The Westfield Leader Newspaper

OUR 110th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 25110 FIFTY CENTS (908) 2324407 Thursday, February 24, 2000 USPS 680020 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N. J. Published Every Thursday

Since 1890

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus

Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader WOODLAND AVENUE WELL HOUSE… The Westfield Planning Board gave its nod last Thursday to a resolution granting local historic designation and preservation status to the well house at 200 Woodland Avenue. The resolution, okayed by the town’s Historic Preservation Commission in December, must now get final approval from the Town Council. It is estimated that the well was built between 1780 and 1790 and was used to supply water to the main house. See related story on Page 11.

Planning Board Apologizes About New Subdivision; Discusses Strengthening Historic Preservation Laws

By INGRID McKINLEY

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

A remorseful Westfield Planning Board addressed a crowded Council Chambers February 17 on the subject of a new subdivision at 1065 East Broad Street, which was approved by the board in January.

Approval of the subdivision, which has resulted in some public unrest particularly by a neighbor adjacent to the property, was the impetus for the February 17 special Planning Board meeting, which actually was called to review the current Westfield historic preservation ordinances.

An 18th century single family home currently stands on the East Broad Street subdivision site and there has been some concern that the preservation of the home should have been taken more into consideration before approving the plan.

Under the approved plan, the 18th century home will be moved and relocated on the property to make room for two new homes that will face Karen Terrace, which is located off of East Broad Street.

Opening the February 17 special Planning Board meeting for public

comment on the subdivision was done as a courtesy.

The meeting began with Planning Board Chairman Martin Robins addressing the crowded chambers: “In an unusual and unprecedented manner, we are making a special provision tonight to open the floor to the public regarding the memorialization (of 1065 East Broad St.).”

He continued by saying that the Planning Board, due to current laws, had no choice but to approve the subdivision. But Planning Board members recognize the decision has been controversial and wanted the public to be given the opportunity to speak on the record, he said.

“If it (the subdivision) may lead to further legal action, so be it,” said Mr. Robins.

The tone of the public response was disbelief.

Residents argued that the Planning Board should have considered the impact on the neighbor in terms of historical preservation and maintaining the existing neighborhood.

At the meeting, Karen Terrace resident Lori Zivny, a neighbor of the subdivision and an outspoken opponent to the plan, and East Broad Street resident Elizabeth and Warren Hanscom were represented by an attorney.

Michelle Gibson, of Greenbaum, Rowe and Smith in Woodbridge, reviewed neighbors’ complaints, including the dismantling of the garage on the site, the moving of the 18th century home to another location on the site and the placement of a driveway onto Union County Route No. 509 (East Broad).

Ms. Gibson proposed to the Planning Board that the property be intensively studied in regards to grading and storm water prior to granting permits.

She also suggested that the developer take out a bond to guarantee the historical house will be restored to its current condition and not be torn down if damaged in the move.

The attorney’s suggestions were taken under advisement by the Planning Board.

Another complaint by some local neighbors such as Ms. Zivny is that they received no notice that the subdivision plan was under consideration by the Planning Board.

The applicant of a subdivision seeking no variances is not legally bound to notify adjacent neighbors about plans.

The town, though, as a matter of courtesy, has been notifing neighbors. But because of illnesses in the Town Engineer’s office and the December holidays, neighbors in this particular case were not notified.

When the discussion was completed, Mr. Robins responded to the group. “We are disappointed we had so little power in this case. We should have studied the case more, but could not within the time frame allotted. With the holidays, board members being ill, we just couldn’t do it. We were restricted by time, and needed to abide by the law.”

Board member, Anthony La Porta agreed. “This was a difficult one to approve. We would rather have not,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

MAKING A DIFFERENCE… Stan Kaslusky, Executive Director of the Westfield Y, offers kudos to committee members and mentors with the Y’s Black Achievers program during last week’s recognition reception for volunteers and employees of the agency. Honorees, pictured left to right, are: Melba Nixon, Jean White James, Claudia Watkins, Sandra Chambers and Tracy Fooster.

Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader WELCOME TO OUR TOWN… New Westfield entrance signs, which were paid for through last year’s town budget, are installed on Springfield Avenue and North Avenue, as well as five other locations, to serve as a welcoming symbol of the town.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Three Incumbents and Challenger Vie For Westfield School Bd. Seats By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

WESTFIELD – With a Monday, February 28, deadline nearing for filing nominating petitions, the race for four seats by three candidates on the Westfield Board of Education has already gotten into full swing.

Incumbents Dr. B. Carol Molnar of Wychwood Road and Anne Riegel of Manchester Drive had returned their petitions to the office Board Secretary and Business Administrator Robert A. Berman at press time. Challenger Peter W. Billson filed his nominating petition last Friday.

The terms that are available to candidates include a oneyear unexpired term currently held by Ms. Riegel who filled the vacancy left by former Board VicePresident Ginger L. Hardwick last year.

However, Ms. Riegel is seeking a three year term, along with Dr. Molnar and Mr. Billson. These threeyear term vacancies have been left by Dr. Molnar, Michael Kessler of Park Street, and Thomas Taylor.

As of press day, Mr. Taylor could not officially confirm his intentions for reelection to the school board.

Mr. Kessler told The Westfield Leader early Monday morning that he intended to file his petition for a oneyear term by February 28, hoping to “keep the taxpayers concerns in mind” and continue formulating

“sound policy and wellthought out ideas.”

Although he could not cite any particular contribution he made to the school board when asked, he noted that as a member of the board’s Facilities Committee, he would like to keep the district’s facilities from deteriorating.

Early Monday afternoon, Mr. Kessler confided to The Leader that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to commit to stating that he would return his petition and run for the school board. Early on Wednesday morning, Mr. Kessler stated that, indeed, he will run for the oneyear term.

Mr. Kessler’s background is in the area of management, finance and accounting. He holds 20 years of experience with AT& T and Lucent Technologies. The incumbent also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University.

He has served on a Rescue Squad in northern New Jersey. He has served as Recording Secretary for the Parent Teacher Council, and as President, Vice President and Treasurer of McKinley Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization.

A Westfield resident since 1991, Mr. Kessler and his wife, Ginny, have two children.

Mr. Taylor, who did not respond to phone messages, has served the board

since 1997. He held a previous term from 1984 to 1987, during which time he chaired the Staff Relations Committee to find a new School Superintendent during the 1980s. The board hired Dr. Mark C. Smith who resigned in 1996 to take a post in Massachusetts and later employed current superintendent Dr. William J. Foley.

A 1968 graduate of Westfield High School, Mr. Taylor is a practicing attorney. He is a former New Jersey Deputy Attorney General.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Residents of Cacciola Fear Impact of Development By DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

Speaking on behalf of current residents of the Central Avenue buildings slated for demolition, Westfield Neighborhood Council (WNC) Director Ezella Johnson and WNC President Harold Cohen recently told

The Westfield Leader “there is a general impression by the residents of this community that real estate developer Ralph Rapuano does not care about the displacement of these residents, and that the town is going to allow this to happen,” in the words of Ms. Johnson.

The houses that will be razed are located on Central Avenue near the corner of Cacciola Place. Demolish ing them will make way for a 23unit

townhouse, apartment and store complex to be built by Mr. Rapuano. Currently owned by Mr. Rapuano, the houses are home to more than six families.

The project was approved by the Westfield Planning Board last September, with demolition of the 100yearold houses scheduled to begin this spring.

Although she is a Cacciola Place resident, WNC Vice President Mary Withers declined to comment on the situation because she holds a seat on the Westfield Planning Board.

“The fear of all of the residents in this neighborhood,” said Ms. Johnson, “is that the town is going to

allow this revitalization process to expand down Cacciola Place and will replace all of the affordable housing with unaffordable, high rental units, as is being done to the homes on Central Avenue.”

According to Ms. Johnson, the bulk of the Cacciola Place neighborhood, including the residences on Central Avenue, is made up of lowto moderateincome renters who cannot afford the kind of rent that Mr. Rapuano is going to charge in the new units.

