Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 111th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 37-111 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, May 24, 2001 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Council Amends, Then OKs Decree to Build Deck, Decks By PAUL J. PEYTON McDermott broke a 4-4 deadlock. more spaces. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The ordinance on Tuesday was Councilman Sullivan said four of After hearing arguments over the passed following an amendment by the 11 so-called “parking principals,” course of four and a half hours, both Third Ward Councilman Neil F. approved last summer by the coun- pro and con, the Town Council unani- Sullivan, who chairs the Transporta- cil, have been implemented to date. mously passed an ordinance Tues- tion, Parking and Traffic Commit- He said the town anticipates that the day night setting up a funding source tee, which changed the ordinance to valet parking and jitney service will of $700,000 for the design, construc- reflect the possibility of building not be up and running by the fall. tion management and related profes- just one deck, as included in the Town Administrator Thomas B. sional services for the building of a original ordinance, but two decks. Shannon announced that interviews parking deck or decks in the down- In addition, the document reflects among the remaining eight candi- town. that funds can be spent on other dates for the newly created position The vote occurred at 1 a.m. means of improving the parking situ- of parking manager will be conducted Wednesday following comments ation within the town. the week of Monday, June 11, with a from residents which began at 8:30 These include a commuter jitney recommendation made to Mayor p.m. The ordinance on the council’s service, a valet parking system at the McDermott and the council by the agenda was identical to one defeated South Avenue train station lot and end of that week. on first reading just two weeks ear- reconfiguration of the “horseshoe” Mayor McDermott told The lier in a 5-4 vote. Mayor Gregory S. area of the South Avenue lot to add Westfield Leader that he envisions this person moving all the parking projects forward, including the hir- ing of a consultant to design the Full-Day Vo-Tech parking deck or decks by July. Fourth Ward Councilman Lawrence A. Goldman, in support- ing construction of a deck, said, Program Concerns “There is never going to be a perfect Fred K. Lecomte for The Westfield Leader location” to construct a parking fa- READY TO PLAY…The Second Garden State Open Table Tennis Tournament was held in the Westfield National Guard cility. Armory last Saturday and Sunday. Sponsored by “Lily Yip Sports, Inc.,” participants included 10 players from the North Local School Districts With over 35 persons speaking at Jersey Developmental Center. The event helped prepare for the Special Olympic Summer Games to be held from Friday CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 to Sunday, June 1 to 3. See story on Page 5. By SUSAN M. DYCKMAN certainly increase for a full-time pro- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader gram. The state’s increased requirements It costs Scotch Plains-Fanwood for high school graduation make it $2,500 per student for the existing Consultant Recommends Two Decks in Downtown; difficult for a “shared time” vocational-technical program like that offered at the Union While Mayor Forms Advisory on Parking Issue County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS) in Scotch By JAMES M. FOERST dation and if so, what would you of February 2000 found a parking commuter lots. Plains to work the way it used Specially Written for The Westfield Leader change?” Mayor McDermott asked deficiency of some 617 spots with a Councilman Sullivan noted that to, according to Superinten- Last week, Rich & Associates, the Mr. Rich. 10-year estimate of a 1,436-space many of the people on the waiting dent Thomas J. Bistocchi. parking consultant to the Town of “The community needs to be in- shortfall. list would decline the permit if it “There’s not enough time Westfield, recommended that the volved in the process,” said Mr. Rich, “I think we have overestimated the were made available. in a child’s day to fulfill the town move ahead with plans to build who continued by stating, “There need for parking,” commented Neil There are presently 970 names on requirements,” he said. a parking deck at Elm and Prospect was not enough public input in the F. Sullivan, Third Ward Councilman waiting lists for parking permits at The school has proposed a Streets and construct a second, the train station lots located on South $12 million expansion that smaller structure on North Avenue Avenue and