O O\ o oc- c< : <Q 2 m o - M a Q THE WESTFIELD LEADER o J The Leading and Most Widely Circulated Weekly Newspaper In Union County Publ[ih«d NINETY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 39 S^-ood Cbn PnUft PM WESTFIELD. NEW JERSEY,.THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1981 Evefy Thuridajr 26 Pages—25 Cents 11 WWfcU.N.1. Y Official Balks at Town Another Sidewalk Battle Looms The battle of the Earl Lambert. project is needed to provide by the opponents is the Fairmont Ave., one of more sidewalks leading to Similar dissention oc- safe access for the walk to possibility of converting the than a dozen speakers at the Competition in Camp Market Washington School has been curred about a year ago Washington School and school system to a middle - public hearing on the or- revived—this year on the when council eventually opponents claiming their school concept which would dinance. "We don't need the Summer sports camps compete with the cost," he Jeremiah said he feared southeast side of St. Marks agreed to put sidewalks on own surveys do not warrant eliminate the two upper "Safety starts at home," Recreation Commission as a would emanate to make the said. the entrance of the Ave. between South South Chestnut St., and the the walks and subsequent grades in elementary replied Fred Gould of 716 St. competitor," William camps self-supporting and The Recreation Com- recreation' commission, or Chestnut and Sherman Sts. neighborhood was split on disruption to their schools and reduce Marks Ave. "Cost is not a Jeremiah toM Mayor Allen not dependent on tax mission proposes among its the "public factor," into a Originally scheduled for the issue. At that time, in- properties and assessment enrollment of their student factor, but the character of Chin and members of the monies. The trust fund also programs a soccer camp for Held covered by the YMCA, final action at Tuesday stallation of walks on St. shares. A percentage of the bodies. land and homes is." Town Council Tuesday would ease the financial which enroilees would pay the "private sector," could night's meeting of the Town Marks Ave. was suggested cost- which could run about but plans postponed. $300 for a home with a 50- Parents whose children, St. Marks Ave. is a night squeeze imposed by caps $30 for the first week, or $40 have serious impact on Council, appropriation of for the most part, attended hazardous route, countered Jeremiah, president of the limitations, according to for two weeks. The Y's financial stability and funds for construction was Once again, area foot frontage - would be residents are divided into levied on property owners. Grant School until its Peggy Stanzell of Fairmont YMCA, referred to pending Mayor Chin. soccer camp costs ISO for future growth of private tabled until May 26 to closing last June, stressed Ave. The situation is "just legislation on the council But, said Jeremiah, Y the first week and $44 for the agencies. The. town- permit further studies of two camps, parents of Close to 50 residents former Grant School that safety hazards exist on awful," she added. agenda which - would programs such as a soccer second, or a total of KM, and sponsored programs, which - student count and traffic crowded the council the walk-less route to establish a trust fund for the camp operated by the is similar in format, he said would offer direct and an updated recom- students transferred to chambers to air their views Delay in decision-making Washington School insisting Washington School, and are on the sidewalks will not recreation departmentfrom agency for five years would Jeremiah said, "except we competition to similar ones mendation on the project on the matter, and a petition particularly treacherous which fees from proposed be in jeopardy. "We can't give an hour in the pool." from, Police Safety Officer that the $19,000 sidewalk signed by a number of op- interfere with their con- (Continued on [»0« *) during rain and snow. They struction, Mayor Allen Chin poiients urged council to also said that Union College- consider alternatives to pointed out. If council bound students drive along agrees to install the sidewalk construction. St. Marks Ave. on their way YMCA Begins Walter Ridge New Fire Chief Presented by Donald Yuhas sidewalks at its late May to college, compounding the meeting, ample time Walter J. Ridge, 49, of 214 program of commercial partner in Romeo's Gulf of 740 St. Marks Ave., the problems. Grove St., was confirmed as buildings and stores in town Service station in Westfield. appeal cited that two-thirds remains for their com- Chief of the Westfield Fire and participation in the He also had served aboard and the subsequent "The safety of children is pletion before the Sep- Major Renovation Department at Tuesday preparation