Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, April 4, 2013 OUR 123rd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 14-2013 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Candidates File for State, Muni. Offices; Primary Races in WF, GW By PAUL J. PEYTON mayor Carl Bergmanson has also lenge from Councilman David Specially Written for The Westfield Leader filed in the Democratic Primary for Haas, a Democrat, in the Mayor’s REGION – Area voters this year governor. Mr. Bergmanson is run- quest for a third term. Mayor Skib- will be deciding a mayoral race in ning under the slogan “Democrats itsky is joined on the GOP ticket by Westfield as well as council races for Change.” incumbent town council members in Westfield, Scotch Plains, In Westfield, Mayor Andrew Ski- Sam Della Fera, Jr., in the First Fanwood, Cranford and Garwood bitsky, a Republican, faces a chal- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 this November. Voters will also be selecting three candidates for Westfield Mayoral Candidates county freeholder as well as state legislative races in Districts 21 and 22. There will be Republican Primary Election races this June in Westfield’s Third Ward and for two seats on the Garwood Borough Council, as well as Democratic Pri- mary races for county sheriff and freeholder. There is also a Demo- cratic Primary for state Senate in District 22. The top of the ticket this year is the race between incumbent Re- publican Governor Chris Christie and Democratic challenger, state Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader Senator Barbara Buono (D-18, David Haas - D Mayor Andy Skibitsky - R SWEET TREAT…Member of the Westfield Lions Club pass out jelly beans and prizes at the organization’s 78th annual Metuchen). Former Glen Ridge Easter Egg Hunt in Mindowaskin Park held this past Saturday. The Easter Bunny was on hand to take pictures with the Westfield Council Candidates children. MS BOE Adopts Budget; Taxes Up $150 on Average By DOMINIC A. LAGANO sitions. We will continue to write Specially Written for The Westfield Leader grants to supplement our programs. MOUNTAINSIDE — The We will continue to investigate Mountainside Board of Education shared services…We have reduced (BOE) last Wednesday adopted a costs in special education, reduced $15,216,333 budget for the 2013- costs in general administration and 2014 school year, of which have maintained our utility costs.” $14,215,815 will be raised in taxes. She also addressed the district’s The remainder of the expendi- “pay-to-play” option for sports and tures will be covered by state and other extra-curricular activities, Diane Barabas - R Matthew Sonz - D Dave Oliveira - D Jack Walsh - D Councilman Keith Loughlin - R federal aid as well as the district’s which was introduced by the dis- 3rd Ward 3rd Ward 3rd Ward 4th Ward 4th Ward capital reserve fund and other local trict in 2011 to address budget short- revenue. The owner of a home as- falls. Ms. Lubarsky stated that the Mountainside Council Candidates sessed at $165,537, the average as- cost of pay-to-play would most sessment in the borough, will pay likely be reduced this year. “We WSA Seeks New Signage; $4,917 in school taxes compared to hope to lower our pay-to-play rates. last year’s tax of $4,768, an in- We don’t have the exact data as of crease of $149. yet, but we anticipate a 50-percent Fields Prepared for Baseball “Our general tax fund levy, just cut in our pay-to-play rates. We to give you some history, it is a tax have to fine tune that before we roll By DELL SIMEONE Mr. Kaufmann said, “That’s a nice Specially Written for The Westfield Leader increase,” Chief School Adminis- that out, but that is part of our plan.” emblem for Westfield Soccer.” Mr. trator Nancy Lubarsky stated. “This The reason for the change is due WESTFIELD – Peter Franks, a Echausse added, “Let’s make sure year, the board voted to just go to to the district’s budget being more vice-president of the Westfield Soc- they’re all the same height and width the (2 percent) cap. We have some streamlined. cer Association, on Monday evening so they are all uniform.” waivers where we could go as high “Our whole budget increase we asked the town’s recreation commis- Bill Kelly, a recreation commis- as we did last year, 2.374 percent, got down to 1.42 percent,” School sion to consider new signage at the sioner, said, “I’d hate to see this turn but we wanted to keep the tax in- Business Administrator Charles soccer and lacrosse fields at Sid Faye into a commercial venture,” to which crease at a minimum. It is the low- Milewski stated. “That’s with a tax and Houlihan fields and at the soccer Mr. Echausse added, “No advertis- est