Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, June 23, 2005 OUR 115th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 25-2005 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Andrew Skibitsky Takes Reigns As Mayor From Greg McDermott By MICHAEL POLLACK ber of the staff. My love and admiration here as friends and looked beside it.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader for you are endless,” Mayor McDermott Speaking on election night Novem- WESTFIELD — Mayor Greg said. “To my four children, thanks for ber 2004 when the two were support- McDermott resigned this Tuesday, keeping up your end of the bargain. I ive of the defeated parking deck pro- after close to eight years as a Westfield know you are in the eye of the public, posal, Councilman Goldman said, public servant. Mayor McDermott and you made us proud.” “We almost became kindred spirits.” ended his tenure prematurely and is “All of us have dreams. I am one of First Ward Councilman Peter moving to Bernardsville, necessitat- the fortunate people to fulfill the Echausse, who wiped away tears as he ing his resignation prior to the end of dream. And it is the powerful sense of finished his speech, said he was “blessed his term on December 31, 2005. honor I still feel from when I first to know” the former mayor. “I wouldn’t Following the mayor’s resignation came on here. I’ve been blessed to be on the dais if it wasn’t for you. You’re and farewell speech, under the direc- have the chance and challenge to do a great mentor. Your personality and tion of acting Mayor and Second Ward what only 31 other mayors before me determination are infectious. Hold your Councilman Rafael Betancourt, the have done. Luckily, they left the park- head high, Mr. Mayor.” council elected Third Ward Council- ing deck situation for me to handle,” Second Ward Councilman Rafael man Andrew Skibitsky as interim the former mayor joked. Betancourt acknowledged the grow- mayor. Upon his resignation, former A supporter of the failed parking ing resentment that manifested last Mayor McDermott stepped off the deck plan, Fourth Ward Councilman year concerning the proposed park- dais and sat with his wife, Andrea, and Larry Goldman, in a sign of biparti- ing deck. Patrick Connor for The Westfield Leader four children seated in the audience. sanship, admitted to “knocking heads “We witnessed a lot of rancor. There THE OATH...Westfield’s new Mayor Andrew Skibitsky is sworn in Tuesday night by Superior Court Judge “I want to thank my wife Andrea as on a few issues” with the former were times when I said- ‘Do I want to Douglas Fasciale, while his wife Debbie and children look on. much as any part of the town or mem- mayor, “but we always walked out of do this?’ And the reason I stood by was because of Greg (McDermott) and his positivism. Sometimes, with Adjustment Bd. Hears Mayor McDermott Says Goodbye, his show of patience and dedication in the face of these issues, I thought, ‘this guy’s not from New Jersey.’” After taking the oath, interim Mayor Cell Tower Proposals Thanks Westfield Residents Skibitsky, joined by his wife, Debbie, By DON WILLIAMS risks due to the Telecommunications By BETSEY BURGDORF as New Jersey’s acting governor for McDermotts are to Westfield as the and four children Drew, Hope, Shane Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Act of 1996. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader one week. Kennedys are to Massachusettes,” Mr. and Troy, read a resolution honoring WESTFIELD -- The Westfield In the second application, Cingular WESTFIELD — Few people would Mr. McDermott began his political McCabe said. “I knew it would be an Mayor McDermott’s service and pre- Board of Adjustment last Wednesday proposed to construct an 85-foot tower consider one dollar to be a significant career as a councilman defeating Marc uphill battle.” sented him with a commemorative bowl approved a variance to build a Cingular amount of money. Even fewer would and stand. on the Wychwood Gardens complex McCabe in 1997; three years later, he Mayor McDermott said after he won Mayor Skibitsky thanked the coun- Wireless transmitter atop a building at property near the juncture of East Broad work a whole year for that amount. ran against and defeated Susan Jacobson the council race he told Mr. McCabe he 900 South Avenue West, after discuss- But as the mayor of Westfield, that’s cil for having faith in him and giving Street and Springfield Avenue. The in the mayoral election in 2000. wasn’t sure who actually had won refer- their unanimous support. Mayor ing different options for the applicant proposed to disguise the tower exactly what Greg McDermott did. “The opportunity was there and if I ring to his future as a public