Happy St. Patrick’s Day Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, March 14, 2013 OUR 123rd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 11-2013 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield Rec. Commission Rejects Proposed Lease of Tennis Courts By DELL SIMEONE son. Her proposal also takes away will have to be worked out with the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader courts that would be used for open schools. WESTFIELD – The town’s rec- play.” Mr. Kaufmann said that Memo- reation commission, on Monday Recreation Commission Chair- rial Pool registration started in the evening, considered and rejected a man Peter Echausse said, “Do the third week of February, and that proposal by Marcy Borr, of the math, it doesn’t pay; we are a self- 2,754 residents have already signed ACES tennis program, to lease two funding department. No taxpayer up. Mr. Kaufmann said the guest courts this summer at Tamaques money goes into the recreation de- pass daily rate was raised by a dol- Park to offer tennis lessons at the partment budget.” lar and the guest pass weekend rate cost of $5 an hour. Mark Friedman, Westfield Board by $2. He also said total pool rev- Recreation Director Bruce of Education liaison to the commis- enue realized last year was Kaufmann said, “Under the present sion, said that the board would open $1,152,906. agreement with Pro Tuff and the P3 bids in April for renovations to the Dee Kaufmann, assistant recre- Tennis Academy, the town gets $17 schools to be done this summer. ation director, said sponsors and an hour, and realizes $5,000 from Mr. Kaufmann said this would cause volunteers are needed for the 5k one program and $7,000 from an- changes in scheduling for the sum- Race and One Mile Family Fun other. We’d only get $1,200 a sea- mer playground program, which Run to be held Sunday, May 19, at Tamaques Park. For more informa- tion, residents can call the depart- ment at (908) 789-4080. Online registration is available at RaceForum.com/Westfield. She also said the Imagine project, to be placed in an area of Dominic A. Lagano for The Westfield Leader Mindowaskin Park, is still in the BOE BUDGETS...Boards of Education announce budgets for the 2013-2014 school year. Pictured above, the Mountainside planning stages, but is expected to Board of Education introduces its budget on March 5. See the school budgets and tax levies for Westfield (page 22), have a water element, a pergola and Mountainside (page 20), Scotch Plains-Fanwood (page 11) and Garwood (page 10). a retaining wall. She said fundraising for the project still has to be done. The concept for the Work Continues on Jail; project is to have a peaceful place in nature for those who have lost a loved one to come for reflection. Mr. Kaufmann said the commis- Recycling Grants Face Cuts sion would have to approve the work By PAUL J. PEYTON In recent months the county has refurbishment of all inmate hous- to be done at the park. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader moved prisoners to the Hudson ing units, installation of security Mr. Kaufmann told the commis- COUNTY – The Union County County jail per an agreement with cameras, creation of a new “more sioners that the Viersma Company Board of Chosen Freeholders last that county in order to allow refur- modern, more sizeable, better-out- came in with the lowest bid and week considered resolutions to in- bishment of inmate showers and fitted control center” and would be doing work on the crease professional services con- housing areas, including painting reconfiguration of the jail’s lobby Photo courtesy of Gabe Gluck/Union County Parks Gumbert and Memorial Fields. He tracts by a total of $630,000 as part and replacement of floors. area. The kitchen also is to be up- WHITE-OUT...The view from the gazebo at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside said that opening day of the base- of a $22-million upgrade at the Brian Riordan, director of cor- graded. last Friday was a virtual white-out as a late season snowfall dropped several ball season would depend on the Union County correctional facility. rections, explained that the “refur- He estimated upgrades in the inches on the area. cooperation of the weather to get The resolutions before the board bishment of the jail” was necessary housing units would take 18 months the work done on time. He said the include a change order of $214,083 due to its overuse since the facility to complete, with the control center GW Council Announces Tax work to be done at Gumbert One is to Netta Architects, LLC, of was opened in 1989. He said the to be completed after work on the redoing the pitcher’s mound and Mountainside, for a new contract project