Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, January 22, 2015 OUR 125th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 04-2015 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS 2015 Sewer Assessments Reviewed For Towns in RVSA System By WAYNE BAKER $621,794, up 16 percent. tion. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Kenilworth’s assessment drops to Overall, the assessments decrease RAHWAY — At last week’s meet- $590,830, down 18 percent. by $266,500 to $24,710,000 or a 1.0- ing of the Rahway Valley Sewerage Mountainside sees a charge of percent reduction. Authority (RVSA) Board of Com- $916,571 for a 2.1-percent drop. A discussion ensued about re- missioners, assessments for member Rahway’s assessment rises to institution of penalties for exceed- towns were reviewed, municipal flow $3,930,585 for a 5.2-percent increase. ing flow rights. The 5-percent in- rights and exceedances were heard, Roselle Park’s charge will drop to crease of flow rights for all member plus flow monitoring issues were dis- $550,226, down 8.9 percent. municipalities seems to take the risk cussed. Scotch Plains will pay $1,444,048 of penalties away from most of the Assessments for 2015 for each of for a reduction of 6.7 percent. municipalities except Springfield. the member towns are: Springfield sees a rise to During the first three months (Oc- Clark’s assessment rises to $2,490,677, up 4.7 percent. tober, November and December) of $2,302,117, up 3.6 percent. Westfield’s charge falls to the current metering year, four Cranford sees a charge of $3,376,411 for a 3.5-percent drop. towns had exceedances. Neither $1,708,833, a drop of 12 percent. Woodbridge decreases to Scotch Plains, with one, nor Garwood’s assessment rises to $6,777,908 for a 1.2-percent reduc- Woodbridge, with two, appear at risk of being penalized. Clark, which had six exceedances, and Springfield, with 10, seem at risk of being penalized. Member municipalities are permit- ted 10 exceedances per year with- out penalty. Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader Roselle Park’s Commissioner, MARCHING IN HIS MEMORY...Marchers lead a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday which began at the Attilio “Sonny” Venturo, argued that MLK Memorial at South Avenue and West Broad Street in Westfield and culminated with the annual commemorative Springfield’s problem is an “act of service at the First Congregational Church on Elmer Street in Westfield. The event is organized each year by the Dr. God.” This argument was quickly put Martin Luther King Association of Westfield. to rest when it was pointed out that the Authority operates on a contract, which was agreed to by the officials of each municipality. Each munici- Testimony Continues On pality receives a monthly report of its flows, and a letter warning of the risk of penalties is to be sent when a town GW Townhome Proposal hits 10 exceedances in a year. A post-meeting question put to By BRIAN TRUSDELL by Angela and Sandro Villaraut. Mr. Paterson, Mr. Greet and Mr. Authority Executive Director James Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Because of the hour, the board ad- Napolitano recused themselves. Mr. Photo courtesy of Julie Beck “Jim” Meehan inquiring about GARWOOD – Anger, sarcasm and journed before taking testimony from Greet, who was absent for the May TO THE RACES...Cub Scouts from Pack 171 watch with anticipation Saturday Springfield’s flow issues had him say- criticism from the public were appar- the audience and agreed to continue the hearing, bowed out because he lives as their Pinewood Derby cars race to the finish in the annual event that teaches ing that he believes Springfield is ent at a nearly three-hour planning hearing at its next meeting on Wednes- near the property and Mr. Napolitano wood crafting, creativity and sportsmanship. The cars ranged from the classic, board meeting January 14, as a panel day, January 28, in Borough Hall. did likewise because he is the Villarauts’ precisely weighted to fun and fanciful or both. Designers earned trophies for the conducting its own I&I (inflows and fastest times in their Den. Awards also were given for “Best design-overall/Pack infiltrations) investigation. To his reduced to six members heard the ap- The hearing came following a brief accountant. Favorite” and “Craftsmanship.” knowledge, they have taken no ac- plication for a disputed nine-townhome re-organization session that saw new Mr. Lombardo and Mr. Nierstedt tion thus far to purchase flow rights. development off Fourth Avenue. members Mayor Charles Lombardo were disqualified because the hearing A discussion occurred of what the Sharp commentary and outright de- and Steve Napolitano