Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Old Man Winter Brings March Winds USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 112th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 25-112 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, February 28, 2002 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Absence of Ward Suit Attorney Causes War of Words for WTC By NANCY CROSTA LANDALE fee of $17,500. prise over the presence of the state- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader In discussions prior to its regular ment and, in an effort to understand The Westfield Town Council con- meeting on February 13, Mayor Gre- its content, asked whether the state- tinued to wrestle with the Ward Com- gory McDermott advised that Town ment was itemized to show the na- mission suit on Tuesday as it consid- Clerk Bernard Heeney had received ture of services rendered. ered a statement for legal services a letter from Lum, Danzis, Drasco, Reviewing the statement, Town submitted by the Ward Commission’s Positan & Kleinberg, counsel for the Attorney Robert Cockren advised counsel and learned that settlement Westfield Ward Commission, con- that the services included answering discussions may have commenced firming the firm’s retention. the complaint, reviewing and ana- on Westfield’s behalf without the The letter was accompanied by a lyzing case law, reviewing issues council’s knowledge or consent. resolution appropriating funds to pay concerning Westfield’s intervention The Ward Commission suit is an the Lum firm for the Ward in the suit, and communications be- action pending in New Jersey Supe- Commission’s legal expenses in the tween the Lum firm and Mr. Riccio rior Court, challenging the 2001 re- Commission suit. After reviewing on behalf of the town. drawing of Westfield’s ward bound- and discussing the proposed resolu- Further reviewing the statement, aries. tion, Mayor McDermott and council Second Ward Councilman Rafael During its regular meeting on Janu- members decided not to vote on the Betancourt noted entries relating to ary 29, amid much discourse and resolution and to direct further in- settlement discussions. Mr. Heeney controversy, the council passed a quiry to the Lum firm. affirmed that a closed session meet- resolution for the town to intervene During the Petitions and Commu- ing was noticed for this Friday con- in the suit, by a 5-to-4 vote along nications portion of the agenda on cerning settlement of the suit. party lines. Tuesday, Mr. Heeney advised that he Mayor McDermott responded, “It Michelle H. Le Poidevin for The Westfield Leader The resolution directed the town had received a statement for services concerns me if Mr. Heeney is saying ENTREPRENEURS...Students from Thom Hornish’s economics class at Westfield High School are learning how to put to retain a separate attorney, Ronald from the Lum firm in the amount of there is an opportunity for settlement together a newspaper, which will include their exclusive stories on Wall Street business. Classmates chose the name J. Riccio of McElroy, Deutsch & $9,695. but the council has not met with our “Business Bytes” for the publication and are being taught how to use Adobe Pagemaker by Michelle H. Le Poidevin, Arts Mulvaney of Morristown, at a capped & Entertainment and Education Editor of The Westfield Leader and The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Mayor McDermott expressed sur- attorney.” Councilman Betancourt added, “We need to meet with Mr. Riccio. I’m happy a settlement is on the Races for School Board Seats Begin horizon, but we need to tell the people Fire, Police Officials of Westfield what’s going on. It makes no sense that Mr. Riccio hasn’t called In Westfield, SP-F, Mountainside us. We’ve met eight to 10 times since To Take to The Court the resolution (retaining Mr. Riccio) By DEBORAH MADISON was passed. If he met with the Ward has served on the town’s Planning mittees. She is also a consultant for Commission attorneys, he certainly Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Board for the past two years. He has BOGG, a center of excellence for Board of Education election cam- has time to meet with his client. We a son in second grade in Washington persons with disabilities. need to ensure that our lawyer talks For Worthwhile Cause paigns are underway as several in- Elementary School. The fourth candidate for the cumbents and new candidates have to us.” Mr. Ziff has also served on the Westfield school board is George Fourth Ward Councilman By MICHELLE H. Le POIDEVIN Mr. Tiller stated that the idea filed petitions to fill the available Historic Tree Preservation Commit- Kattak, who has been a resident for Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Lawrence Goldman concurred, “I “snowballed,” involving Police