servant. transmitter’s screening into the He told The Westfield Leader that Skibitsky said he wants the town to as a flagpole, with a large American didn’t take a chance, then shame on “People don’t understand that it get to know him better and will insti- building’s architecture. The approved flag that would be lit at night. he did not run for office for the pay- me,” Mr. McDermott said referring to (the position of mayor) may require antennae will be placed on the roof of check; instead, for the experience and tute Saturday morning office hours. Ms. Babinsky presented a summary his decision to run for mayor. only about 20 hours a week, but you He laid out plans to limit the height the 40-foot building and will stand at of the existing coverage in the proposed the opportunity. “I used to kid Greg saying the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 a total height of 48 feet from the street. tower’s area. Mr. Sawant presented the Mr. McDermott stepped down as CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 The room was packed with concerned results of a drive test that mapped out mayor Tuesday night, six months shy residents. Judith Babinsky, a partner at areas along roadways where the signal of completing his second term. He Pitney Hardin, LLP, was present at the from Cingular transmitters was stronger will be moving to Bernardsville at the DWC Prepares RFP, Discusses Options meeting on behalf of Cingular for both than -75 dBm, citing these areas as end of the month. variances, as well as Cingular network having “optimal” coverage and mark- “I look at this town, and the people design engineer Ajay Sawant. ing all areas with weaker signal in gray. and it (the experience) has been truly For Managing Downtown Projects The brick building that will hold The drive test was performed by a team terrific, both personally and politi- By BETSEY BURGDORF council for specifications for specs as clude: an underground conduit sys- the transmitter is approximately five of Cingular experts in a car with an cally,” he said. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader part of the 2004 Capital Improve- tem to get power lines off of down- years old, and, according to a report antenna on top that records signal strength His wife, Andrea, and children WESTFIELD – Downtown ment budget for streetcsape improve- town streets, a parking communica- by the Architectural Review Board, as it drives with traffic along roads. Bryan, Maggie, Melissa and Patricia Westfield Corporation (DWC), Ex- ments. The money will be used to hire tion system, sidewalk replacement the owner had agreed at one point to According to Ms. Babinsky, the echoed his sentiment, saying that the ecutive Director Sherry Cronin out- an engineering firm, which will de- plan and the installation of new trees plant shade trees on the property along FCC requires that all wireless carri- experience has been a positive one. lined the Request for Proposal (RFP) velop specs for contractors to bid on and lighting. South Avenue, but had not. As a con- ers eventually provide 100 percent Mayor McDermott, a lifelong for the $75,000 streetscape renovation for the project. Once an engineering firm is hired dition of approval for the application, coverage to customers in their cov- Westfield resident, comes from a po- specifications the DWC hopes to “We’re taking the money and pump- and the scope of work is determined, Cingular will work with the owner to erage areas, with evaluation of net- litically involved family. His father, present to town council in the near ing it right back into the downtown,” the DWC will present the findings to purchase and plant these trees. work progress at five-year intervals. Frank McDermott, was an assembly- future. DWC Chairman David Martone said. the town council and request the Several local residents came forward Mr. Sawant said that the industry man, a state senator and was appointed The money was authorized by town Some of the projects discussed in- project be included in the capital im- in opposition of the variance. They standard is -75 dBm, and that this signal provement plan. were concerned the location of the strength provides comparable call qual- The DWC also plans to request an antennae will reduce neighboring prop- ity to a landline. Westfield is apparently BOE May Add McKinley Teacher; enabling resolution allowing the corpo- erty values. Each statement included a an area with several spots of coverage ration to handle the bid process in-house. reference to the unknown health effects worse than Cingular’s threshold, and Board member Lee Hale has been of microwaves from wireless transmit- Cingular plans to place more towers in preparing the draft, which contains a ters.