Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 18, 2006 OUR 116th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 20-2006 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Town Council Adopts Budget, 8-1, After Debate Over Legal Expenses By MICHAEL J. POLLACK First Ward Councilman Peter Rick Danser, who, along with his firm, Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Echausse, prior to discussion, spoke earns $175 an hour. Councilman WESTFIELD – At Tuesday’s public of the “steep hill” the finance policy Bigosinski called for $150 paid to Mr. meeting, the Westfield town council committee, to which he is the chair- Danser and $125 to all other attorneys. voted eight to one in favor of the 2006 man, faced. He regretted “voting for a The councilman asked, since the municipal operating budget. In addi- tax increase of 7.5 cents,” but felt 90 “finance committee worked hard to tion, the council repealed the redevel- percent of increases were due to “state reduce staff and cut costs, why it opment distinctions and passed the spe- budgeting problems and mandated can’t adopt the same belt-tightening cial improvement district (SID) bud- expenses.” approach to the legal department,” get. Councilman Bigosinski, in his pro- which the councilman referred to as Before the roll-call vote on the op- posal, estimated that the town could the “sacred cow of the town.” erating budget, Fourth Ward Coun- save $47,000 in legal expenses over the Councilman Echausse retorted and cilman Tom Bigosinski formally in- course of 2006. His recommendations asked, “Why did you not vote ‘no’ (on troduced an amendment, which led to called for lowering the approved legal the budget introduction) a couple of a debate on the merits of the proposal budget from $230,000 to $207,110 and weeks ago? Tonight, by voting no, and councilmen accusing each other changing the “fixed component of the you’re flip-flopping. I find it deplorable of “playing politics.” town attorney’s (Robert Cockren) com- that you gave your memo to the press Photo Courtesy of Susan Cook In total, the 2006 municipal budget pensation from a $54,000 annual salary before you even publicly discussed it GENEROUS TOWN — Westfield United Way (WUW) representatives chant “Thanks Westfielders,” last week as they will be $33,896,440, which repre- to a $35,000 retainer.” before the town council. Are we talking celebrate completion of the 2005-06 goal of $700,000. Pictured from left to right are: Mark Elsasser, Westfield “Y”; Frank sents a 4.7-percent increase from His proposal suggested lowering the about policy or politics here?” Sullebarger, Youth & Family Counseling Service; Joe Fox, Jewish Family Service; Wendy Gooch, Prevention Links; Frank 2005, while the municipal portion of hourly rate structure paid to attorneys Finance committee member and Caragher, ARC of Union County; David Owens, CONTACT We Care; Ken Brucatto, Cerebral Palsey League; Rachel Arasin, Westfield Day Care Center; Tom Cusimano, WUW campaign chair; Linda Maggio, WUW executive director; property taxes will spike to over $19 designated by Mr. Cockren from $150 Third Ward Councilman Mark Carolyn Fleder, WUW board president; Joanne Oppelt, Community Access Unlimited; Gail Miller, Jewish Community million – an 8.3 percent jump from to $125. In addition, it called for a Ciarrocca added that “Councilman Center; Susan Chan, Visiting Health Services; Ann Genlot, Girl Scouts; Maureen Kaufmann, American Red Cross; Martine the previous year. similar pay rate for Labor Attorney Bigosinski has based his ideas on Cohen, Central Jersey Legal Services; Elsie Hemmings, Boy Scouts; Thelma Smith, Westfield Community Center; Joe what he admits is a paucity of data. Palmer, Mental Health Association; Marie Sloan, Mobile Meals of Westfield. And while his comments seem politi- cally expedient, many of his ideas fail Tennant to Leave WHS when only the surface of the data Hillcrest Increases Security; upon which he relies is scratched.” Councilman Ciarrocca refuted claims For So. Jersey Position found in what he deemed “cherry- By PAUL J. PEYTON He said he had not applied for picked” data Councilman Bigosinski Officials to Hold Public Meeting Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the position of WHS principal to provided, which compared the rate By MEGHAN GILL Berman attended the meeting. There is now a full-time police WESTFIELD – Assistant Princi- replace the retiring Robert Petix. similar towns pay their respective at- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Regarding police activity at the fa- officer assigned to the facility, funded pal Noah Tennant will leave the He said over the past few years torneys. WESTFIELD — Parents con- cility, Chief Parizeau confirmed that by the UCESC. The school also has Westfield school system after eight Dr. Petix had explained “the in- One example