Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 111th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 49-111 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, August 16, 2001 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS TWO WORKERS FIRED FOR LEAVING POOL FACILITY Lifeguards, Town Settle Dispute After Job Action By ADAM BERNSTEIN lifeguards on duty also left the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “They turned their backs on premises, and were subsequently This past Thursday, as tempera- fired. tures all over the state soared past the our community.” “They turned their backs on our century mark, lifeguards staged a job community,” said Acting Town Ad- Acting Town Administrator ministrator Jim Gildea, a former action that shut down the Westfield Jim Gildea Memorial Pool. Westfield lifeguard. The conflict, at the heart of which The remaining 13 guards stayed were concerns about salary, working members the right to swim on one of on pool grounds to discuss their con- conditions and job security, was pre- the hottest days of the past 25 years. cerns with the management. At 3:30 cipitated by an influx of children “I believe that every time they (the p.m., there was a closed-door meet- from the Recreation Department’s lifeguards) have a worry or concern, ing during which many of their is- summer playground program. The it is legitimate,” he said, but that “it sues were addressed. Approximately action lasted for three hours in the is absolutely wrong to deny pool one hour following that meeting, the sweltering afternoon sun, and at 6 access.” lifeguards returned to work. p.m., with the situation adequately On Thursday, children from the The laundry list of guard concerns resolved, the pool reopened to serve Recreation Department’s summer ranged from the amount of drinking its 9,200 members. Over 100 persons playground arrived at the pool with water available, to salary, to a broken were at the pool when it closed at 3 their counselors in order to cool down. air conditioner in their cool down CAL RIPKIN THIRD PLACE FINISHERS...The Westfield 10-year-old Blue baseball team p.m. This additional strain, coupled with room. Some complained about the placed third in the Cal Ripkin Babe Ruth World Series held in Vincennes, Ind. on August 3- Keith S. Hertell, President of the the heat and what the guards per- nature of their lunch breaks and, 10. Pictured, left to right, are: front row; team princesses and batboy – supplied by Vincennes Westfield Recreation Commission, ceived as disrespectful behavior by with many of the guards leaving early Baseball Association; second row, Michael Forgash, David Pusar, Danny Sullivan, Michael viewed the temporary work stop- the counselors —lounging about and to return to college, others have felt Kent, Michael Carpetto and Dylan Clark; third row, Matthew Reiss, Brendan Burgdorf, overworked. Matthew Munizzi, Spencer Cassidy, Michael Lessner and Todd Saunders; back row, Coach page as a “misunderstanding.” He leaving all the supervision to the Charlie Burgdorf, Manager Geffrey Kent and Coach Bob Saunders. said the guards never approached the lifeguards — began the work stop- Another issue that irked the life- pool manager with their concerns page. guards was a decision by the Recre- prior to Thursday, and that their ac- When the pool shut down, all of ation Department to foot the bill for tions were irresponsible — denying the members left. Two of the 15 a CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resusci- tation) program the playground Freeholders Board Approves counselors took part in, while leav- ing them to pay for their own train- ing. And, as next year the Memo- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 $50 Mil. Barge to Rail Facility By STEPHEN CHIGER project, a barge-to-rail garbage trans- said Freeholder and Westfield resi- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader fer station to be located on Linden’s dent Mary P. Ruotolo, referring to a In an 8-0 vote, the Union County waterfront. At the height of the meet- state investigation into the Linden Board of Chosen Freeholders gave ing, which lasted about five and a property. the go-ahead to a proposed $50 mil- half hours, crowds outside the al- The landlord group for the facility lion trash transfer station early Tues- includes Linden Mayor John T. day morning, the next step in a plan Gregorio’s son-in-law, Dominick that has been fraught with debate, Pucillo, a law partner of State Sena- protest and controversy. The board’s “I call on this board not to tor Raymond J. Lesniak (D-20th, decision amended the county’s Solid vote on the party line for special Union), and Agnes Villani, whose Waste Management Plan