Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, August 9, 2012 OUR 122nd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 32-2012 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS WF Council Discuss State’s Public Employee Retirement System By LAUREN S. BARR quired analysis and certification of in PERS was not offered to Mr. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader employees’ eligibility to participate Finestein when he was hired as town WESTFIELD – The discussion in PERS. attorney following Mr. Cockren’s at Tuesday night’s Westfield Town Mr. Blake also questioned who retirement, as new part-time em- Council meeting centered around advised Mr. Gildea when he re- ployees were not eligible for the pensions following the issuance of sponded to a 2011 inquiry from the pension. a report by State Comptroller Mat- comptroller, as asking then town Editors note: According to pub- thew Boxer which criticized mu- attorney Robert Cockren would lic records available on the Internet nicipalities for allowing profes- have been a “conflict of interest.” at www.app.com/section/DATA/ sional service contractors to remain Mr. Blake said that the town “can- DataUniverse, Mr. Cockren receives in the state’s Public Employee Re- not ask the fox whether or not he $35,753 annual pension from PERS. tirement System (PERS). likes the accommodations inside the The data is: Resident John Blake praised cur- hen house.” He also said that Mr. Cockren, Robert, Westfield Town, rent Town Attorney Russ Finestein Finestein “wanted more money than PERS - Public Employee Retire- for his “knowledge of the law” since [he] was being offered” for the po- ment System, $65,024 (final aver- he is not participating in PERS. He sition. age salary), 382 (months of ser- accused Town Administrator Jim Finance Committee Chairman vice), $35,753 (annual pension)), Gildea of not performing the re- Sam Della Fera said participation 2011 (retire year). Mr. Finestein said that he was in PERS when he served as planning board attorney, but did not vest in the system so he is not qualified for a pension. Mr. Gildea said he did not con- Alex Taner for The Westfield Leader sult Mr. Cockren, but consulted with SUMMER FUN… This youngster has fun on the diving boards and slides at the Mountainside Community Pool over this the town’s labor attorney Rick past weekend. Danser, who does not participate in PERS, when he responded to the comptroller’s inquiry. Former Councilman Sal Caruana Mtsd. Council Moving Ahead With took issue with Councilman Dave Haas’ comments in The Westfield Leader, most specifically that Mr. Haas called the practice of allow- Purchase of Fire Pumper Truck ing part-time employees into PERS By DOMINIC A. LAGANO more expensive fire apparatus. ing on Tuesday, August 21. unethical. He said that while he Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “The lower bidder did not meet The council next authorized the respects Mr. Haas, “to say that it’s MOUNTAINSIDE — During its the specifications of the borough. donation of $500 toward the unethical...is really a sin” and that work session meeting Tuesday The Campbell Crimson bid actually Mountainside Parent-Teacher the statement is an indictment of night, the borough council agreed met or exceeded all the specifica- Association’s (PTA) fall festival, every council member for the last to move ahead with several mea- tions,” he said. an annual event dedicated to the Brooks Crandall for The Westfield Leader BLOCK PARTY...The Westfield Neighborhood Council held a night out on 30 years. sures including the purchase of a The borough will issue a bond to amusement of the younger Tuesday on Cacciola Place to coincide with National Night Out. The event Mr. Caruana said the pension was new fire pumper truck for the bor- cover the cost of the truck. The Mountainside residents. included games food and a band and was open to the public. For more informa- used as a benefit to hire attorneys. ough. The new pumper truck would bond issue will be discussed in more Mountainside Mayor Paul tion on the council, visit westfieldneighborhoodcouncil.com. He said the town was able to get have the capacity to provide 1,000 detail at the council’s public meet- CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 attorneys making $300 an hour in gallons of water per minute, an private practice at a rate of $100 important asset to effectively fight St. Bart’s to Make Repairs hour to the town. Mr. Caruana added fires in Mountainside. WF Resident In Training that members of the council felt the The cost of the truck will be town had a “moral obligation” to $408,000. After considering sev- Following Water Main Break allow the employees to continue in eral bids, the council decided to For N.J. National Guard By JULIE SHILLING