shape-up Capt. Mobile Hands-on fun se, yard Ron Nobile has been Kids Expo moves in tip-top shape WHS leader for all seasons to Edison 9— pagN B-5-7 *•• Sports, page B-1 8M WMICMMIPIIIS VOl. 5,=$ No. 16 = The^festfielThursday, April 21,1994 d Record A Forbes Newspaper 50 cants | Briefs Dems heading to court to fight residency requirement Clean-up volunteers By NICOU A. OAVINO requirements. Despite the fact that the peti- against the town. ary of last year. Mr. Walsh, who seeks the tion form explicitly states a one-year resi- 3rd Ward council seat against incumbent THE RECORD When council Democrats James Hely and •Volunteers are sought for dency requirement, the Westfield Town Anthony LaPorta tried to speak, Mayor Gary Jenkins, moved to town in January of the 6th Annual "Clean Sweep" Democrats William Brennan and John Charter says candidates for town govern- Boothe shouted, "Whoa — 1 am running 1993. Both Democrats have jointly filed suit tb'knake downtown sites litter- Walsh, and Independent Michael Wolski ment must reside in town for at least two with this meeting," in Superior Court hoping to reverie the free and broom-dean. The may be denied a chance to run for the West- years. "This is not an appropriate matter for the town clerk's decision on their eligibility. sweep is set for Apr, 23. All are field Town Council because they haven't Mr. Brennan attended Tuesday's council council to comment on," he continued. "I "I am absolutely convinced that this provi- invited to sign-up by calling lived in town long enough. If this assertion meeting to air the issue. However, Mayor have ruled on this matter. This subject is sion is against the law," Mr. Brennan said. the Chamber office at 233- survives an impending court test, the four Garland 'Bud' Boothe refused to hear com- closed." While Mr. LaPorta and Mr. Brennan "The question is whether a two-year require- 3021. Financial contributions Republican council candidates will run un- ment from either Mr. Brennan or any of the shook their heads, Mr. Hely got up and ment is constitutional or not — it's clear that are also welcome. contested in November. council members. Mayor Boothe said citi- walked out of the room. it's not." Mr. Brennan also said this is not Westfield Town Clerk Joy Vreeland said zens are not usually allowed to comment at Mr. Brennan, who seeks the 1st Ward the first time this issue has been raised, and she is not accepting the petitions of Mr. council conference sessions and residency is council seat against Republican newcomer it has previously been found by the courts to Music for youth Brennan and Mr. Walsh due to residency the subject of a court case now pending Gail Vernick, moved to Westfield in Febru- (Please turn to page A-2) The Orchestra or St. Peter by the Sea will perform an all new program for Youth and Family Counseling Service's 4th Annual Benefit 8 p.m. Sat- urday at the Church of St Voters 'just say no' to budget Helen. Craft invasion Council now Voters pick American Craft Marketing will hold its sixth annual Spring Westflekt Craft Market may reduce Madaras — tnii weekend at the armory, ftnd unique gifts and home decorating ideas, and fine art $41.3M plan oust Gould collections. Show hours are 5-9 p.m. Friday, 10 am-6 p.m. Sat- By NICOLE A. OAVINO By NICOLE *, OAVINO urday and Sunday. THE RECORD THE RECORD The Westfield School Budget for Westfield voters have chosen in- Oratorio Singers 1994-5 was defeated by about 400 cumbents Robert Flast and Carol , The Oratorio Singers and Molnar and newcomer Tom votes at Tuesday's school election. Madaras to serve on the Board of baritone soloist Mark Delavan Of the 17,512 registered voters in Education for the next three years. will perform the Requiem Mass Westfleld, only 16.6% came out to Incumbent Susan Pepper was of Antonin Dvorak 3 p.m. Sun- voice their opinions. However, the elected to the only one-year seat day at First United Methodist 2,906 voters were enough to reject Four candidates sought three Church, • 14-<ent tax incraww for school three-yew •eats; appointed In- purposes. Preliminary results show wwoWm cumbent Peter Gould was de- Locals honored 1,610 votes against the $41,306,636 Poll workers at Edison Intermediate School had no voters to sign tn as polls opanMrTUMday feated. tax levy to support the budget, afternoon for the school election. Only about one In six registered Westfleld voters turned out. At press time, preliminary re- The Westfleld Art Gallery with 1,197 voters approving it > suits tallied 2,906 ballots, including will honor 20 local artists at a These results do not include about 20 absentees. There are 27 ab- reception 2-9 p.m. Sunday, 125 27 absentee ballots which were not sentee ballots which have not been E. Broad St. The reception counted by press time. returned yet. The county will count marks the opening of a group The last time Westfield voters re- all absentee ballots received up to Town tax rate to rise today. Results show about 16.6% of art exhibit showing daily until jected the school budget was in the total 17,512 registered voters May 20. 