to permit interest or for profit.” such a facility to operate in the Ingrid Mckinley for The Westfield Leader county. J. Ricky Badillo, EVERYONE OUT OF THE It was in the earliest hours of the Roselle Park resident, POOL...Westfield Memorial Pool us- GOP Freeholder Candidate “We support this application ers stand around the facility after it morning that the board, presiding because it’s good for Linden, it’s was temporary closed last Thursday before a tired and thinning crowd, good for central New Jersey and gave unanimous support to the following a job action by lifeguards. ready packed meeting room were in fact it’s good for the region.” reportedly as large as 100 people. If the project is put into action, John T. Gregorio, Browning Ferris Industries (BFI) Mayor of Linden Westfielders to Pay $5,075 In Local School Taxes; will build the transfer station at Tremley Point in Linden. BFI has requested permission to process husband was reportedly barred for Tuition and Utility Costs Among Hikes This Year 10,000 tons of New York City’s house- life from New York’s waste-hauling hold waste per day, over three times business for price fixing. By PAUL J. PEYTON and one high school. not generate a lot of savings between the assessed value is equal to 50 more than any garbage transfer facil- This group would receive about Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “Right now, all the elementary the salaries of the new hires and the percent of the market value. ity in the state. $1.2 million per month in rent from Editor’s Note: This is the third and grades have over 400 students in retired veteran teachers they replaced One of the biggest hits in the school The majority of the 30-plus people the facility, four times the amount final part of a three-part series on each level,” Mr. Berman explained. due to the need to hire a few more budget this year included all forms who spoke attacked the plan from a that Linden would make in hosting 2001 Westfield residential property The high school, which the district is teachers to fill new grade sections at of insurance, which totaled $5.8 mil- variety of angles, citing environmen- fees. tax bills. putting an addition on, has 1,300 two elementary schools, as well as lion, up 10 percent from the previous tal concerns, potential public safety Republican Freeholder Candidate * * * * * students, but will eclipse 1,700 stu- new teacher aids. year. hazards and an investigation by State J. Ricky Badillo, a Roselle Park Coun- Sixty-four percent of this year’s dents over the next few years. Mr. Berman noted that enrollment Mr. Berman noted that the district Attorney General John J. Farmer into cilman, said that in light of the state’s average Westfield residential prop- “As student enrollment increases is growing at an average increase of saved “several hundreds of thousands Linden’s deal to house the station. investigation, which recently uncov- erty tax bill of $7,886. That amounts you have to hire more staff,” he said. 100 students per year. dollars” by switching from Cigna to But the freeholders said that many ered that the Linden City Council to $5,075 on a house assessed at The district has been averaging 50 to Of the average tax bill increase in Horizon Blue Cross-Blue Shield. of these concerns were simply out- had not been made aware of compa- $175,000. 75 retiring staff members each of the town of $450, $300 is for school “Cigna was looking initially at side their control. rable and more lucrative deals, the This past spring, Westfield voters last three years. The district also did taxes. In Westfield, Mr. Berman said, “This freeholder board has no ju- board should not vote favorably. overwhelmingly supported, through CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 risdiction over who owns the land,” “I call on this board not to vote on two ballot questions, a total school the party line for special interest or tax levy of $52,566,163 out of a for profit,” he said. Mr. Badillo’s budget of $59.8 million. Included in Demand for Daycare Centers Continues to Grow comments were echoed by a number that amount is debt service of of those present, many of whom asked $1,074,00 for a debt payment of the that the vote be put on hold. 1998 bond referendum of $11.7 mil- As Does Population of Area Children Under Age 5 Prior to Mr. Badillo’s remarks, lion. Mayor Gregorio praised the deal. “We support this application be- “For the first time in many years By DEBORAH MADISON crease of more than 1 percent for this children under the age of 5 for those dren who cross-enroll in these towns. we actually received some state aid Specially Written for The Westfield Leader cause it’s good for Linden, it’s good age group over 1990 figures.