of the depart- the destroyer U.S.S. Bache assessments. of more concern than cost," tember opening of school, he Construction is underway night's meeting of the Town ment's annual budget. during the Korean War and Another point brought out said John Allen of 617 said. in the first phase of a major Council. His appointment Prior to joining the Fire was honorably discharged renovation program<at the becomes effective June 1. Department in 1958, Ridge after four years' duty in Westfield YMCA. The Ridge, current staff of- was self-employed as a March, 1953. f«5,00O project wiU Include ficer and deputy chief, will Ridge is a member in the Board To Proceed the construction of both succeed Norman J. Ruemp, New Jersey and Union men's and women's fitness whose retirement becomes County Fire Chiefs centers, substantial effective May 31. His 1981 Associations, the Westfield With Garage Plans upgrading of the Ro«ke Pool annual salary will be Superior Officers area, complete refurnishing $»,2I7. Association, and the Despite dissension the Board members James Westfield to rent Lincoln of the weight training and Ridge, a member of the Internations Associations of new Board of Education at England agreed with Senus School was tabled until May; exercise areas and the Fire Department since 1956, Fire Chief, Arson Invest- its first public business noting he did not unders tand the operations and facilities construction of an ao-car was promoted to both igators and Bomb Tech- meeting Tuesday night why the council had allowed committee has planned a paved parking lot on Clark lieutenant then captain in nicians and Investigators. accepted the recotn- the facility and not the meeting with the YM- mendation of the Town { computer. Alice Dillon and YWHA on May 6. St. ' the same year, lM3r and Married to the former New equipment and seven current officers, Frances Romeo, he is the Council that the Board'' Harvey Wolfson said that Thirty-nine secondary amenities in the men's including two deputy fire father of two daughters, Secretary certify $106,000 to while they supported con- level classes were dropped ntaeat center will include a chiefs, worked and trained 1 Kathleen Ann and Mrs. build a maintenance facility struction of the garage they due to low enrollment; 118 Steam room, sauna hath, as' privates under his Maureen Gabriel. Ridge is a at the Elm St. School site. felt the wishes of the elec- secondary classes will be sunken whirlpool, command charter member of the The facility was part of the torate should not be combined to 59. overruled. ; ulWviekW r»oav and a' nidge was named a Westfiekl chapter of Unico capital outlay question By law. the board must which was defeated in the V, William. Vincentsen, notify staff members by *^kM 'i iws' .^«a.Jcj*Wch»i),i)a» position which has included served as director and '-school" erection Ap*f! T." "Jam tWgeV;* EHHs- Ho* •»«*• Aprlf 30'if they will not have and other workout ap- an It-month stint as head of chapter secretary and is Following the defeat, the Thomas Sullivan spoke in a contract offered to them at paratus. Free laundry the rire Prevention Bureau, presently alternate delegate board, by law, submitted the support of the facility.' this time for the following sarVicr and a lounge are* institution of an inspection WakcrJiRMge (Contlnuvd on pag« 4) question to Town Council Sullivan noted that although school year. Positions In- will be available to fitness which recommended the board had not promised cluded in the "no job center members. retaining the maintenance the Westfield School Sup- assurance" category in- "The women's fitness Hardwick to Run for Reelection facility proposal but portive Association the clude two-and-a-half center will be virtually a rejected the $90,000 garage members had said tenured teachers at the mirror image of the men's, Assemblyman Chuck Hardwick of allocation for computer they would make every secondary level; four enabling us to open a whole Westfield (R-Union) this week filed upgrading. attempt to provide it. He nontenured teachers at the new .membership category petitions to ran for reelection to the New Prior to the vote, Leon added that while the elementary level; 17 non- for women in our service Jersey Assembly. "I deeply appreciate Senus, vice-president of the decision is not tenured teachers at the area," Walter Goldt, having been chosen by you, the leaders board moved to disapprove "educationally popular" it secondary level; four general director of the of my party to be on the ticket this fall," the recommendation citing was the right thing to do. secretaries and 32 aids. Five YMCA said. Hardwick (old the municipal Republican the fact that voters had Dr. Laurence Greene hundred and seventeen staff Weight training facilities leaders who backed him unanimously.