Westfield Leader. “Our concern isn’t the system that the town had prom- move ahead with a more expensive By MICHAELA WINBERG part of the rescue squad, calling it an Specially Written for The Westfield Leader how or why did it break. Our concern ised them. He added that the cost to submission from the Crimson Fire Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “amazing experience” because it is SCOTCH PLAINS – Last week, a is getting it fixed as soon as possible.” the town never exceeded $7,000 for product line of the Campbell Sup- WESTFIELD – On July 20, at Fort made up of such a well-rounded group water main measuring four feet in No dates have been promised when the five attorneys in question. ply Company LLC, based out of Sill, Okla., Susan Lagano, 34, of of people. diameter ruptured at the intersection the low water pressure will be back to Councilman Haas said his use of South Plainfield. Westfield proceeded through a not- Many members of the Westfield of Portland Avenue and Birch Street normal. “The rain last Thursday the word unethical was “not that Councilman Glenn Mortimer ex- so-typical graduation ceremony. Af- Rescue Squad are retired members of in Scotch Plains, resulting in a 15- pushed back our repair time,” Mr. people acted out of malice or politi- plained the reasoning behind the ter more than two months of training, the New Jersey Army National Guard, foot-long and 14-foot-deep crack in Barnes added. “I really can’t say when CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 council’s recommendation of the Mrs. Lagano concluded the first step she said. Mrs. Lagano saw them and the street. Two homes were reported things will get back to normal be- in the process of serving the New their efforts for their country as an flooded in basements with water that cause one person may say it will be Jersey Army National Guard. inspiration. That, along with her in- damaged clothes, furniture, photo- fixed this week and another worker Mrs. Lagano began her volunteer- tense desire to help people and her graphs and more. Water rushed in- may say earlier than that.” WF’s Delpopolo Disqualified ing career in 1999 when she became personal memories of 9/11, led to her side with such force that it shattered The flooded and muddy roads have a certified emergency medical tech- decision to enlist. homeowners’ windows. Residents been pumped and cleaned up, yet the nician (EMT). After meeting her hus- “I love to help people,” Mrs. Lagano were forced to evacuate after roads repairs on the street closures are still From Olympic Judo Team band, Dominic, in 2005, she moved said. “It makes me happy.” turned into rivers. in effect. Portland Avenue has been By CHRISTIE STORMS immediately wrote a confessional let- to Westfield and began volunteering Her journey to helping people Thousands of residents in 13 Union repaved and opened to residential Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ter to the IOC. for the Westfield Rescue Squad. She through the Guard started on May 7, County towns are still dealing with vehicles only. WESTFIELD – Just one week af- An excerpt of the letter reads: currently serves the squad as a re- when Mrs. Lagano left Westfield for low water pressure and are asked to Currently, St. Bartholomew the ter Westfield native Nick Delpopolo “…He had absolutely no idea that cruiter and as membership commit- Fort Sill. There, she began army ba- conserve water until the repairs are Apostle Parish on Westfield Avenue competed on the U.S. Judo Team at I dealt with marijuana at all, so it tee chair. She was vice-president of sic training. During the 10 weeks completed. However, once the re- is facing water damage to different the 2012 Olympic Games in London, never would’ve crossed his mind. the rescue squad until early May 2012, until her graduation, Mrs. Lagano pairs are completed, residents may parts of the Roman Catholic church he was disqualified by the Interna- This is my entire fault...This was all a when she resigned to join the Guard. participated in exercises such as con- face cloudy, dirty water and are asked and to St. Bartholomew Academy, tional Olympic Committee (IOC) this huge mistake. His hard work, and not Mrs. Lagano said she loved being a CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 to run it until it becomes clear. which serves pre-kindergarten to past Monday. The 23-year-old ath- only dedication to judo, but also be- “The 48-inch-wide rusted water eighth grade. Immediately after the lete had tested positive for metabo- ing a good role model, should not be main from the early 1970s has been water flowed downhill from the bro- lites of cannabis in an in-competition downgraded or punished for my self- removed and replaced with an 18- ken pipe, it gushed through the park- drug test.