Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, April 9, 2009 OUR 119th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 15-2009 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Mayor Andy Skibitsky to Face Off With Former Judge Bill Brennan By MICHAEL J. POLLACK tee, under his reign, has “challenged accountability and transparency to Specially Written for The Westfield Leader each budgeted line item.” Westfield’s governing body,” he said. WESTFIELD – In November, Re- “Since 2006,” he said, “departmen- “I introduced the model of a budget publican Mayor Andy Skibitsky will tal operating budgets have increased by presentation directly to the citizens at vie for his second term of office against a total of only $60,000. Over the past council meetings. We now present a former municipal judge William four years, 22 positions have either detailed budget to the public each year, Brennan, a Democrat. In addition, all been eliminated or adjusted to part- post the presentation on the town four wards will see competitive races time, equating to a reduction of almost website and include a letter with each for four seats on the town council. 16 full-time positions, which, in turn, tax bill that summarizes ‘Where Does Republicans, who hold the majority results in $1 million in savings to the Your Tax Dollar Go?’” on council and the mayor’s chair, have taxpayer. My focus will continue to be Mr. Brennan, currently the senior a 7-2 edge. All candidates are seeking on spending our tax dollars as wisely managing partner of a 40-attorney law four-year terms. and efficiently as possible.” firm, called the mayor’s claim of pro- Mayor Skibitsky filled the unexpired The mayor touted efforts made to viding transparency “absurd.” term of Greg McDermott in June 2005 provide increased transparency and “We need transparency during the and defeated former Mayor Tom Jardim openness, including holding Saturday budget process,” the former Rutherford in November of that year. Mr. Skibitsky morning office hours and placing the councilman continued. “The process is had previously served as third ward budget on the improved town website. broken. Andy [Skibitsky] hasn’t been councilman. “I believe that during my term, we to a budget meeting in four years. Only The mayor said the finance commit- opened the doors to communication, four of nine council members attend the meetings, and the only transpar- Courtesy of Chris Boyle ency occurs after the budget’s com- SPRINGTIME...The new Yankee Stadium is all set for the home opener next week against the Cleveland Indians. The above pleted.” picture was taken during a special tour of the new facility, which was given last Thursday. Mr. Brennan vowed to attend every budget meeting and require that all eight council members do as well. Mrs. Munoz Joins Asm. Bramnick “I’ve already informed my running mates,” he said. “Look, if you don’t want to put in the time, don’t run…It’s not a punishment [to attend]. These are In Assembly Bid, Faces Challengers all smart people with good ideas.” By PAUL J. PEYTON Tom Kean, Jr. and Phil Morin did not leaders to make a quick decision in Mr. Brennan, in an e-mail to The Specially Written for The Westfield Leader return phone calls seeking comment on filing a vacancy on the ballot. Calling Westfield Leader, also proposed “an SUMMIT — Republican leaders on the meeting. Mr. Munoz’s death a “tragic event,” he immediate decrease in the price of park- Sunday night selected Nancy Munoz Although not in attendance at said no one wanted to see a two-day ing tickets and [softening] the aggres- of Summit, the widow of Assembly- Sunday’s meeting, Glenn Mortimer, campaign with Mr. Munoz’s funeral sive approach of our ticket enforce- man Eric Munoz, to succeed her hus- the Republican chairman for having taken place just last Friday. ment policy.” band on the June Primary Election Mountainside, where he serves as a Mrs. Munoz holds an undergraduate Third Ward Republican incumbent Ballot. She joins Assemblyman Jon councilman, said he was unable to at- degree in nursing from Skidmore Col- Mark Ciarrocca criticized Mr. Brennan Bramnick of Westfield, Long Hill Town- tend the meeting but supported the de- lege and a master’s degree from Hunter for failing to identify himself as a can- ship Mayor George Vitureira and Long cision to name Mrs. Munoz to the now College as a clinical nursing specialist Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader didate for mayor in his latest letter to Hill Board of Education member Bruce vacant Assembly seat. “If it was fine in ambulatory care. TRAGEDY...A SUV went out of control Monday afternoon at the intersection of The Leader. He also said the race for Meringolo in the quest for the GOP with everyone else, it was fine with She has also been involved locally in East Broad Street and North Avenue in