1988 by a difference of only 40 votes. Without snow bill, rate would have dropped School budgets were also de- of about 1.6% over last year. Arts benefit feated in nearby Scotch Plains/ ance Fund. The town will receive $315,000 more in In the contested race, Mr. Flast By NICOLE A. QAVtNO received the most votes, 1,693. Mr, Donna Koh Lewandowski Fanwood, Garwood, Kenihvorth, state aid this year, based on formula, and an extra will hold a piano recital 7 p.m. THE RECORD $20,000 from the state to go towards pothole repair. Madaras came in second with 1,682 and Union County Regional. Cran- votes and Mrs. Molnar third with Sunday at Redeemer Lutheran ford's was approved. The Westfleld Town Council will introduce a $25 Finally, Westfield is saving $362,000 in health insur- Church. The concert will ben- 1,594. Mr. Gould received 1,456 The defeats may partly be in re- million municipal budget for 1994 Tuesday. The bud- ance costs due to the carrier's offer of a 25% decrease votes. Mrs. Pepper, who was un- efit the Westfiekt Workshop for sponse to an announcement on get will call for a municipal purposes tax increase of in premiums. contested, received 1,900 votes. Of the Arts scholarship fund. Sunday by State Education Com- one cent and falls within the state-mandated cap of Mr. Gottko added that if it weren't for $361,000 the contested candidates, Mr. missioner Leo Klagholz. In pub- 2.5%. costs in snow removal, taxpayers could have had a Madaras and Mr. Flast won the Fresh Start lished reports, Mr. Klagholz This means the municipal tax rate will rise to 50 one-cent decrease in the town tax rate. most votes in their home wards. warned local school officials that cents per $100 of assessed property value. The pro- "This is the lowest tax increase I can remember," The Board of Education will hold The American Cancer Soci- the state will not automatically re- its organization meeting 8 pjn. ety, Union County Unit will posed budget would require the owner of the average said Mayor Garland 'Bud' Boothe. "It's a combination store budget cuts which result home, assessed at $173,724 and with a market value next Tuesday, when newly elected offer "Fresh Start," a four- of the right things at the right time." from defeats at the polls. He also of $257,026, to pay about $869, or $17 more than for members will take their oaths of week group approach to stop- Mr. Gottko said that to support the budget, the criticized statements made by local 1993. office. The new school board will ping smoking. The program school officials attributing their tax town will receive about $8.5 million in miscellaneous also elect officers for 1994-5, in- begins 6:30 p.m. Apr. 26 and The total budget is $25,349,532 and shows a cap cluding board president and vice increases to reductions in state aid. increase of 2.04%. The state maximum allowed in- revenues, including state aid; $650,000 in receipts of runs for the next three Tues- president and various committee At the polls Tuesday, senior crease is 2.5%, which was the growth shown in last delinquent taxes; $9 million from local taxpayers; and days at the Suburban Fitness chairpersons. There will be time at Mary McDonald said she voted year's budget. $7.3 million from surplus. He pointed out that more Center. Call 354-7373 to reg- the organizational meeting for pub- against the tax levy- "They just Town Administrator Ed Gottko said the town was than $5 million of the surplus comes from the school ister. lic comment. can't expect us to continue to pay able to come up with a budget under cap due to spend-down plan, which will decrease drastically next Mr. Flast, appointed to the board rising taxes every year," she said. several savings. Westfield will save $200,000 this year year. The use of $7.3 million will leave only $336,211 in January when a prior member YMCA lectures "I have lived here for a long time, in insurance since it joined the Suburban Joint Insur- in surplus.