Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, June 5, 2003 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 113th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 39-113 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] FIFTY CENTS WF Parents Bring Class Size Concerns to BOE Meeting By CHARLOTTE LEDERMAN five sections at Franklin School and In reviewing the 2002-2003 Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to approve the new policy of lower progress, Ms. Kylie noted, “Thirty- A crowd of concerned parents numbers in elementary classes. Sev- four students in need of intervention packed the room as the Westfield eral Franklin and McKinley School were identified in third and sixth Board of Education met for their parents spoke to this end. grades using the Wechsler Intelligence bimonthly meeting. In response, Dr. Foley said that he Scale for Children. Identified students The parents, who have children in too believes that class size is a very were clustered in regular classrooms.” the school district, are worried about important issue. He noted, however, Furthermore, all participating the class sizes at the elementary level, that a class size of 24 or 23 in the fourth teachers this year have received train- specifically Franklin School. To suc- grade is not unusual or unreasonable. ing, and next year, there will be a pull cinctly represent over 30 parents, the “I allocated the 22 positions as out component. Ms. Kylie contin- board heard from two unofficial equitably as I could, staying with the ued, showing that in the future, the spokespeople. policy,” said Dr. Foley. program will “work on enrichment Summarizing the concerns of par- What is more, he shares “with opportunities for all students and ents at Franklin School, they sup- parents the goal of preparing our inclusion of more grades.” ported the reinstatement of the extra students to achieve excellence. I be- Regarding business matters, the teacher and section in the fourth grade. lieve we can do that with the class board approved for first reading the Though noting that Superintendent sizes I have recommended.” class rank policy, or the “reporting of Schools Dr. William Foley was And though the board did believe it student achievement to colleges.” well within the guidelines in making was a legitimate role for them to In this form, the document states this decision, the spokesmen ques- review future class size policy, Dr. that, “Specific class rank will not tioned if his decision was ultimately Foley informed them that, at this time, appear on any documents sent by “optimal, or simply sufficient.” it is not their decision to take a vote on Westfield High School to college Overall, the parents’ goals include this particular matter, as it falls within admission offices except as required revisiting the issue of maintaining budget and policy confines. by military academies and for schol- TIME OF THEIR LIVES…Before Friday night’s Westfield High School prom, some attendees gathered at the home of In other business, Supervisor of arship applications. Parents/legal Mr. and Mrs. Toriello. Pictured, left to right, are: Greg Mathews, Lauren Rites, Matt Toriello, Kate Albino, Dave the Gifted and Talented Education guardians may request their child’s Ucciferri, Emily Warren, Vincent Shen, Annie Tabachnick, Joe McCabe, Christine Leiz, Doug Chananie and Kelly Program, Lindsey Kylie, reported class rank.” Cocuzza. The prom was held at the Pine’s Manor in Edison. WF Meets about the pilot of the program in the The board will reconvene on Tues- Westfield public school district. day, June 24. With Deck Incumbents Munoz, Bramnick Developer Sweep Assembly GOP Primary By LAUREN S. PASS Specially Written for The Westfield Leader CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 By MICHAEL POLLACK and Governor Thomas Kean, ran unop- previously served on the Summit MARIA WOEHR The Westfield Town Council Specially Written for The Westfield Leader posed for the GOP Senate seat. City Council. “I am so excited. I have to compli- “Bramnick and I have an excellent held a short public meeting on As the results for the 21st Legisla- Tuesday night in order to hold ment Thomas Kean. He really did a partnership. We both bring our ex- tive District Assembly came pouring good job keeping the campaign up- pertise to the job and we’ll keep on their first meeting with newly in, it became more apparent the in- selected parking developer beat,” Assemblyman Bramnick said. strong through elections in Novem- cumbents would take the ballots for The other victor, Dr. Munoz is a ber,” Dr. Munoz said. Nassau HKT Associates. the Republican Party and that Ellen Bob Goldsmith, the town’s trauma surgeon at Newark’s Univer- One pressing issue Assemblymen Steinberg and Norman Albert would sity of Dentistry in New Jersey and attorney through the consulting emerge victorious for the Democrats. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 firm, The Atlantic Group, ex- In the Union County Freeholder plained that to minimize the Democrat Primary election, incum- impact the construction would bents Deborah Scanlon, Chester have on downtown businesses, Holmes and Alexander Mirabella Planning Board Delays construction should begin at the came out the winners. end of the holiday season. He Assemblyman Dr. Eric Munoz of said that the council needs to Summit took 35 percent of the vot- adopt the redevelopment plans ers’ ballots, while Jon Bramnick of Decision on Subdivision recently approved by the plan- Westfield drew in 32 percent. ning board and to bring in envi- “I am so proud. It was a very ronmental consultants. commanding victory. Actually it was Of Woodbrook Circle Bob Powell, a principal with Horace R. Corbin for The Westfield Leader PRIMARY WINNER…Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, left, and his Campaign close to a blowout. We fought a hard Nassau introduced the rest of race and took the challenge seri- By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL Variances for the subdivision of the the team, which includes the Manager Michelle Albano, right, are already working on their strategies for the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader November election. Assemblymen Bramnick and Eric Munoz won the 21st ously,” said Assemblyman Bramnick. second proposed property are the same design teams from Morris “We had a very positive race,” he A resolution honoring Vic and include a proposal of a front lot Ritchie and Associates and District Assembly Republican primary on Tuesday over Betty LaRosa, Helen Ryan and James Barry, Jr. added. “Everybody worked hard and Treznowski and the contributions that width of 52.42 feet, a lot frontage of Minno and Wasko Architects and the voters decided to keep us in office.” he made toward the Planning Board 37.82 feet and a front yard setback of Planners; the construction team Assemblymen Bramnick and and the Town of Westfield was pre- 94.53 feet. of the Troast Group; and Munoz defeated challengers Betty sented to his wife, Karen, and read to After hours of testimony given by Edwards and Kelcey, LLC. LaRosa, Helen Ryan, and James members of the audience at the June Engineer Edward Dec and Professional Mr. Powell said the council Barry, Jr. who together took in 34 2 Planning Board Meeting. Planner Michael Tobia, members of needs to agree on a develop- percent of the vote. According to Planning Board Chair- the Planning Board decided that they ment plan, which will legally “Their disadvantage was organi- man, Jay Boyle, Mr. Treznowski served needed further legal information be- govern what happens on the lots. zation. As incumbents we already the Planning Board from 1996 to 1998 fore they could make a decision about He stated that three studies; a had that under the belt,” commented and again from January 2001 until his the proposed subdivision. survey, environmental assess- Assemblyman Munoz. death on April 24 of this year. It was also Both witnesses gave testimony that ment and geological testing need Assemblyman Bramnick and noted that Mr. Treznowski, served on a second but less desirable proposi- to be done soon. Munoz hope now that elections are the Subdivision Site Plan Committee. tion for the property could be sought He also stated that the geo- over they can work with all three In other business, a decision re- by the owners and would not require technical testing would test core challengers for the district. garding an application to subdivide any variances. samples from the properties, “This is all about unification after property at 33 Woodbrook Circle has This proposal, according to Mr. which will tell the development a family fight. After all we’re work- been postponed until the next Plan- Dec and Mr. Tobia, would include team the bearing capacity of the ing for the same causes,” said As- ning Board Meeting presently sched- making a cul-de-sac for these two land. He stated that his team has semblyman Munoz. uled for Monday, July 7, at 8 p.m. properties thus requiring no vari- already taken proposals from “We ran against some very nice Charles Brandt, Esq., represented ances as the measurements for the consultants for these studies, and people.” Assemblyman Bramnick the owners, Needle Point Homes. ordinances are made from the street. that once begun it will take six said, “We are still working with them; Variances for the subdivision of With a new street made by the own- to eight weeks to get results. especially Betty LaRosa who has the first proposed property include: ers, measurements would fall into Mayor Gregory McDermott some very strong ideas.” relief from lot width requirement of what is requested by the ordinance. questioned why the firm would This was Mr. Bramnick’s first elec- 75 feet, relief from lot frontage re- According to testimony given by be charging 15 percent to super- tion.