would eventually include CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 home plate. Mr. Kaufmann added of $512,173 and a $416,000 in- that new clay and grass would be crease to Pinnacle Consulting of Hike; Dump Truck Purchase put in the infield. An irrigation sys- Newark for a new contract of $1.3 Blaufeder Named to Fill By MEGAN K. SCOTT finance committee first reduced the tem also will be installed, he said. million for construction manage- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader budget to $153, then made more All four fields at Memorial will ment services. The freeholders are GARWOOD – At the Garwood adjustments to bring it down to $95. be regraded, and fenced in benches expected to vote on both contracts Vacancy on GW Council Borough Council’s meeting on Feb- One of the ways the committee CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 at tonight’s regular meeting. By MEGAN K. SCOTT on the appointment. ruary 28, it was announced that pared costs was by using a state law Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Two residents objected to the se- residents would face a 3.31-percent that allows the $90,000 in accrued GARWOOD – Former Republi- lection process and one criticized it property tax hike under next year’s benefits of retiring Police Captain CF Residents Voice Concerns can candidate Steven Blaufeder was as “clandestine.” proposed municipal budget, which James Pipala to be paid over five unanimously approved by the bor- Republican Jim Mathieu agreed would be the 11th year out of the years instead of two. ough council to fill the seat vacated with residents Joe Garritano and last 12 the municipal rate has risen. Council members questioned not Over Conflict of Interest by the resignation of Victor Bruce Paterson that the process does The increase amounts to $95 per only Ms. Todisco, but also borough By DELL SIMEONE attorney in 2012, and who represented DeFilippo on Tuesday. appear nefarious, and said that in $100,000 of assessed property Chief Financial Officer and Trea- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the township during the Birchwood A local business owner, Mr. the past he has suggested requiring value. surer Sandy Bruns and auditor Bill CRANFORD – Several residents development and Lehigh Acquisitions Blaufeder was one of three nomi- nominees to submit résumés, biog- The proposed $5.797 million in Swisher. voiced their dismay at the Cranford site plan hearings, both of which were nees submitted by the Garwood Re- raphies and undergo a public inter- tax revenues would go to fund a While acknowledging the time Township Committee’s meeting on held last summer at the Union County publican Committee. His name was view process. $7.7-million budget – nearly and effort used to come up with the Tuesday night regarding possible con- Courthouse in Elizabeth, was a pos- not announced publicly by the coun- “I do not like this process,” Mr. $200,000 higher than the current budget, Councilman Jim Mathieu flicts of interest. Among them were sible conflict of interest. cil until Council President Sara Mathieu said. “I do think it’s very year’s spending plan. criticized finance committee mem- residents Liz Sweeney and Rita La She said Mr. Morin is an attorney Todisco made the motion to nomi- closed, and I think the public will In a workshop meeting on Febru- bers for increasing taxes in a time Brutto, who had previously addressed with the Florio Perucci, Steinhardt, nate him. The other two names – be much better served if we had ary 28, Council President and Fi- of economic austerity, saying the concerns at the committee’s February Fader law firm. She also said that Mike Martin and Carol Kearney – things like résumés, discussions. nance Committee Chairwoman Sara repeated hikes were driving people 25 workshop meeting. Michael Perucci of the law firm is a were never mentioned. There was You as a citizen are better off when Todisco said the increase was nec- out of Garwood. During the public portion of the principal in the Woodmont Develop- no discussion by council members CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 essary because of new expenses in- Mr. Mathieu was particularly meeting, Ms. Sweeney, who previously ers, which is ready to develop 555 cluding the Athletic Field Complex critical of things such as a $5,000 had questioned the committee about South Avenue, known as the Lehigh project, the borough newsletter and CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 having Phil Morin, Cranford township Acquisitions Development, which is upgrades to the borough’s website, set to build 165 apartments. The places where residents can see Birchwood Avenue development is for where their taxes are going.