added and had was considered a continuance of the Child Seat Inspections Authority is doing to address rision were heard frequently from the former Mayor Pat Quattrocchi relegated use variance, in which as members of Garwood’s concerns over the increase full room during the testimony of the to an alternate role. Stephen Greet was the borough council they are prohib- in the borough’s assessment. civil engineer and architect seeking site unanimously re-elected as chairman, ited from participating. To Be Done at GW Squad CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 plan approval for the property owned and incumbent Kathleen Villaggio de- With only one alternate, Mrs. feated Robert Scherer for vice-chair- Quattrocchi, available, the board had By PAUL J. PEYTON will be no cost to the county. man, 7-2. only six members to hear the applica- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “It’s a very good program so I’m Parents Object to PARCC The proposed $5-million, age-re- tion. COUNTY — Union County is glad to know we’re able to continue stricted Fourth Avenue project was ap- Questions to civil engineer Thomas moving its child seat inspection pro- to keep it going,” Freeholder Chair- Test, Common Core Cur. proved for a use variance in May, a Quinn and architect Glenn Potter, both gram to the Garwood Rescue Squad man Mohamed Jalloh commented. decision that drew a court challenge in of whom testified at the May hearing, By DELL SIMEONE opment. She objected to the way the property, located at 401 Second Av- The freeholders are expected to Specially Written for The Westfield Leader September by four co-plaintiffs, in- ranged from traffic, lighting and gar- enue, county officials announced at vote to approve a two-year agree- screen is formatted and said that it is cluding two people who were mem- bage disposal to the inclusion of sec- last Thursday’s freeholder meeting. ment with the Garwood squad at its WESTFIELD – The board of edu- easy to be logged out and made to sign bers of the planning board. One person, ond-floor terraces in the building de- The program, which was initiated Thursday, January 29 meeting. cation met on Tuesday evening and back on to the test all over again. Ileen Cuccaro, was not re-appointed to sign and the storm water runoff rate by the county in 1999, has been lo- In other freeholder agenda-setting heard the concerns of three parents Superintendent of Schools Margaret the board, while another, Bruce Pater- into the Brooskide Retention Basin. cated at the AAA Car Care Center at meeting business, the freeholders con- who objected to the PARCC (Part- Dolan said, “We’ve been grappling with son, remains although he recused him- Mr. Quinn testified that plans for the 135 U.S. Highway 22, East in Spring- sidered a resolution to enter into a nership for Assessment of Readiness this a lot, on so many different levels. self from the January 14 hearing. approximately 500-by-135-foot prop- field since 2010, but AAA is closing contract with National Foam, Inc. of for College and Careers) math and We want to learn. As far as the tests go, The lawsuit has a case management erty at the north end of Walnut Street that facility. Prior to that the program Westchester, Pa., to provide a fire language arts test which will be given it has been our experience that they (the conference between the attorneys be- include demolition of the existing struc- was run out of the Union County suppression course for 76 firefighters in the spring using computers instead students) did much better than we fore State Superior Court Judge Karen ture on Fourth Avenue – formerly the Public Safety Building complex in from the Urban Area Security Initia- of pencil and paper. Board members thought,” she said. “As for the technol- Cassidy scheduled for Tuesday, Febru- home of Hidi’s Deli and Five Star Ca- Westfield. tive (UASI) Region through a 2014 also heard an objection to the Com- ogy and the teachers, at our in-service ary 24. tering – for the construction of two The program has been running from USAI grant. Mr. Moran said the mon Core Curriculum. in February, we are going to deal with The hearing on the application got townhome structures, each with three- 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and firefighters who will participate are Anastasia Harrison, a Westfield par- CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 off to an odd start when, in addition to CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 Thursdays except on holidays. The from the Elizabeth, Union, Linden, ent, objected to the Common Core program is operated by the Union Kenilworth, Hillside and Rahway fire Curriculum and the PARCC testing. County Police Department.