Watterson Street, offi- alongside the railroad tracks and would allow the school to of- “The community needs to be involved in the process. cials said. fer a full-time academic and behind the Paine Webber building. In the end Mr. Rich concluded, “I The town council met last Thurs- There was not enough public input in the initial process.” strongly recommend two parking vocational program. The pro- Richard A. Rich posal calls for construction of day with Richard A. Rich of Rich & structures. A smaller structure on Associates to update recently elected Rich & Associates lots 1 and 8 and a second structure on a new 80,000-square-foot Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Parking Consultant to Town of Westfield building for classrooms, sci- council members on the parking prob- lot 9.” ence and computer labs, fit- lems in town, as well as to have Mr. “Frankly, anything would enhance Rich answer questions which have ness center and auditorium. shared time program. In discussing initial process.” and Chairman of the council’s Trans- the area on Elm Street near lots 1 and In a shared time program, a student arisen since his last presentation to Councilman Echausse questioned portation, Parking and Traffic Com- 8, ” said Mr. Rich. “It is important the issue, some board members have them in the fall. receives academic instruction at his expressed concern about the impact Mr. Rich about the possibility of mittee. that we add spaces now. We would local high school, then travels to In particular, both Second Ward building a deck on lot 9, also known “The enforcement of short-term decrease the size of a lots 1 and 8 of increased costs to the district for a Councilman Rafael Betancourt and UCVTS for vocational training. While full-day vo-tech program. as the Shell lot, at the corner of North parking has cleared out the down- structure by approximately 40 per- students spend three periods on the First Ward Councilman Peter and Central Avenues. town and reduced the number of cent to 500 stalls. This would miti- “It’s all about making sure the Echausse were not members of the UCVTS campus, Mr. Bistocchi said opportunities are there,” said Mr. “I still think that your best shot is spaces needed in the central business gate citizens, traffic concerns and they spend the equivalent of one pe- council when Mr. Rich gave his ini- lots 1 and 8,” Mr. Rich responded. district. We have created shoppers address design issues,” said Mr. Rich. Bistocchi, who predicted a “devas- tial presentation recommending a riod or more traveling between schools. tating” impact on the county “Lot 9 is less efficient than lots 1 and space by getting out the short-term While the first structure is being Of New Jersey’s 21 county voca- deck at lots 1 and 8, located at Elm 8 with cost per space being higher on (employee) parkers,” Mr. Sullivan built, Mr. Rich reasoned, the town economy if the UCVTS program and Prospect Streets. tional-technical schools, approxi- ceased to exist. lot 9. Also, even if we built to full said, while referring to meter feed- could plan for the construction of a mately 12 are full-time programs. “My goal is to leave tonight hav- capacity on lot 9, with a net gain of ers. second structure at lot 9, which would The UCVTS superintendent main- ing all of the council’s questions 262 spaces, there is still a serious He also noted that, “the permit add an additional 262 spaces. tains a shift to a full-time program, answered,” said Mayor Gregory S. parking deficit downtown,” he said. deficit is really only approximately “There would be additional cost that offers both academic and voca- Parade to Begin McDermott. Lots 1 and 8 are located between 350 spots,” calculating that numer- with two locations,” responded Mr. tional courses at one location, is “If you had to do it all over again, Elm and Prospect Streets in the down- ous names were duplicates on the Rich, when asked by Fourth Ward necessary for the program to remain Monday at 9 a.m. would you change your recommen- town area. Mr. Rich’s parking study South Avenue and Watterson Street CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 a viable option for students seeking Westfield’s annual Memorial vocational opportunities. Day Parade will kick off this “It’s the only way to get the kids to Monday, May 28, at 9 a.m. at the come,” said Mr. Bistocchi. Veterans Memorial Monument Local Chiropractor,Vietnam Veteran to Head Like Scotch Plains-Fanwood, at the circle intersection of East Westfield High School (WHS) cur- Broad Street and North Avenue. rently enrolls approximately 20 stu- Opening remarks will be made Westfield Memorial Day Parade This Monday dents in the UCVTS program, though by this year’s master of ceremo- By SUSAN BARBARA GORDON during the war.