Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 20, 2004 Published Every Thursday Since 1890 OUR 114th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 37-114 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS DWC Eyes Lamberts Mill Rd. Main Street Synthetic Turf Field Celebration By BETSEY BURGDORF Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Okayed by Council At the Downtown Westfield Corporation meeting on Mon- By LAUREN PASS said that the Finance Committee is day night, the board displayed a Specially Written for The Westfield Leader currently working with the recre- bronze plaque awarded to On Tuesday night the Westfield ation department on user fees. Westfield by the 2004 Great Town Council unanimously approved The council also approved the first American Main Street Award an ordinance on first reading to bond reading of the operating budget for program. Westfield received the over $1 million for various recre- the Downtown Westfield Corpora- award for its efforts in revitaliz- ation improvements. The cost in- tion (DWC). The $377,920 budget is ing the downtown area while cludes funding for the installation of measured from a special assessment keeping historic preservation in a synthetic turf field and lights at the on downtown properties. There is no mind. Members of the DWC site of Houhlihan and Sid Faye fields increase in the assessment this year. flew to Albuquerque, N.M. in on Lamberts Mill Road. First reading was also held on an April to compete against other Before the meeting Third Ward ordinance that revises parking regu- designated Main Street com- Councilman Andrew Skibitsky ques- lations for commuters and down- munities from across the na- tioned if some of the cost for the field town residents. First Ward Council- tion. According to Lee Hale would be passed off in the way of man Sal Caruana was the only coun- Westfield competed against 50 user fees, such as charging a price cil member who did not vote in favor out of 500 other designated Horace R. Corbin for The Westfield Leader per child playing instead of the en- of it. The revised ordinance allows Main Street Communities. GETTING READY...On Sunday, soldiers from the Westfield National Guard Armory worked on their physical tire cost going to the taxpayers. for daily parking in the South Av- Westfield shares the award with conditioning at Kehler Stadium in preparation for their deployment to Iraq via Fort Drum, today, Thursday. Town Administrator James Gildea enue commuter lot at a rate of $5 per four other towns. day and changes the enforcement Along with the plaque, hours of the commuter lots to 5 a.m. Westfield was awarded $2,500 to 12 p.m. for permit holders. After to continue revitalization ef- Turf Field and New Track at Kehler Stadium 12 p.m. parking in the lot is free. forts, road signs and a certifi- Commuters holding a permit will cate. also be allowed to leave their cars in The DWC board recognized the lots overnight. Mr. Hale for writing the appli- To be Put Before Public For Vote in December Upon final passage of the ordi- cation and securing letters of nance downtown residents will have By ED COONEY efits Kehler has to offer. Among the The artificial turf, new track, and in one of Westfield’s two intermedi- endorsement from a cross sec- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to pay a $360 yearly fee to park tion of residents, businesses and benefits mentioned were Kehler field renovation projects will cost ate schools. The women were com- overnight in town. Residents will be property owners. The Westfield Board of Education Stadium’s pre-existing stands, its approximately $1.1 million that mended for their “continued pursuit required to park in the lot behind “This year is the first time the further discussed plans for the instal- ability to handle and accommodate would be paid over a ten-year period. of professional growth.” Baron’s Drug Store. Currently park- Northeast has won,” board lation of an artificial turf field and a crowds, and the presence of the re- The board will seek a bond referen- Vail, a Physical Education teacher ing is illegal in all municipal lots member and downtown prop- new track at Kehler Stadium at its cently constructed girls field house dum from the community to cover at Roosevelt Intermediate School, between 1 and 5 a.m. but it is not erty owner Joe Spector said. meeting on Tuesday. Plans for a flat at Kehler. the expenses. Berman determined has been teaching at Roosevelt since being enforced. “We got together the right de- artificial field are underway. Board Vice President Ginny Leiz that the state’s approval process is 1972. Caruana said that he didn’t vote tails that we might have been The board’s architect is consulting was quick to point out that Edison is not fast enough for the earlier pro- Roosevelt Principal Dr. Ken for the ordinance because there are missing in the past.” two separate artificial turf field com- far from being ignored, noting that posed date of Friday, September 17 Shulack spoke briefly about Vail, some people who both live and work panies to design a storm water drain- the district is installing a “high-qual- to seek out a bond referendum. The Executive Director Sherry CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Cronin stated that Westfield age system to install along with the ity grass field behind Edison.” The next available date for seeking such would most likely be asked to new field. The flat artificial field was field behind Edison is currently al- a vote is Monday, December 13 of sit on the jury who decides who chosen over a natural-grass crowned most unusable due to poor field con- this year. the award will go to next year. field due to its more even terrain and ditions and a pre-existing drainage Prior to the business portion of “What a great thing for a inherent drainage benefits. problem. Tuesday’s meeting, the board hon- Senior Citizens Express great town,” board member Additionally, the board discussed Berman described the project at ored Linda Vail and Janice Sheridan, Frank Arena said. its plans to renovate the field behind Edison as “fixing up something to the recipients of the 7th Annual Op- The DWC is hoping to host a Edison Intermediate School. make it more useable.” timist Awards for outstanding work Opposition to Proposed town wide celebration in honor New Jersey Environmental Pro- of the award on Sunday, June tection Agency regulations also re- 27, providing town council ap- quire the district to design a drainage proves. A souvenir commemo- system at Edison that allows the field MS Community Center rative mug is being considered, to drain into the stream at the far end of the school’s property. By BETSEY BURGDORF School is not suitable for children and if it is approved will be for Specially Written for The Westfield Leader sale at the event. Board Secretary-Business Admin- over the age of eight or nine years old Robert DeStefanis, a down- istrator Robert Berman presented the At Tuesday night’s meeting of the because it is not large enough. Gianone town property owner has re- board with a timetable for the Mountainside Borough Council, a concluded by saying, “I am concerned signed from the board and the project’s eventual completion. Tues- heated confrontation between a resi- (about taxes), but I find an overwhelm- DWC is seeking a property day was the deadline for a storm dent and the council compelled po- ing majority of the families I talk to owner to replace him. Anyone water drain cost estimate. Documents lice presence. Many Mountainside feel this is a pressing need.” interested in the position should that need to be filed by the board will citizens took the podium to voice Recreation Director Sue Wynans contact Claire Grey at (908) be received on or about Monday, their opposition to the proposed com- addressed those in attendance saying, 789-4041. June 21, and the board will be re- munity center. Tempers became “We are busting at the seams trying to The board also discussed the quired to approve various resolu- heated when one resident accused accommodate everyone, and I feel approximately $400,000 oper- tions concerning the construction at the board of “moving too fast.” the kids are being shortchanged.” ating budget it is seeking for its Tuesday, June 29 meeting. As- The council, after years of discuss- She stated that 290 children play next year, which was an item on suming a successful referendum, ing the lack of gymnasium space, hired basketball and 200 of those registered the agenda of town council construction would begin on June 1, an architect who has contacted com- use the gym at Deerfield. School teams meeting held Tuesday night. 2005 and the new field could be munity groups to determine what the have the gym reserved until 7 p.m. ready for the 2005 fall sports season. Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader biggest needs are. When the architect The board is showing a slight SWINGING THROUGH THE AIR…McKinley Elementary School in Westfield most nights of the week. Given the increase in the budget, which The board responded to an e-mail has adequately assessed the opinion of ages of those involved in the program, from a community member regard- held the McKinley Play-A-Thon Olympics on Friday. The students were able to translates to roughly a $7,000 enjoy the nice weather and compete in many activities, such as basketball, a cross section of residents, he will games and practices usually end by 9 or 1.8 percent increase.