Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, January 10, 2013 OUR 123rd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 02-2013 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Skibitsky: Westfield Will Focus On Making Info. More Accessible By LAUREN S. BARR ing their community spirit and spe- downtown. “Together, let’s keep Specially Written for The Westfield Leader cial praise to the members of the Westfield first,” he said. WESTFIELD – “Who’d have police, fire and rescue squads who “Westfield’s form of government thought that for the second year in a were out working in dangerous con- is indeed unique,” the mayor said, as row I would be talking about a hurri- ditions during the storm. the council members receive no mon- cane and a snow event?” Mayor Andy He said downtown businesses were etary compensation, only the “dis- Skibitsky remarked during the town’s especially impacted by the afteref- tinct honor of serving.” He thanked annual address on January 3. fects of Superstorm Sandy, and the council members for their ser- The mayor said that while 14 homes stressed the need for a healthy busi- vice, as well as their families, who in Westfield were deemed uninhabit- ness community to ensure a stable the mayor noted give up a lot of time. able following Superstorm Sandy, residential community. Mayor Skib- The mayor also pledged to con- there were no serious injuries in itsky began his “Westfield First” ini- tinue to find ways to control costs Westfield. “Let us never forget to tiative several years ago to encourage while keeping, “Westfield a desir- count our blessings here in Westfield,” residents to spend their money at able place to work, live and visit.” Mayor Skibitsky said. He paid praise Westfield businesses, and again en- The mayor said the town’s 2012 to the residents of Westfield for show- couraged residents to patronize the salaries and wages were at the same level as 2005, but that was due mostly to attrition, reassignments and suc- cessful collective bargaining nego- tiations. Mayor Skibitsky said that public service remains a priority for the town and that Westfield has one of only one quarter of the state’s paid fire departments, staffed by 28 full- Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader time firefighters. He also said the UNION COUNTY FREEHOLDERS...Several members of the Union County Freeholders were sworn in at the reorgani- town has 52 police officers and 49 zation meeting held January 6 at the county courthouse in Elizabeth. Pictured, from left to right, are: Freeholder Vice- crossing guards. Chairman Christopher Hudak, Freeholder Daniel Sullivan, Freeholder Vernell Wright, Freeholder Angel Estrada, In 2013, the mayor pledged to work Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter, Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh, Freeholder Alexander to use affordable technologies to make Mirabella and Freeholder Bruce Bergen. information more accessible to resi- dents, and to make the town’s website more user-friendly. He said the town is currently working to allow permit Gun Buyback, Low-Cost Energy holders to pay for their parking spaces via a phone app, and to allow resi- dents to pay their property taxes online. Programs On Tap at County Mayor Skibitsky closed his speech By PAUL J. PEYTON discussion on guns, violence and being turned in. by saying, “The Town of Westfield is Specially Written for The Westfield Leader schools safety.” She said the free- Looking at job training, Freeholder really about its people…it’s an honor COUNTY – Creation of a mayors holders should support legislation by Carter said under the Union County Lauren S. Barr for The Westfield Leader MR. CHAIRMAN... Peter Echausse, center, 2013 chairman of the Westfield to serve you.” emergency management group for Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-20, CHOICES Program, Union County Recreation Commission, watches the proceedings during the Westfield Town As part of the annual reorganiza- future storms, a county gun buyback Union) to “limit the capacity of cer- College would offer training in Council’s annual reorganization meeting on January 2. Municipal Judge Brenda tion meeting, the mayor reappointed program, job training and business tain gun magazines in New Jersey.” healthcare/allied health and retail/ Cuba and her husband, Stan, are pictured in the front row. Anthony Prieto as municipal pros- assistance and a community energy She said Union County’s gun buy hospitality. ecutor and Gavin Handwerker as aggregation program top the list of back program, which she admitted, On her green energy initiative, she public defender. Former Councilman initiatives announced by 2013 Union “may not be a cure all,” would be said the Union County Improvement WF BOE Re-Elects President; Peter Echausse was appointed as the County