Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, September 18, 2008 OUR 118th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 38-2008 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Westfield Memorial Library to ‘Go Green,’ Install Solar Panels on Roof By MICHAEL J. POLLACK Ms. Neylan said the library’s arrange- Instead, with a PPA, a given com- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ment would call for a roughly 60 per- pany would own, install and maintain WESTFIELD – In an attempt to “go cent solar/ 40 percent electric split, the panels. In return, a town ends up green,” Westfield’s Memorial Library depending on the amount of panels paying the company for its electricity at will eventually receive the bulk of its placed. a discounted rate than it is currently energy from solar panels, Second Ward To complement the rooftop project, a paying. Councilwoman Jo Ann Neylan reported. computer kiosk will allow people to see The PPA guarantees a reduced rate Ms. Neylan said a solar panel presen- how much energy is being generated by for a set number of years, regardless of tation heard earlier this month with the solar panels. what the market does, Mr. Gildea told neighboring towns, such as Garwood According to Town Administrator The Westfield Leader after the meeting. and Fanwood, hoped to kick-start the Jim Gildea, through a power purchas- “The company makes money, of process. ing agreement (PPA), there will be no course,” he added. “During the day, you With a solar setup, an array of panels upfront cost to the municipality. produce and soak in the energy from converts sunlight into electricity, thereby A town can directly purchase panels the solar panels. Later, the lights go off reducing energy costs and limiting the and produce its own energy, but it would at night and everyone goes home. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted into cost millions to do so and require mu- solar energy is still there. The meter the atmosphere. nicipal bonding, he said. starts running in reverse. That reverse energy is going back to the company, and they’re selling it out.” Mr. Gildea said similar opportunities for the public works building and firehouse two could occur in the future. David Samsky for The Westfield Leader According to Ms. Neylan, the con- TACKLING THE ISSUES...Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender (LD-22, Fanwood), foreground, and Senator cept is a “step in the right direction” and Leonard Lance (LD-23, Clinton), background, display their enthusiasm at the debate Tuesday night in Scotch Plains at the an economically efficient one as well. Jewish Community Center (JCC). Both are candidates for Congress in the Seventh Congressional District. “There’s no burden to the taxpayer,” she said. “There’s no outlay. We reap the benefits over time.” Stender, Lance Debate for First Fourth Ward Councilman Tom Bigosinski asked if schools had interest since they would be a “logical place” to house solar panels. Time in Congressional Seat Battle Mr. Gildea has discussed the issue By RAYNOR DENITZIO Mr. Ferguson in 2006, sought to tie Mr. He proposed a solution where small with Westfield Schools Business Ad- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Lance to what she called the “failures companies pool together in buying a ministrator Bob Berman and said they SCOTCH PLAINS — Locked in a and mismanagement” of President healthcare plan for their employees to are “open to it.” tight race for retiring Rep. Mike George W. Bush, saying the election in effectively lower premiums. He envi- Under his Code Review and Town Ferguson’s seat (R-New Providence), November is a choice between “more sions a system in which employees Property Committee report, Council- 7th Congressional District candidates of the same or a new direction.” could transfer from one company to Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader SNAPSHOTS…Winners of the Summer ’08 Photo Contest held by Assemblyman man Jim Foerst discussed the next step Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D- “The fact of the matter is that the another within this pooled healthcare Jon Bramnick (LD-21, Westfield)were honored at a reception on Sunday, Sep- in implementing the recommendations Fanwood) and State Senator Leonard party of my opponent is the party that group without losing their plan. He also tember 14, at the offices of The Westfield Leader. Pictured, left to right, are: Terry of the Land Use Task Force (LUTF). Lance (R-Clinton) faced each other has put us in this mess after eight years believes companies should have the Bauer of Westfield, Bob Burslem of Westfield, Marlene Gebauer of Millington, The LUTF, formed in 2006 by Mayor head-to-head for the first time on Tues- and that the so-called moderates have ability to link with others across state Helen Rosales of Elizabeth, Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky, Assemblyman Andy