Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 9, 2014 OUR 124th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 41-2014 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield Advances Smoking Ban In Town Parks and Facilities By DOMINIC A. LAGANO Gildea explained that the ordinance ment.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader is technically an “extension” of the If violated, the ordinance allows WESTFIELD — At its regular pub- current ordinance that bans smoking for fines ranging from $50 for a first lic meeting this past Tuesday evening, at the Memorial Pool complex. offense up to $500 for a third offense. the Westfield Town Council (WTC) The updated ordinance will now The Westfield Board of Health and passed on first reading of an ordi- include Brightwood Park, Clark Park, the Westfield Police Department will nance that effectively bans smoking Elm Street Field, Gumbert Field, be the agencies assigned with enforc- on all municipal park grounds and Houlihan and Sid Fay Fields, ing the ordinance. facilities. Mindowaskin Park, Sycamore Field, A public hearing will be held at a “This is an ordinance that was dis- Tamaques Park and Windsor Park. future town council meeting concern- cussed for many months in the Rec- The ban would also apply to land ing this ordinance so members of the reation Commission and the Board that is part of the state’s Green Acres public may voice their opinion to the of Health,” stated Town Administra- program located in Westfield. Funded council. tor Jim Gildea. “The (council’s) Code by the New Jersey’s Department of The council also passed a resolu- Review and Town Property (Com- Environmental Protection (DEP), the tion authorizing an emergency ap- mittee) also discussed it. We actually Green Acres program is tasked with propriation of $150,000 for funds to didn’t take any action because the preserving and enhancing New repair a collapsed box culvert of Saint state was considering a statewide ban. Jersey’s “natural environment and its Marks Avenue. A box culvert is a The governor vetoed that ban re- historic, scenic, and recreational re- structure that allows for water drain- cently so we’re moving forward.”Mr. sources for public use and enjoy- age under a roadway. Mr. Gildea described the purpose for the emergency appropriation. “We had road paving going on, of course being this time of year. We were in the process of paving the 600 block of Saint Marks. “We had about three-quarters of the road paved and as the last stretch Christina M. Hinke for The Westfield Leader of asphalt was being delivered down LOOKING FOR PUMPKINS…Local families enjoyed hayrides along the Halloween decorated grounds, a pumpkin patch, the unpaved section of Saint Marks, maze, pony rides, and games at Williams Nursery in Westfield on Saturday. Williams Nursery will hold the festivities this what’s called a box culvert drainage month. system on the side of Saint Marks, which was installed in 1927, gave way under the truck. The truck went Westfield BOE Hears Reports on into the hole and was severely damaged…no was hurt but we were unable to finish the paving that day.” Mr. Gildea continued, “We brought STEM Camp, Energy And HIB in a structural engineer to look at it. By DELL SIMEONE summer. Superintendent of Schools students. The whole stretch was compromised Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Margaret Dolan said the students Ms. Dolan announced that the WESTFIELD – The board of edu- are excited with the hands on op- U.S. Environmental Protection Betsey Burgdorf for The Westfield Leader even though only this one section 50 SHADES OF GREEN…Westfield battles algea at Mindowaskin Park in failed due to the weight of the truck, cation held a regular meeting on portunity. She said the district has Agency (EPA) has recognized the Westfield as the pond is covered, making the water appear to be many different but it’s something that’s been there Monday evening and highlighted a partnered with Kean University to Westfield School District for earn- shades of green. since 1927. It’s an old design. We just video of the summer STEM (Sci- enhance the resources available to CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 got some prices to repair it. Consider- ence, Technology, Engineering and ing the time of year and the Math) Camp, presented a report on MS Council Discusses homeowners that are dealing with the Energy Star Program and re- Cranford Paving Projects this, we want to do an emergency ported on incidents of violence and appropriations for that one job (to HIB (harassment, intimidation and Land Use Regulations replace the box culvert). What we’ll bullying) in the district. To Begin This Month By KATE BROWNE for members’ review prior to the up- do is follow that up with the next two A seven-minute video, put to- By CHRISTINA M. HINKE condition of West Holly would