She said she has discussed the rent prices with Mr. Rapuano and, according to Ms. Johnson, he intends on more than doubling the rent once the new units are in place.

“The community feels that ‘gentrification, ’ as it has been called, is just a smoke screen for moving the low income minorities out of town,” Ms. Johnson remarked.

The community’s attitude, according to Mr. Cohen, is that “the town should assist us in finding ways to anchor this neighborhood as a stable, minority community, rather than facilitating Mr. Rapuano’s displacement of the neighborhood.”

When the Planning Board gave

INDEX

A& E.............. Page 21 Business ........ Page 19 Classifieds ..... Page 20 County .......... Page 2

Editorial ........ Page 4 Education...... Pages 8

Obituary ........ Page 10 Religious ....... Page 7 Social ............ Page 6 Sports ............ Page 13 CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Rec. Department Seeks Funding For Parks Maintenance Entity By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

Continuing to iron out this year’s municipal budget, the Town Council met with Recreation Department and Downtown Westfield Corporation (DWC) officials Tuesday night.

The council also reviewed a proposal to start a senior transportation service in town.

The governing body was presented with a $24.6 million budget from former Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko last month. The spending plan, as it stands now, is $1,011,207, or 4.06 percent, over last year’s bud get.

Officials are waiting for state aid numbers in order to calculate revenue outside of property taxes that will be available to fund the spending plan. Roughly half of the municipal budget is supported by taxes.

The preliminary budget calls for a tax increase of around five to six cents over last year. The Board of Education is looking at a preliminary budget calling for a seven cent hike to support its proposed budget of $54.4 million. The school board, however, is considering seeking state approval to spend another $212,076 outside of the constraints of the state set cap on spending limitations over last year.

A cent in Westfield represents about $180,000 in spending.

Recreation Director Glenn Burrell said the Recreation Commission is seeking $85,000 for its consultant, Kinsey and Associates, to complete final plans for the Memorial Pool and Park renovation plan. Kinsey is a professional engineering and architectural firm.

Construction costs for the project are estimated at $2.6 million, with preliminary costs for professional services provided by Kinsey, including architectural drawings, in the range of $170,000. The department has spent $19,000 thus far.

Mr. Burrell said the priority is the improvements to the pool complex. Construction work, he said, must begin on the pool the day after Labor Day, when the facility closes, in order for the work to be completed in time for the opening of the pool for the season by Memorial Day week end in 2001 or 2002.

Recreation officials said work on Memorial Park will take the facility out of use for an entire sports season.

Another proposal by the Recreation Department is for the creation of a parks and maintenance entity within the department. Currently, field maintenance is handled by the Public Works Department.

Mr. Burrell said the Recreation Commission’s proposal, which has been on the table for several years, would result in the addition of six parks maintenance workers. The total budget would range from $325,740 to $511,820, depending on whether new hires or existing Department of Public Works staff were utilized.

Mr. Burrell said the impact to the town would be a quarter of a million dollars in costs over what is currently budgeted for recreation. Officials emphasized that a fulltime commitment is needed on town fields if they are to be properly maintained.

Mr. Burrell suggested that an open space tax would be a good way to fund such a department. He estimated that a tax of one cent per $100 of assessed valuation would generate annual income to the tune of $170,000.

A similar tax was approved by Scotch Plains voters last year. A Union County ad hoc committee is currently considering such a tax at the county level, as well. These taxes, good for 10 years, provide a stable source of funding through a dedicated open space and recreation trust fund which can only be used for

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood Thursday, February 24, 2000 Page 11

Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader THE EAGLE HAS LANDED… A wooden float in the form of an eagle was handcrafted by firemen at the Mountainside Fire Station to mark the 100th anniversary of the Borough of Mountainside in 1995. The eagle, which is usually housed inside the fire house, was temporarily moved outside because repairs were being done to the fire station. Westfield’s Well House Granted

Historic, Preservation Status By DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

WESTFIELD – A resolution was approved by the Westfield Planning Board last Thursday to grant local historic designation and preservation status to the well house at 200 Woodland Avenue in Westfield. The property is owned by Charles and Patricia Woodward.

