HappyHappy HalloweenHalloween Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 25, 2007 OUR 117th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 43-2007 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS RVSA Votes 6-5 to Reexamine Privatization Following Debate By WAYNE BAKER to pass the resolution. discussed and considered at great Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Commissioners Gregg David, the length during 2006. At that time, RAHWAY — At its meeting last mayor of Kenilworth; Clark Landale certain members insisted on press- Thursday, the Rahway Valley Sewer- of Mountainside, Attilio Venturo of ing ahead, despite the views of many age Authority voted 6-5 to begin the Roselle Park, Joan Papen of Scotch of the members and many of the process of reexamining privatizing Plains and Allen Chin of Westfield member municipalities that no one operations of the au- had presented any sound thority. reasons for such a radi- A resolution by cal change in the opera- Rahway Commis- tion of the RVSA, and sioner Peter Pelissier that the significant costs described the author- in time and money in ity as seeking “the as- even soliciting sistance of certain pro- privatization proposals fessionals to explore simply could not be jus- entering into a public/ tified,” he said. private partnership for Mr. Landale said, af- the operation of its ter listening to questions wastewater-treatment from mayors at a forum plant and all other fa- last November, “RVSA’s cilities.” own experts agreed that The resolution au- it was premature to de- Susan Cook for The Westfield Leader thorizes the publica- termine whether SCORING DONATIONS…Westfield neighbors gather to box up soccer equipment to donate to a community in Zambia, tion of a request for privatization might be a Africa. The efforts of local residents – including Billy Sickles and his family, Rebecca Sarkos and her family and the Westfield Soccer Association – inspired donations of hundreds of soccer cleats, shirts, shorts and balls. The Regenstreich family, whose proposals (RFP) from Wayne Baker for The Westfield Leader sound and cost-effective legal, engineering FOR AND AGAINST… Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority Commis- measure for RVSA.” son, Andrew, is in Africa working at a refugee camp, started the drive after Andrew sent a letter requesting “some” equipment. and financial profes- sioner Peter Pelissier, center, the leading proponent of a measure to re- “There was a good- sionals for their ser- examine privatizing the RVSA, sits next to Mountainside Commissioner faith consensus that we vices related to Clark Landale, right, the most vocal critic of Mr. Pelissier’s resolution. Joan would wait until the plant WF Democratic Candidates Promise privatization. Papen, Scotch Plains commissioner, looks on. The measure passed, 6-5. construction was com- Commissioners Frank Mazzarella voted against it. plete and then re-evaluate, in light of of Clark, James Murphy of Cranford, Mr. Landale, who read a prepared the newly upgraded plant and suffi- Charles Lombardo, a councilman in statement, was the most vocal in his cient experience with its operations, To Address Taxes, No-Bid Work Garwood; Mr. Pelissier of Rahway, opposition. what areas, if any, consideration of By MICHAEL J. POLLACK “In order to get matching grants, bullet points [is] to end no-bid con- Rosalie Berger of Springfield and “The idea of privatizing the RVSA some form of privatization might make Specially Written for The Westfield Leader you have to have an environmental tracting, and I think it’s rather interest- Robert Luban of Woodbridge voted or some portion of its operations was sense,” he said. WESTFIELD – During a video commission,” he said. ing that in his own hometown, the He questioned the motivations of interview at The Westfield Leader of- He added that the cost to the town Republican-controlled council is un- two of the RVSA commissioners. fices last Thursday, the Westfield would be “minimal,” referencing that willing to do that.” “Mr. Pelissier, who has spearheaded Democratic slate stated its intent to the Association of New Jersey Envi- this renewed effort to steamroll control taxes and end the practice of ronmental Commissions stated that a Bruce Regenstreich privatization through, is under investi- offering no-bid contracts for profes- typical commission has a $500 bud- Second Ward gation for collecting a state pension sional services. get. At the candidates’ forum, Mr. while serving as a consultant for Rahway Speaking on studies conducted by Regenstreich claimed that the munici- doing the same work that he was before Ross Katz the existing council, Mr. Katz said, pal portion of the town budget had his retirement,” Mr. Landale said. First Ward “After a period of time, you can study risen 40 percent over four years. His comments drew shouts and Mr. Katz takes part in Westfield’s something to death, but you have to Although no one rebutted Mr. hisses from the crowd of more than 40 “grass-roots” environ- Regenstreich’s assertions attendees, which included several mental issues committee at the forum, Mayor Andy members of the Rahway City Council. and said he would con- Skibitsky did so on Tues- CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 tinue to push for the town’s day. first environmental com- The mayor told The Cranford Tells RVSA mission. Westfield Leader, “At least He noted that more than two candidates said that the Rep. To Change Vote 350 New Jersey munici- budget has gone up by 40 By WAYNE BAKER palities have such com- percent in the last four years. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader missions and said, “It’s That’s wrong every time.” CRANFORD — The Cranford important to a town for Town Administrator Jim Township Committee on Monday many reasons.” Gildea told The Leader that Victoria McCabe for The Westfield Leader night requested that the town’s com- Mr. Katz said an envi- the “municipal portion of CRASH SCENE…A van and a Ford Taurus collided at the intersection of South missioner to the Rahway Valley ronmental commission the budget rose an aggre- Avenue and Boulevard October 18, sending the driver of the van and a pregnant Sewerage Authority change his vote could “prove a valuable gate of 28.68 percent over passenger in the Taurus to Overlook Hospital. The van was transporting two on a resolution passed last Thurs- children in wheelchairs and an aide, none of whom were injured. The pregnant resource during the mas- the past four years.” woman was released from the hospital the same day; the condition of the van day to begin a professional review ter-plan review process, Third Ward Councilman driver remained unknown earlier this week. Police pulled the woman from the of privatization. particularly [regarding] Dave Haas, however, noted Taurus just as it caught fire. Pictured above is the Taurus at the accident site. Eventually, James Murphy, the the land-use and/or con- that the tax levy during that commissioner, agreed to do what servation elements of the CHALLENGERS...Democratic Westfield Council candidates, period increased 39.8 per- he could to effectively change his plan.” He said Westfield left to right, Ross Katz (Ward 1), Bruce Regenstreich (Ward 2), cent. Residents Question Lombardo vote. Matt Sontz (Ward 3) and Lenore Scurry (Ward 4) sit down with might qualify for special Westfield Leader editor Michael Pollack (off camera) to discuss Mr. Regenstreich admit- Mr. Murphy described the vote incentive grants to facili- their campaign. Watch the full interview at goleader.com/video. ted there “may have been a as “incremental” and said the pro- tate this process. misstatement” on his part Re. RVSA Privatization Vote cess could be stopped at any time. He added that commissions “fur- put that plan into action.” but termed the Republicans’ reaction By KATHY MARQUES don’t affect you.” Deputy Mayor Robert Puhak dis- ther the goal of educating and in- Mr. Katz said he spoke to a Moun- “obfuscation.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Mr. Gencarelli replied, “You’re agreed, saying the vote begins a forming residents, including school tain Avenue resident who complained He questioned, “Why would the GARWOOD – The borough right, but I do have family and friends cascade of expenses. children, on ways to help protect the about speeding in the area. GOP even bother to make this an council’s Tuesday meeting turned into in many towns that the RVSA pro- At one point, Mayor Michael environment.” Mr. Katz said, as a solution, the issue? a debate with members of the public vides services to, and that is why I’m Plick asked Mr. Murphy, “Would He said having a commission also resident was told “[he would] be “Quite frankly, I think it’s even over the Rahway Valley Sewerage here, as a concerned resident.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 makes fiscal sense. trained on how to use a radar gun and worse to have a budget go up [28.68] Authority’s (RVSA) vote in favor of The councilman said the price of go out there and…get license plates percent and have a tax increase of reexamining privatization. privatization would be a “minimal cost” of cars going by.” almost 40 percent.” Anthony Gencarelli, an RVSA – he said the RVSA resolution was very Cable Franchise Fees Are Set Mr. Katz said, “That’s just not an He continued, “If the budget has only employee, addressed the council as a “bare bones” and that “we have to think efficient solution to an issue that can gone up [28.68] percent, and you’re private citizen in response to the outside the box. We (the RVSA board) be solved fairly easily.” proud of that, then why increase the RVSA’s possible privatization of the are exploring any opportunities and we To Double to 4 Percent An attorney by trade, Mr.