Freeholder Chairman Linda conducted by the county police. She Authority would “explore” the en- chairman of the recreation commis- Carter at Union County’s 156th reor- said a similar program in Camden ergy aggregation program whereby Swears in Biegler, Galligan sion, along with commissioners Jeff ganization meeting held on Sunday. County resulted 1,300 weapons, in- county residents and businesses could O’Connor and Loren Weinstein, who Freeholder Carter, a Plainfield resi- cluding semi-automatic weapons, CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 By DELL SIMEONE [Westfield] chief of police [David were reappointed, and Kevin Neylan, dent elected to the board in 2010, is Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Wayman]; we sent e-mails to par- who was moved from an alternate to the first African-American woman to WESTFIELD - The Westfield ents. We’re fortunate that we have a full member. serve as freeholder chair. A teacher, Nierstedt, Palmer Join Board of Education, at its reorgani- worked closely with them [the police Additionally, Frederick Danser, she said the mass murders at a zation meeting January 3, welcomed department] for years. We weren’t 3rd, was reappointed as the town’s Newtown, Conn. school in Decem- Garwood Council new members Lucy Biegler for a starting from scratch,” Ms. Dolan said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 ber would be the “tipping point in the three-year term and Brendan Galligan “We’ve had a cooperative relation- By MEGAN K. SCOTT Ms. Palmer called more comfort- for a one-year term, as well as return- ship with the police and fire depart- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader able seats than the hard chairs at the ing members Gretchan Ohlig and Ri- ments for years. There are law en- MS BOE Swears in Motz, GARWOOD – Bill Nierstedt, a Garwood Board of Education meet- chard Mattessich for three-year terms. forcement people in this area who 25-year Garwood resident, took his ings. She served on the school board The board re-elected Mr. were ready to help us out. We’ve seat on the dais of the borough for seven years. Mattessich to serve as president, and taken advantage of all these perspec- Parker; Appoints Reps. council for the first time on January “It’s exciting,” said Ms. Palmer Rosanne Kurstedt to serve as vice- tives. We have people who have By CATHERINE WATSON act as liaison to the Berkeley Heights 2, 10 years after his initial attempt after the swearing in. “It’s nice to president. reached out. We’re going to make our Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Board of Education (BH-BOE), a to serve. see it from the other side. I’m look- Superintendent of Schools Marga- schools safe for all of our children.” MOUNTAINSIDE – Board Secre- role that belonged to board member Mr. Nierstedt and running mate, ing forward to seeing what comes ret Dolan thanked members of the The board voted to accept several tary Charles Milewski, acting as tem- Dante Gioia last year. Mr. Gioia will Ann Palmer, took the oath of office across our desks.” public for their votes in the Decem- donations, one from an anonymous porary chairman prior to the election be the NJSBA Delegate for 2013. during a swearing-in ceremony – The two Democrats beat Repub- ber 6 bond election to raise money to donor for $4,396 to the Franklin of officers for 2013, opened the Mr. Ruban will take over from Mrs. significant others by their side – lican challengers, incumbent Timo- replace roofs in the school district. School PTO grant account for two Mountainside Board of Education’s Motz as Mountainside Public Library and then joined the other council thy Hak and Mike Martin, in No- There were 2,700 yes votes and 1,503 laptop computers, two classroom annual reorganization meeting Tues- liaison for the coming year. He men- members on the rostrum in what CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 no votes. “The architect was here the audio systems, two document cam- day night. He swore in two board tioned that the library would be hir- morning after [the vote]. Three roofs eras and a printer; another from members, Kate Motz and Jeane ing a new director early in the year. are expected to be done this sum- Geraldine Morrison of $209 for a Parker, both of whom recently won The board elected to keep mem- mer,” she said. color printer for the Tamaques School elections to the board for three-year bership in its various committees Ms. Dolan addressed the mass archive classroom and a $1,500 do- terms. Both Mrs. Motz and Mrs. largely as it was in 2012. Mrs. Parker shootings that killed 26 including 20 nation, from the Northfield Bank of Parker had already served the board joined the Curriculum Committee, children last month at the Sandy Hook Westfield, for the Westfield High by appointment since October 2011, however.