The resolution, which was endorsed by the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission in December, must now go before the Town Council for final approval.

According to the resolution, the well is estimated to have been constructed between 1780 and 1790 and is a significant architectural representation of cobbled dry stone construction. It is believed to be one of the few remaining such wells in the northeast.

Although the 25footdeep dry well is no longer in use, at one time it pumped water from a distance of 200 feet into the main house. The visible portion of the well house includes a rubble stone foundation constructed in the late 1700s or early 1800s, ac cording to the resolution.

It is assumed that the original well house was a wooden structure destroyed by fire and rebuilt on the original foundation as the current masonry structure in the 1920s.

The well, which is not visible above ground, is located in the basement of the well house and appears to be a circular hole in the basement floor, with a 1,000gallon tank sitting next to it.

It is presumed that some type of pump mechanism transported water from the tank to the main house, but that pump is no longer there.

The well house, which sits approximately five feet from Woodland Avenue, was in danger of being destroyed as the result of a proposal to widen the road.

Historical designation protects the well house from possible encroachment by the proposed widening of Woodland Avenue and from future alterations not in keeping with the property’s historical architecture.

The well house is already included as a historic landmark in the Town of Westfield’s Master Plan, according to Mr. Woodward.

The original section of the main house, a twostory Colonial/ Shingle style home, was also built in the late 18th century, Mr. Woodward revealed. An addition to the residence was constructed later on.

Mr. Woodward said he may consider applying for historical designation for the main house at some point in the future. The Woodwards have owned this property since 1973.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

but had no other choice due to the counsel of our attorney. As a board, we try to do what is best for Westfield and have to act according to the law. Any other way would open us up to legal ramifications.”

Board Vice Chairman Robert Newell noted there was a dramatic increase in subdivisions in the town.

“I love this town,” Mr. Newell said. “I want to benefit the town to help preserve the character, but our hands are bound. Am I apologizing? I am sorry to have granted this subdivision, but I legally had to.”

At the end of the discussion, the decision was memorialized and that means the subdivision will proceed.

Mayor Thomas C. Jardim ended the discussion by inviting those in attendance to stay and listen to the discussion with the Historic Preservation Commission.

“Do we care about the town?” he said. “If you care about this problem (subdivisions), you should stay while we discuss the changes to the laws. Attend the next Town Council meeting and voice your concern to the council.”

The meeting then proceeded to discussions with Bonnie Danser, Chairwoman of the Westfield Historic Commission (WHC). Ms. Danser showed how the current historic preservation ordinances do not comply with the standards set by the state of New Jersey.

“Spot zoning will not work, ad hoc decision making will lead to lawsuits; therefore we need to create effective preservation ordinances,” she said.

Mary Krugman, former chairwoman of the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission appeared at the meeting and spoke about the challenges Montclair

faced in the mid1990’s in the creation of the historic sections of Montclair.

The town took about 15 years and many public discussions in creating a Historic Preservation Ordinance in 1994, which has since become a model ordinance, with a strong commission that can grant or deny certificate of appropriateness of development.

The town of Montclair also has created a socalled Certified Local Government (CLG) through the National Park Service. The CLG program helps to create connections between historic preservation and land use planning.

She recommended the Planning Board consider applying for CLG status as it will give the town political clout, financial benefits, a higher standard of decisionmaking and greater status in the preservation network.

Mr. Robins felt the comments he heard during the meeting are, “right on target.” The Town Council needs to establish a team to revise the current ordinance with the WHC and the Planning Board.”

Mr. Jardim hopes to “keep the momentum going. I am relying on the WHC to keep the momentum going.”

Mr. Robins ended the discussion of possible changes by noting he believes public notice should be required on the consideration of all minor subdivisions.

The meeting concluded with the designation of the well house, an original 18th century well located on the property of Charles and Patricia Woodward at 200 Woodland Avenue (please see related story, page 11).

The well house is believed to have been used in earlier times to pump water 200 feet to the original house on the property.

Planning Board Apologizes About New Subdivision

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

All of Mr. Taylor’s children have attended Westfield Public Schools. His wife, Penny, has served as a nursery school teacher at the Presbyterian Nursery School.