cites Nutley, whose cerned for the safety of their children there has been a “higher amount of operating metal detectors, according years to accept a principal position sight in the some of decisions he town attorney earns a salary of who live in the Tamaques School calls there than normal schools, to the e-mail. at a South Jersey middle school. has made” as principal. $44,000. “At first blush,” Council- district near Hillcrest Academy, at mostly for disorderly conduct or fight- As of May 12, students must take Calling the decision to leave “bit- “I think it’s a position that de- man Ciarrocca said, “one may think 728 Westfield Avenue, met with offi- ing among students.” the bus service provided by the tersweet,” he told serves consis- that the councilman is on to some- cials on May 9 to discuss the series of “Security measures will be en- UCESC. If they are expelled from the The Westfield tency and lon- thing, until you take a closer look. In problems with students who attend forced at Hillcrest Academy to keep bus, then they are expelled from the Leader he has ac- gevity,” he said, addition to the town attorney’s the academy. The Westfield Board of the students properly supervised,” Dr. school, according to Mr. Hartnett. cepted the posi- saying that he $44,000 salary, Nutley has an assis- Education (BOE) leases the facility Foley told The Leader. Ms. Riegel told The Leader, “If tion of principal and his wife had tant town attorney at another $44,000, to the Union County Education Ser- “We are, however, continuing to there were inappropriate things hap- at Haddonfield planned on re- a rent-leveling attorney at $6,500, vices Commission (UCESC). explore the financial feasibility of pening, I would like to look at the Middle School turning closer to and they pay their zoning and plan- Westfield School District Superin- relocating our administrative offices lease. The UCESC is taking steps to (HMS) in their family roots ning board attorneys about twice what tendent Dr. William Foley, UCESC to the Lincoln School facility. We are alleviate this problem; the BOE did Haddonfield, a in Pennsylvania. we pay ours.” Superintendent Edward Hartnett, waiting for the requested appraisal not get any complaints about this Philadelphia He said he Councilman Bigosinski said he Westfield Mayor Andrew Skibitsky, on the Elm Street building, where the situation until last week.” suburb. learned a great wasn’t “saying they’re managed bet- Police Chief John Parizeau, Town administrative offices are currently Ms. Hopper and Ms. Stern confirmed “The smaller deal from ter,” but only sought to provide a Councilmen David Haas and Mark located,” he said. that since October 28, 2005, there have environment (at Westfield ad- benchmark when comparing competi Ciarocca, BOE President Ann Riegel Mr. Hartnett said at the meeting that been 48 police calls to the academy. Haddonfield) ministration and CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 and Business Administrator Robert there are two programs located at “There have been (calls relating to) will be a little a staff. Hillcrest Academy facility. One pro- narcotics, terrorist threats, arson, simple more conducive “It is going to gram is the IAEP (Interim Alternative assaults, drugs and medical injuries,” to having a per- be hard to have BOE Discusses Fifth-Grade Education Program). These students Ms. Stern said. “If that’s not evidence sonal relation- Noah Tennant to walk away rotate in and out of Hillcrest as a result enough that there is a problem I don’t ship with stu- from this place,” of a problem at their public school. This know what is,” she said. dents,” Mr. Tennant said, noting Mr. Tennant said. Annex, Enrollment Report program can hold up to 17 students. Parents are waiting to receive a copy HMS has 560 students. He holds a master’s degree in edu- By MEGHAN GILL Dr. Foley also said that another The other program, AHP (Alterna- of the lease agreement between the Mr. Tennant joined the district as cation administration from the Teach- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader factor is cost. “If we add 20 class- tive High School Program), holds 80 UCESC and the district to determine if a seventh- and eight-grade language ers College at Columbia University WESTFIELD — The board of edu- rooms, the heating impact and stress students. According to Mr. Hartnett, there have been any violations. arts teacher at Edison Intermediate and a bachelor’s degree in secondary cation continued discussion at on facilities is going to cost more these are the students with whom the Dr. Foley, Mr. Hartnett and a mem- School, and he has been an assistant education from the University of Tuesday’s meeting on the Citizen’s money. Yes you will get more rooms residents have been having trouble. ber of the police department will meet principal at Westfield High School Delaware.