tax increase in five years.” levy increase of 2 percent, but the field on Rahway Avenue near the ing for business.” Ms. Lubarsky stated the board budget as a whole only goes up Roman Catholic Church of St. Helen. Dee Kaufmann, the assistant di- Rene Dierkes - R Councilman Glenn Mortimer - R accomplished this feat in a number 1.42 percent.” “Let’s not have too many signs rector of the recreation department, of ways and will continue to do so According to Mr. Milewski, be- near St. Helen’s,” Recreation Com- said that people are registering for in the coming year. “We have no cause the assessed valuation of all mission Chairman Peter Echausse the Senior Prom for those ages 70 County ‘Monitoring’ AG’s increase in the number of staff po- said. and over and for summer camp, field CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Mr. Franks said the Westfield Soc- hockey and volleyball, and that ten- cer Association would pay for the nis already has 166 registrants. She Actions With Birdsall signs. Recreation Director Bruce said that 310 girls are signed up for Residents Ask for Help to Stop Cell Monopole at Hillside Cemetery Kaufmann said, “This would be a the Daddy Daughter Dance, which good thing.” will take place tomorrow night, 6:30 PAUL J. PEYTON Attorney General’s office. Mr. Franks then responded, “I’d to 9:30 p.m., at L’Affaire in Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “The County of Union has al- like to put up a sign that says this is Mountainside. Ms. Kaufmann also COUNTY – The Union County ways abided by pay-to-play laws. what’s happening here.” He showed said that information for sponsors of Freeholders last week announced The allegations pertaining to the commissioners a sample of the the town’s 5K Road Race, to be held that the county is monitoring ac- Birdsall Engineering do not involve proposed signage. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 tions taken by the state Attorney the County of Union. Birdsall En- General’s office against Birdsall gineering has consistently delivered Services Group after the company’s an exemplary work product to the former chief executive officer and County of Union and there are a six other executives were indicted number of existing contracts on on charges they conspired to avoid projects at various stages of devel- the restrictions of the state’s Pay- opment,” Freeholder Carter said in to-Play Act by disguising illegal a prepared statement. “The County corporate political contributions as of Union is closely assessing each personal contributions of employ- project that Birdsall has undertaken. ees of the firm. For now the situation between the The state has temporarily seized state Attorney General’s Office and all assets of Birdsall, according to Birdsall remains unsettled and the Courtesy of Bill Howard for The Westfield Leader media reports. County of Union is closely moni- FLYING ATTACK…Westfield’s Chris Aslanian, No. 3, goes airborne as he The Monmouth County consult- moves on Hillsborough goalie Anthony Stavrakis in the Blue Devils’ lacrosse toring all developments before char- opener on April 1, a 9-3 road victory. Aslanian had two goals and two assists. ing firm with an office in Cranford tering a final course of action at this Luke Prybylski led WHS scorers with two goals and three assists, while Jack has done extensive work in Union time.” Flaherty scored three goals. Goalie Garrett Williamson made seven saves as County over the past few years and The freeholders went into execu- Patrick Tuohy picked up his first win as Westfield’s new head coach heading into currently is working on a number CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Thursday’s match at Summit. of projects. Union County Freeholder Chair- PAGE INDEX Correction woman Linda Carter said while the Regional ........ 2-3 Education ...... 18, 20 allegations against former employ- A headline on a page 1 story in last Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader Editorial ........ 6-7 Sports ............ 11-17 IN THE HUNT…Sunshine, a bunny and lots of kids can only mean one thing — ees at Birdsall Services Group did week’s issue regarding the Union Police ............ 8 Real Estate .... 11-17 the Westfield Lions Club’s 78th annual Easter Egg Hunt in Mindowaskin Park not involve work done by the firm County budget should have indicated Community ... 8-9 Classifieds ..... 17 held this past Saturday. The Easter Bunny came for pictures, while the Lions in Union County, the county is that the Department of Corrections Obituary ........ 19 A&E .............. 21-22 Club placed approximately 1,200 eggs with over 800 prizes. monitoring actions taken by the budget is going down.