Ms. Riegel was appointed to finish out Ms. Hardwick’s term on August 24, 1999.

The mother of two daughters and wife of Robert Riegel, she has served as CoPresident of the Parent Teacher Organization at Jefferson Elementary School. She was also a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Capital Projects in the fall of 1998. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Center of Central New Jersey in 1994.

Ms. Riegel told The Leader and The Times that she would like to continue her work on the Long Range Planning, Budget and Finance and Curriculum and Instruction committees, specifically addressing issues such as space problems at Westfield High School, the elementary mathematics program and the budget for 20002001.

Native Westfielder Dr. Molnar has served the Westfield Board of Education since 1988. She has served the Westfield Planning Board, the Board of Directors of the Youth and Family

Counseling Service since 1977 and the Westfield Community Center Board. She has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Friends of Mindowaskin Park. For the past two years, she has served on the Budget Review Committee of the United Fund of Westfield.

A mother of two daughters, Dr. Molnar offers legal and accounting services. If reelected to the school board, she will set the record as the longest serving member of the Westfield Board of Education. This is a title currently held by Susan Jacobson, who retired from the board last year.

Dr. Molnar revealed Wednesday morning that she thinks the school board should “address the middle school curriculum” and the way the schedule for middle school pupils is divided up. She also believes the Budget and Finance Committee should compile two budgets instead of examining one year to year.

A lifelong resident and 1983 graduate of Westfield High School, Mr. Billson currently serves as Vice President of Operations for The Westfield Leader and The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood.

Prior to his post at the newspaper, he was employed as an independent Internet computer consultant. Mr. Billson was a past Chairman of the Downtown Westfield Corporation’s Promotions Committee and past Chairman of the Fanwood Volunteer/ Communications Committee.

Candidate Billson stated, “I would like to get more people from the general public informed and involved with the education of our children.” He would be to “make the school board more accessible to the public by using today’s technology.”

“I think that the school board and the public have an adversarial relationship primarily because each side isn’t fully aware of the other side’s point of view,” Mr. Billson explained. “We need to get the Board of Education to communicate through electronic means to the public.”

He cited posting school board agendas on the town’s Web site, as well as setting up electronic mail databases to achieve this goal.

Three Incumbents, Challenger Vie for School Board Seats

preliminary approval to Mr. Rapuano’s application in September, Westfield Mayor Thomas C. Jardim requested, as a condition of final approval, that the developer relocate the current residents while the new units were being constructed and then permit them to live in those units for a period of one year at their current rent. Mr. Rapuano’s lawyer, James Flynn, agreed to the Mayor’s stipulations.

Mayor Jardim has verified that this special provision was made a part of the final approval and will be enforced. He added that Mr. Rapuano will be held accountable in keeping to this agreement.

“Any developer’s agreement that I sign will include relocation and rent abatement provisions for the current residents,” Mayor Jardim confirmed.

“However, Mr. Rapuano has told the Town Attorney that there is no one in the building that wants relocation assistance,” he noted.

Mr. Cohen and Ms. Johnson stated that there are several families that have expressed their concerns to them regarding being displaced, and that Mr. Rapuano is not being truthful about the number of families that need relocation assistance.

Furthermore, Ms. Johnson contended, “the current residents do not have the funds necessary to relocate anywhere else in Westfield because there really isn’t enough affordable housing available.”

A current resident of one of the buildings slated for demolition, who asked not to be identified, told The Westfield Leader that Mr. Rapuano had repeatedly come to the tenant’s apartment to tell the family they must vacate by June, but did not offer any relocation assistance. The resident also said it would be difficult to save up the money to relocate.

Mayor Jardim told The Westfield Leader that he will investigate and confirm which residents need to be relocated and which residents desire rent abatement before the developer’s agreement is finalized.

Mr. Cohen pointed out that if the town was really concerned about providing affordable housing to lowincome residents, then they wouldn’t have sold off Westfield’s Mount Laurel obligations and wouldn’t have allowed this kind of development to take place without making it affordable.