Westfield, striking and killing a pedes- mayor will come down to “which can- nomination to run for two Assembly me,” he said. Summit, having served as president of trian. Traffic in the region was delayed for hours due to the investigation. See story didate is going to be the best leader of seats in November. “She has the education background the Parent-Teacher Associations at both this page. all the townspeople as opposed to some- Mr. Munoz, a trauma surgeon at the (to hold the seat). She has definitely Summit High School and Brayton El- one who may be more partisan in na- University of Medicine and Dentistry discussed issues with Eric. So, she has ementary School. She also was presi- ture.” of New Jersey, died March 30 follow- a good background in that respect,” Mr. dent of the Summit school district’s Car Accident Kills Man Third Ward Democratic incumbent ing surgery for a ruptured aorta. He had Mortimer said. President’s Council. Mrs. Munoz was David Haas said Mayor Skibitsky, while served in the State Legislature since Mrs. Munoz made it official by filing unavailable for comment for this story. “genuinely warm and friendly,” is a 2001, after being first nominated to fill her nominating petition by Monday’s 4 In a press release issued Monday, At Westfield Intersection “manager of stasis.” a vacant Assembly seat. p.m. deadline. Mr. Meringolo said the 21st District is By SUZETTE F. STALKER According to Captain Auchter, Mr. “When there are problems [such as At the meeting held Sunday night, Mr. Mortimer said the 4 p.m. Mon- “unfairly treated by the Democrats in Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Kinkade was pronounced dead at the pot holes and street repair], he makes the Republican Committee of Union day state deadline to appear on the June Trenton, and I want to create some WESTFIELD – A 36-year-old scene. The Westfield Rescue Squad sure to get them solved, but he does not County unanimously selected Mrs. Primary Election ballots forced GOP CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Westfield man was killed Monday transported the driver of the High- provide a vision of where the town Munoz to run on the GOP county line afternoon when he was struck by a lander to Overlook Hospital in Sum- should be going nor the leadership to with Asm. Bramnick in the June Pri- SUV that then hit another car. The mit. She was discharged Tuesday, a get there,” Mr. Haas said of the incum- mary Election. The committee repre- Ferraro’s South to Expand accident occurred at 2:30 p.m. at North hospital spokeswoman confirmed. bent mayor. sents nine of the 16 towns that make up Avenue West and East Broad Street, Rescue squad and Westfield Fire One other possible mayoral candi- the 21st Legislative District, including police said. Department personnel transported the date, John Blake, has circulated a peti- Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside and Parking Lot, Rest. Seating Captain Clifford Auchter of the driver of the BMW to Robert Wood tion to run as an Independent. Mr. Blake Westfield. There are four towns from By CHRISTINA M. HINKE Ferraro’s South is not expanding Westfield Police Department said a 2008 Johnson University Hospital in said his petition received “excellent Morris County, two in Somerset County Specially Written for The Westfield Leader its building, but it is adding more Toyota Highlander driven by Dora Rahway. A hospital spokeswoman CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 and one in Essex County. WESTFIELD — The Westfield seats to accommodate 70 from its Mendez, 68, of Garwood was traveling said she was treated and released Planning Board heard two cases previous 48. eastbound on North Avenue when it Monday. Monday night at its regular monthly Planner James Watson testified on traveled up onto the sidewalk alongside Captain Auchter said it is unknown Teachers Union Chimes in meeting. behalf of the applicant. “We comply the monument to veterans of World at this time what caused the High- Ferraro’s South, the catering busi- with all setbacks of new construc- War I, striking Kirk Kinkade, an em- lander to travel up onto the sidewalk. ness on South Avenue, was approved tion,” he said. ployee of the Westfield Area “Y.” After The incident remains under investi- On Westfield School Budget to demolish the neighboring two-and- The applicant will “eliminate a sign being struck, the victim was thrown gation by the Westfield Police De- CHRISTINA M. HINKE unfortunate,” she said. a-half-story house at 211 South Av- on the southeasterly side,” he said, across the southern side of East Broad partment and the Union County Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “I meet every single Tuesday with enue and turn it into a parking lot with and add a “new sign located at the Street, winding up near the 9/11 Me- Prosecutor’s Office.