Skibitsky, reviewed current land- day night during a debate at the Wilf been part of the mess that they have lines to pool healthcare. Bramnick, Melanie Boyne of Kenilworth, Steve Byland of Warren, Jeff Halverstadt use ordinances, evaluated emergent Jewish Community Center in Scotch made,” Mrs. Stender said. Mrs. Stender said she would support of Summit and Nicky Collins of Madison. land-use issues and formulated recom- Plains. Mr. Lance spoke of his career in organized labor, saying that labor unions mendations for controlling over devel- The debate was sponsored by the Trenton, saying that he brings a record played an important role in building the opment. Jewish Community Relations Council of social moderation and reform. The middle class. Three Workers Injured in Among the changes suggested in the of the Jewish Federation of Central Republican Senator said in order to The Democratic Assemblywoman LUTF’s final report, the taskforce rec- New Jersey and featured questions on address issues such as Social Security also called for an end to the war in Iraq ommended implementing a “sliding- both international and domestic issues. and rising debt, both parties would so that resources could be diverted to SP Fire in Critical Condition scale model” to determine height. The The moderator for the evening was need to work together, and that he had address issues such as poverty. By PAUL J. PEYTON evacuated. Area towns fire depart- proposal would mandate that homes Rabbi Douglas Sagal of Temple Emanu- a record of doing this in the Statehouse. “It’s about getting out of this war,” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times ments and rescue squads responded could range from a maximum of 32 feet El in Westfield. “Fundamental reform in Washing- Mrs. Stender said. “It’s about stopping SCOTCH PLAINS – Three work- to the scene, including Scotch Plains, CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Mrs. Stender, who lost narrowly to ton will require the good works of both the spending of $10 billion a month, so ers seriously injured in a fire, Wednes- Fanwood, Westfield, Cranford, Sum- Republicans and Democrats,” Mr. that we can change our priorities and day, September 10, at the Lamberts mit and Plainfield. Lance said. “I have a proven record of invest in people.” Mill Village Garden apartments on Lieutenant Donnelly said most Gottko Weighs in on Shared that, a record of contrast with Assem- Mrs. Stender also said that she fa- Spruce Mill Lane in the township, persons were not at home when the blywoman Stender.” vored “a system of shared responsibil- remain hospitalized in critical condi- fire began and that the Red Cross On the international stage, Mrs. ity” regarding health care, and that “gov- tion in the burn unit at Saint Barnabas was assisting in finding temporary Services, WF Parking Deck Stender said she would like to move ernment has to be involved” in the Medical Center in Livingston. housing for anyone displaced by By PAUL J. PEYTON much is discretionary spending under away from what she called the “cow- process. Lieutenant Brian Donnelly of the the fire. In addition, Lieutenant Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the town’s control. He said of the $23.6 boy-diplomacy of the Bush Adminis- The candidates did find some com- Scotch Plains Police Department said Donnelly said the apartments’ man- WESTFIELD – Former Westfield million put forward in 1999, only $5 tration” and that she believed the war in mon ground during the evening. Both the most seriously injured worker, agement was allowing residents who Town Administrator Ed Gottko is en- million was discretionary spending with Iraq has made Iran a “bigger player” in Mrs. Stender and Mr. Lance expressed identified as Jose Ramiro Orellana, are uprooted because of the fire to joying his life away from municipal the rest mandated by other levels of the Middle East. their support for the State of Israel and 25, of Plainfield, sustained burns to utilize vacant units in the multi- government, where he spent some 30 government, law or employee contracts. “I think that we need, in fact, to have said they would support a two-state 80 percent of his body, while the building complex. years, including 20 with Westfield. He said the court-mandated upgrade an administration that says that they solution to the Palestinian-Israeli con- other two workers, Freddy Garcia, The Tri-County Chapter of the He is now an adjunct professor at to the Rahway Valley Sewerage Au- will be an active partner and that they flict. Mr. Lance said he would not favor 33, and Antonio Orellana, 25, both of American Red Cross provided assis- New Jersey thority facil- will negotiate and be somebody that we negotiations with Hamas and Hezbollah Plainfield, sustained burns to over 20 tance to 12 persons from four fami- Institute of ity, which can be proud of out there, who’s work- and that Palestine needs to “recognize to 30 percent of their bodies.