.-I M LD -T10 f" 33 J» J> m Q z C O O E WESTFIELD LEADER Westfield Since 1890 Published 24 Pages—30 Cents NINE! R, NO. 12 Second CIui Pouts• P WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1988 Every Thursday II WsilfieW. N.J. o Local Businesses Rally in Support of Storage Units A group of local businessmen represented were: Robert Store. were in attendance at Tuesday DeChellis, attorney for Anthony The ordinance as presented, night's town council meeting to DeChellis, president of Westfield called for the removal of mobile voice their opposition to a propos- Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., storage structures presently in ed ordinance which would pro- Inc.; Richard McDowell of use, allowing for a two-year hibit !hu use of mobile storage McDowells Oil Heat, Inc.; Byron period in which to facilitate structures. Miller of Portasoft Water Service removal. Co.; Peter Schechter of Westfield Many of the businessmen The purpose of the ordinance is Cleaners; Frank Geiger of argued that their businesses to reslricl business or commer- Geiger's Cider Mill; Raymond would suffer if they were forced cial uses to permanent structures Kostyack of Raymond's of to eliminate the storage units, which comply with all building, Westfield; Richard Pasquarella and added that additional ex- electrical fire and other codes of RPM Garage; Michael Seville penses for alternate storage and regulations within the town, of Westfield Lumber Co.; Jeffrey methods would mean passing on as well as improve the ap- O'Connor of the Central Avenue the costs to the consumer. pearance of the town. Mobile station; and a represen- Business representatives also Among the businesses tative of Hahne's Department questioned the legality of the Council's right to enforce such an ordinance. Affordable Housing Seminar In some instances, merchants and businessmen told the council that the storage units were need- At Westfield Adult School ed to protect flammable materials which could not be New Jersey courts' and stored on their business legislature have recently focused premises. Several individuals on the need for housing affor- said that the storage structures dable to low and moderate in- protected their equipment and come households. To educate the supplies from the elements as public on this complex issue, an well as from vandalism and theft. BLUE DEVIL WORSHIP... The Westfield High School Cheerleading Stjuad eagerly awaits "Blue Devit Affordable Housing Seminar will The storage issue originally Spirit Day," this Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Recreation Field on Rahway Avenue. The Westfield School be presented at Westfield Adult Boosters Association, sponsor of the event, reports that the day's activities will include several sporting had been brought to the attention School, Westfield High School on of the council by the Board of Ad- events, highlighted by Weslfield High School's first-ever night football game. Details and additional team Monday evening, Oct. 24, photographs can be found on page 13. justment, whose members fell 7:30-9:30 p.m., in Cafeteria B. that the storage units, under the This program, sponsored by present ordinance, were without the League of Women Voters of zoning regulations or tax conse- the Westfield Area, is open to the quences. Zoning Board Chairper- Westfield Library Fund public. A nominal fee will be son Mary Herberich, who was charged at the door to persons present at the meeting, said that not enrolled in the Westfield the board had supplied the town's Tops Goal by 30 Percent Adult School. Laws and Rules Committee with A panel will explain the Mt. a brochure from a manufacturer The building fund for the new have been made to the library the fund, or to have a plaque Laurel housing doctrine, the Fair of the storage structures, citing Westfield library has topped its fund. They have come from local' engraved with an inscription of Housing Act of 1985 and its im- Richard Bagger the zoning and non-taxable goal of $200,000 by more than 30 schoolchildren, individuals, the donor's choice. The surplus, plementation by the New Jersey aspects of the units as major sell- percent as donations continue to families, companies, Civic Mrs. Melloan added, will be plac- Council on Affordable Housing ing points to clients. come In. groups.. and. foundations in ed in an endowment fund Stor +COAH). Panel members include Jersey, will moderate the Richard McDowell responded Announcing the success of the amounts ranging from $1 to future needsof thellbrary". three persons involved at the panelists' brief presentations and that of those present, none had campaign to fellow library $50,000. The, new two-story library, slate level: John Payne, chair- joint discussions. had lax evasion on their minds trustees and campaign co- The $59,000 gift for the