SI3 f'l *********«CAR-RT LOT»*C015 t 3 Wl SIFIELI) MEMORIAL LIBRARY 550 fc BROAD ST WESTHEID NJ 07090-2116 07090211650 IWMaWBHWBlgl 3b flopiilos. ilon abmis. tkrbrmmus LSPS MMNI2II I’ublKhi^l t im Ihurvlm Mint Vplrm hrr .3, UNO OUR 115th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 14-2005 Thursday, April 7,2005 (908) 232-4407 Periodical - Postage Paid at Westfield, N J. ww w .goleader.com press («' goieader.com SIXTY CENTS Five BOE Hopefuls Face-Off In Candidates Night Forum By El) COONEY Steven Dorry noted that "excellence more, involvement with the commu­ Specialty Written for The Westfield tedder comes at a price." and that “we have nity. WESTFIELD - All five candi­ to pay teachers what they’re worth." Ms. Ormsby-Cary suggested a dates running for seats on the He also said that teacher salaries policy be put in place mandating that Westfield Board of Education (BOE) fixed by the collective bargaining each guidance counselor at Westfield participated in Candidates Night at agreement currently in place, coupled High School take at least three trips a Westfield High School last Wednes­ w ith the increasing cost of special year to different universities in order day. education and insurance for teachers to foster relationships advantageous The event, hosted by the Westfield and staff, make it difficult to keep to Westfield students seeking admis­ League of Women Voters, gave the spending down. sion. candidates an opportunity to answer Gary McCready, another challenger Ms. Ormsby-Cary. who has expe­ questions on several important issues for one of the three available seats on rience in the field of public relations, sutrounding this year's election. the board, said that property taxes are also outlined the need for better com­ The format of the event allowed high "because of the way the state munication between teachers and each candidate a minute and 30 sec­ funds education.” parents, a need she has stressed onds to respond to each question. He also expressed a desire to con­ throughout her campaign. When asked what path should be sult more directly with the district's Ms. Hunnicutt also suggested that taken to keep property taxes from strategic plan in order to determine communication between parents and growing, incumbent hoard member “what we should hope to offer stu­ teachers be increased and mandated, Alice Hunnicutt noted the “challenge dents" recommending an e-mail policy be between knowing what is important When asked what new policies he enacted requiring teachers to notify to the students, parents and commu­ would like to see put in place should parents of upcoming in-class events. nity. and what is .responsible fiscal he be elected to the board, Mr. Ms. Hunnicutt also mentioned the Patrick Connor for The Westfield Leader spending." McCready said he would "like to see need for an updated health and MEN AND MACHINES GET READY...Emergency workers and robots get ready last Monday at Kean University for Fellow incumbent William Ziff healthier food options in the cafete­ wellness policy. TOPOFF3, the national terrorism exercise that is taking place April 4 through 8. New Jersey and Union County forces stressed the need for communication rias,” as well as a new policy on Mr. Ziff responded to the same participate as the area is used as a venue Tor a simulated biological attack. between the BOE and the Westfield computer safety, and a policy man­ question by calling for "the re-in­ Town Council, a theme he would dating that all information on the new statement of a-cooperative liaison" often reiterate in his responses district website be kept up-to-date. between the BOE and the town coun­ Board of Adjustment Yet to Act throughout the night. Additionally, Mr. McCready sug­ cil. He suggested that such coopera­ Challenger Ann Ormsby-Cary. cur­ gested mandatory exit polling of se­ tion could benefit the school district rent Co-President of the Parent niors graduating from Westfield High both economically and in regards to Teacher Organization (PTO) at School to gauge their experiences at safety. On Westfield Auto Spa Proposal Tamaques Elementary School, Justi­ the school and to discover w hat needs The annual school board election By DAVID GIALANELLA "I'm concerned with the worst "The what-if questions-there's no fied reasonable increases in spending to be improved upon. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader takes place on Tuesday, April 19, days of the year," said Board mem­ end to those," responded Robert by stating her belief that "this com­ When asked the same question. with polls open from 2 to 9 p.m. In WESTFIELD — The board of ad­ ber Chris Masciale. referring to Criscuolo, w ho said he has had exten­ munity values education." Mr. Dorry stressed the need for a addition to electing three of the above Justment remains undecided regarding rare days when cars might actually sive experience with carwashes and Ms. Ormsby-Cary went on to say “comprehensive prevention and early mentioned candidates to three-year the proposed Westfield Auto Spa. a line up so far-as to encroach upon is under contract to fit the proposed that "parents in this community want intervention program" to eliminate terms on the school board, the com­ combi nedcarw ash and lube center eyed South Avenue. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 to make sure students have the best the possibility of violence at school. munity will vote on the S66 million for 215 South Avenue, the currently education possible." Similarly, he mentioned a “need to proposed school tax levy that will unoccupied, former site of Norwood In a similar vein, fellow challenger address security” as well as a need for fund this year's $77 million budget. Auto Parts. The board is expected to vote on the application at its regular meeting Town, BOE to Unseal on Monday, April 11. Westfield Planning Bd. Extends Will and Joe Faris, who also own the Exxon station at the corner of Ttorf Bids for Kehler South and Central Avenues, attended Review of Seneca Place Proposal the board's March 30 meeting, ac­ companied by five professionals with B> KI.MBKKI.Y A. BROADWEIX seeking to demolish theexisting house property. whom they are working. Proceedings Stadium, Fay Field VWCW//V Wrmen Jcr Ih t Weslfu-UI Under at 254 Seneca Place to construct two Further, the new proposed road lasted over four hours, but the board By MEREDITH MANNING opens bids on a similar proJect: WLSTHLI.D-The planning board new. single-family homes, each on its will provide an underground decided a Judgment would be reached Specially for The Westfield Leader the synthetic turf revamping of Monday night, during its regularly own lot. The applicant is also seeking stormwater retention system, which, at its April I I meeting. WESTFIELD - Both the Town Sid Fay Field, a section of scheduled monthly meeting, reviewed to build a right-of-way (R.O.W.) for he stated, "will be completely en­ The Farises are seeking variances of Westfield and the Board of Edu­ Houlihan Field which is located hut did not take action on the pro­ the houses. closed." He said that this easement for maximum coverage, minimum cation will unseal bids later this near St. Helen's Roman Catholic posed subdivision at 254 Seneca Testifying on behalf of the applica­ will also serve as a common bound­ parking spaces and minimum side month on synthetic turf fields to Church off of Rahway Avenue. Place. tion was Edward Dec, engineer for ary and will prevent through traffic yard setback. be installed in time for the fall Westfield's Director of Recre­ Due to the late hour, the board the proJect, Robert Kraus, attorney to the new proposed road from the “One thing we don't want in this sports season, officials have con­ ation. Bruce Kaufmann. was in­ decided to continue the hearing next for the applicants and traffic engineer apartment complex on Seneca Place town if we can possibly avoid it is firmed, officials confirmed this strumental in the installation of month. Members' of the public who Elizabeth Dolin. — which is located near the pro­ vacant real estate," said former Mayor week. the first synthetic turf municipal came to speak to board members re­ Mr. Dec stated that the plan that the posed properties. Bud Boothe, who made a special ap­ In December. Westfield resi­ field in New Jersey, which oc­ garding the application were asked to applicants were submitting was re­ Mr. Kraus said that the plans for pearance and was allowed to speak at dents voted in favor of a $1.38 curred in Livingston. come back to the Monday, May 2 vised from its original submission the proposed R O W. were also up­ the beginning of the session. He tes­ million bond referendum to fund According to Mr. Kaufmann, meeting, w hich will begin at 8 p.m. last spring and updated since its last dated from a 28-foot-wide road to an tified as to the integrity of the Farises the refurbishment of Kehler Sta­ there are many options in syn­ Applicants Joseph Buoritempo and revision in December. He said that 18-foot-wide road. The new design as evidenced by the viability and func­ dium. School officials said the thetic turf. One of the main fac­ Jean Genievich are seeking approval the main difference in this new plan was called a “Hammerhead" road. tionality of the Exxon station, saying. proJect will benefit high school tors in determining which sort of for a maJor subdivision, which will was the implementation of a conser­ This, he stated, was different from "You have a proven track record with athletes in town by considerably turf field to install is the age of the create two new building lots from an vation easement, which will run along the earlier proposed cul-de-sac in this applicant." increasing hours and locations youngsters who will play on the existing single lot.