co- Detective Allen has been the director of lives, not for the money or the fame.” reach a town-wide consensus on how comments from architects, lawyers, sociation of Administrators and Su- pay for prescriptions increases from to contact adjacent neighbors when builders and residents concerning a draft pervisors (WAAS) and the board of $8 to $10 for generic drugs and from demolitions occur in Westfield. ordinance written by Fourth Ward Coun- education (BOE) have ratified a new $15 to $25 for non-generic drugs. Westfield Resident Admits to Mr. Rippe described the houses cilman Jim Foerst and the Code Re- three-year contract, effective July 1 Employee insurance benefits were beginning to crop up in his neighbor- view and Town Property Committee. and extending through June 30, 2009. extended to domestic partners regis- hood as “monsters that don’t fit the At last week’s council conference The contract includes a four-percent tered with the state. This is reported to Stealing $70,000 From Clients property.” His biggest gripe is that session, Councilman Foerst recom- annual increase for the 30 district-wide be in compliance with the teachers’ By CHRISSY HAMWAY have been filed.” neither the builders nor town officials mended a “smaller, focused” ad-hoc administrators and supervisors plus contract negotiated in 2005 and the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The state’s Department of Con- notified him and his family. committee appointed by Mayor An- insurance benefits extended to do- State’s Domestic Partnership Act, ef- WESTFIELD – A town resident sumer Affairs urges travelers to “thor- “They did this with no warning, no drew Skibitsky to further the overde- mestic partners.