seats in Westfield, Scotch Plains- tee and on the Westfield Neighbor- 10 years. He has a daughter in second The nine families from Westfield Chief Bernard Tracy, Detective Fanwood and Mountainside. agree. Mr. Riccio ought to be com- hood Council since 2000. He is cur- grade at Franklin Elementary School municating with the town. My hope impacted by the terrorist attacks James McCullough and Detec- This year, in Westfield, there are rently the Vice Chair of the New and a son who will attend first grade of September 11 have not been tive Sandra Chambers, who has four candidates vying for three avail- is that he would come to our confer- Jersey Supreme Court Ethics Com- in September. Mr. Kattak has been a ence session. We’re all free, how- forgotten in the hearts of extensive experience organizing able seats. mittee for District 12. The candidate CPA for 13 years and is a member of Westfield’s bravest and finest. fundraisers. Board President Arlene Gardner ever, to pick up the phone to call holds a Master’s Degree in Urban the Union County Chamber of Com- him.” Members of the Westfield Po- “It was hectic,” admitted Mr. will be running for her third term on Studies. merce. lice Department and the Westfield Tiller. “I’ve never done anything the board. A resident of Westfield for Councilman Goldman continued, Another new candidate, Alice In the Scotch Plains-Fanwood “I’m rather curious as to why we’re Fire Department will go head to 18 years, Mrs. Gardner has a daugh- Hunnicutt, an 18-year resident of school district, there are also three head in a basketball game ter in 12th grade and a son in 10th having this discussion up on the dais. Westfield, has five children, two of seats available, two for Scotch Plains Never in the six years that I’ve been tomorrow, Friday, March grade. This year marked Mrs. which have graduated and three chil- and one for Fanwood. There are three 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gardner’s first year serving as Presi- on the Town Council has a letter dren are still attending Westfield candidates in Scotch Plains vying for from a lawyer doing work for the Westfield High School dent, after having served two years schools. the two seats. gymnasium. The face-off as Vice President. town been deemed a ‘Petition and Mrs. Hunnicutt is employed by the Board President Donald Sheldon Communication,’ particularly where will benefit those fami- Mrs. Gardner is Director of the State-Wide Parent Advocacy Net- has filed a petition for what will be lies who lost loved ones Center for Civic and Law Related there is an issue whether (the Lum work (SPAN), which distributes in- his fourth term. He has been Board firm) has been retained by the town.” in the World Trade Cen- Education and is a non-practicing formation to parents on issues re- President for six out of the last nine ter attacks in New York attorney. An emotionally charged exchange lated to education. She has been ac- years. Prior to becoming President, then ensued, with Councilman City. Westfield Board of Education can- tive on the district-wide Parent Dr. Sheldon served as Vice President According to didate, William Ziff, a Westfield resi- Betancourt stating, “I haven’t picked Teacher Association (PTA) Council and he has served on most of the up the phone to call him because I Firefighter Anthony dent since 1994 is an Attorney, who and has served on several PTA com- Tiller, the idea for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 fundraiser originated TEAM CAPTAINS…Westfield Fire Chief when he was brainstorm- John Castellano, left, and Westfield Police ing with Fire Chief John Chief Bernard Tracy will watch their Castellano about raising firefighters and police officers face off in a Westfield’s National Guard Armory Gets basketball game to benefit the nine fami- monies for the families. lies impacted by the terrorist attacks of Both Mr. Tiller and September 11. Chief Castellano recalled a benefit in which firefighters from like this before. But, Sandy has Wired With State-of-Art Equipment Elizabeth raised approximately done fundraisers before and ev- for use by public and private groups form manner via this interactive com- from Missouri to New Jersey. The $85,000 in three days while stand- By AMY HOROWITZ eryone works very well together.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader for approximately $145 per hour. puter system. Missouri prison had a video ing on city street corners. Firefighter Tiller added that the Funds generated would be non-profit “(For example), such a system conferencing system, and the inter- At first, the fire officials thought “higher ups” lent their support by A Distance Learning Center, lo- cated in the Westfield National Guard and used to maintain the equipment. comes in very handy for taping depo- view was done on tape.