deem Specially Written for The Westfield Leader coming vote. meetings with a bond ordinance for gether by students, was shown Specially Written for The Westfield Leader some temporary patching in the in- MOUNTAINSIDE — After almost Council members also conducted that emergency…this is a capital which highlighted students enjoy- CRANFORD — Road paving be- terim. The paving of Keith Jeffries six months of often heated debate, an in-depth review of the borough’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ing activities at STEM Camp this gins this month in Cranford, Town- Avenue may be pushed back until questions regarding the scope of a responses to the state’s annual Best ship Engineer Carl O’Brien said at spring while some other sewer work proposed ordinance to increase the Practices Inventory Review for Mu- the township committee workshop is being completed, Mr. O’Brien said. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from .225 to nicipal Governments. The Best Prac- Freeholders Look to Bring meeting Monday night. A map of the South Union Avenue paving is to .240 continued at the borough tices Inventory is an annual checklist list of some 20 roads to be paved in be completed this month. Two trees council’s October 7 work meeting. A of 50 questions which are aimed at October is posted in the municipal were removed on the sidewalk lead- proposed ordinance to increase the insuring that local governments are Hudson JDC Head to County building. ing up to South Avenue because they FAR is scheduled for a public hear- using practices that stabilize prop- Some of the roads included for were pulling up pavers, Mr. O’Brien By PAUL J. PEYTON rector of the Union County jail, and ing and vote at the Tuesday, October erty taxes and encourage financial Specially Written for The Westfield Leader October will be pushed back. Herning said. He said the township is not 21 meeting. accountability and transparency. The Mr. Guzzo have been running the Avenue will begin after Halloween, planting new trees; instead he sug- As currently drafted, the ordinance inventory is designed to provide stan- COUNTY — The Union County detention center since. as to not interrupt the grand trick-or- gested potted plants or potted trees. allows the increased FAR for new dards by which local government freeholders are expected to vote to- In other business, the board con- treating that occurs on the block. The paving of two parts of South construction or significant renova- officials can assess how they are con- night to approve a memorandum of sidered a new five-year agreement Elizabethtown Gas is expected to dig Union Avenue and Lincoln Avenue tions contingent on a concomitant ducting business, compare those prac- understanding with Hudson County with Illinois-based KemperSports to up the road on West Holly Street this East are to be funded by the New increase in the required side-yard tices against other municipalities, and for an intergovernmental transfer of manage the county’s two golf courses, fall and winter, so the paving by the Jersey Department of Transportation. setbacks. Councilman William R. find new, cost-effective ways of pro- Diana Youst, the director of Hudson Galloping Hill in Kenilworth and Ash township will occur in the spring. “We should get good money on these Lane asked Borough Attorney John viding services. County’s Juvenile Detention Center, Brook in Scotch Plains. The county Mayor Andis Kalnins said the poor CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Post to review the draft language to Municipal governments need to to Union County to run the Union will pay Kemper $509, 724 to man- insure that the criteria for what is a meet an established percentage of the County Juvenile Detention Center. age the courses for the 60-month “significant renovation” is clear. Mr. checklist items in order to receive all Frank Guzzo, director of human contract, about $100,000 lower than Lane noted that while the town’s large or part of their final state aid pay- services for Union County, told the the current agreement, according to lots could potentially accommodate ment. In addition to allowing “yes” freeholders that if approved by the Armando Sanchez, director of golf larger homes, he had considerable or “no” answers, for certain ques- board tonight, Ms. Youst would start operations for the county. concern about the need to have homes tions the Inventory allows the option with Union County on Tuesday, Oc- Under the new agreement, Union that “fit” on their blocks. Mr. Post of answering “not applicable” or that tober 14, with Union County reim- County will no longer receive total bursing Hudson for her salary and revenues from the food and beverage advised he would prepare a memo CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 fringe benefits at her current rate operation at the Galloping Hill ban- with Hudson.