which will open in early man of the Alliance for Affor- Pane! experts will respond to when they had put the storage workers, chairman Jody Melloan children's room was donated by December, replaces the present dable Housing; Shirley Bishop, concerns expressed by the au- structures on their property. He said that pledges now total Marilyn and Paul Kolterjahn,' library housed in the municipal chief housing specialist, dience and will suggest what emphasized the need of storage $261,133, who have long been active building. Originally a bond issue N.J.C.O.A.H.; and Tricia Fagan, citizens can do to help establish for supplies in order to serve his That sum is expected to rise library supporters. He is chair- and a state grant totalling $3.9 executive, director, Right to good housing programs in their customers more efficiently. still more, however, according to man of the library board of million were considered suffi- Housing. Westfield Councilman communities. This program, ac- Members of the council said campaign treasurer Carole trustees and she is a volunteer in cient to cover building costs, but Richard Bagger will be the cording to Councilman Bagger, is they had not anticipated such a Phelan, because several groups the Friends of the Westfield construction costs proved higher panelist rnost knowledgeable "for people not directly affected, large turnout on the reading of and individuals have promised to Library. than expected. about the status of affordable who know affordable housing is ordinance and recognized the contribute to the fund before the To date, the "major benefac- To help pay for part of the fur- housing issues in Westfield and an important issue which must be need for further discussion. end of the year. tor" category of gifts over $5,000 nishings and computers, the fund: adjacent towns. Louise Conklin, addressed." Westfield Town Council voted to postpone the "The: response from Westfield has received 11 donations. drive was devised by an advisory social policy director of Ihe Council has prepared a sheet of a ordinance for the time being; has been heartwarming," Mrs. Eleven more contributions are in (Continued on last paga this section) League of Women Voters of New dozen pertinent questions and Councilman Richard Bagger an- Melloan said,-"When we launch- the $2,000 to $5,000 range, and answers which will be available nounced that he would hold a ed this drive last February, there have been 21 gifts of $1,000. as handouts to those attending special meeting Wednesday, several people predicted that it Plaques bearing the names of the Oct. 24 seminar. Nov. 2, at 8 p.m., in the Admin- would fail. But the hundreds of donors giving $1,000 or more will Fire Prevention Week The Westfield Adult School has istrator's Conference Room, in cards and letters we've received, be hung on a wall of the new made seminars on timely issues the Municipal Building. not only with money, but with building near the check-out desk. available to area residents for 50 Members of the public and local words of encouragement, prove In addition, more than 400 small Celebrations Underway years. merchants are invited to attend. that many people in WestField do brass plaques, bearing the names care about having a fine of people giving $100 to S500, will The Westfield Fire Depart- through hundreds of thousands of library." be placed on chairs, tables, study ment is bringing the message of acres of woodland. The fires The first of several ceremonies carrels and other furniture. A fire safety to residents of all ages were unrelated. Department Acquires celebrating the new library, commemorative book with an this week, during National Fire This year's fire prevention nearing completion on East alphabetical listing of all donors Prevention Week. theme, 'Smoke Detectors ... A Broad Street, will be the laying of will be placed on permanent Fire Prevention Week each Sound You Can Live With,' em- Fire-Rescue Vehicle the cornerstone, set for 10:30 this display. year includes the anniversary of phasizes the need for smoke coming Saturday, morning, Oct. Pat Volini, who is ordering the the Great Chicago Fire of Oct. 9, detectors in the home as well as The Westfield Fire Depart- It will be equipped with the •15, plaques, said this week that it is 1871. However, a much more She testing and replacing of bat- ment has accepted delivery of a most up to date rescue tools, Nearly 500 separate donations not too late lo make a donation to tragic fire occurred that very teries. According to the National fire-rescue vehicle replacing the vapor density detectors, self- same day a few hundred miles Fire Protection Association, special service van that has been contained breathing apparatus away from Chicago in the slate of more than one third ol all smoke in service since 1976. and lighting equipment to Wisconsin.