Mayor Jardim’s response to this was that the law does not allow for his office or the Town Council to compel Mr. Rapuano or any developer to create affordable housing.

“We need to communicate better with the community what the Town Council can and cannot do,” he stated.

The Mayor confirmed that he arranged a meeting between Mr. Rapuano and county officials regarding Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, but that Mr. Rapuano declined to accept such funding.

The acceptance of HUD funds would have necessitated that some of the dwellings be designated as affordable housing units.

“I have been working to get several proposals passed that would allow the Town Council more power over how neighborhoods are developed and to create affordable housing, but as the laws currently stand, we cannot control how a private developer chooses to renovate his own property,” he remarked.

Councilwoman Claire Lazarowitz, who also sits on the WNC Board of Directors, stated that many short comings and disparities in housing

were created in the past, but that this administration and Mayor Jardim have worked diligently to correct these past wrongs.

“Mayor Jardim and many other current council members are very sincere about wanting to preserve this community’s diversity and create affordable housing for all income levels,” Ms. Lazarowitz stated.

Members of the community need to come to Town Council meetings to voice their concerns, she added. “This would most certainly have a positive effect on how much emphasis the council places on these issues,” Ms. Lazarowitz said.

“We have two meetings a month that are open to the public, during which we would like to hear the concerns of the community,” she added.

Ms. Johnson agreed that the residents of the community need to become more proactive in town government. She cited several reasons why community members do not participate in municipal government, including fear of reprisals from their landlords and no one to watch their children.

“A single mother on a fixed income cannot pay a babysitter so that she can attend an evening council meeting,” Ms. Johnson pointed out. “Perhaps the Town Council could reach out more to this community, taking these limitations into account.”

Cacciola Place resident Janet Turner told The Westfield Leader that

she wants to remain in the community, but fears she, too, may soon be displaced.

“My grandmother lived here, and I would like to also, but I fear that this whole block will be sold off to developers,” she said.

Ms. Johnson commented that even if Mr. Rapuano is compelled to honor the agreement, it would only be a temporary band aid because after one year, the current residents would once again be displaced when they could no longer afford the new rents.

“Westfield will lose a very vital and important part of this community if this displacement is allowed to happen,” Ms. Johnson emphasized. “The people of Cacciola Place add diversity and cultural enrichment to the town,” she added.

Vivian Cook, President of Concerned AfricanAmerican Parents, commented, “We know that people look at the dilapidated buildings on Central and Cacciola Place and blame the minority community for this state of decay, but they need to recognize that longstanding economic and social forces have led to this disparity.

“People of every race want to live in nice, landscaped neighborhoods with renovated buildings and safe streets. The town needs to find a way to facilitate this for the Central Avenue/ Cacciola Place community without displacing the current residents,” she stated.

Residents of Cacciola Place Seem Fearful Over Impact of Neighborhood’s Development WESTFIELD POLICE BLOTTER

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15

· An Elm Street resident reported that a handheld game belonging to her son was removed from her vehicle while it was being serviced at a local business.

After an investigation by police, the game was recovered. An employee of the business who allegedly took the item was fired by the establishment, authorities said.

· A resident of North Avenue, West, reported that he was assaulted the day before by an individual known to him in the parking lot of an Elm Street supermarket.

The suspect punched the victim in the left eye, wrestled him to the ground and struck him twice more before fleeing the scene, authorities said. Charges had not been filed at press time.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

· A Boulevard resident reported that the sidewalk in front of her residence was damaged by unknown persons who inscribed names in the wet concrete.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17

· A Union firm reported the theft of a pipe vise worth $200 from a construction site on North Avenue, West.

· A Hillcrest Avenue resident reported that someone entered her vehicle at an unknown Westfield location and removed her cellular telephone.

· Oscar Goff, 2nd, 29, of Westfield was arrested in the 500 block of Rahway Avenue and charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to take a breathalyzer test and driving with a revoked license.

Police said Goff, who was also wanted on outstanding warrants from the Linden, Roselle and Rahway municipal courts, was turned over to the Linden police department.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18

· Robert Baykowski, 20, of Westfield was charged with attempting to purchase an alcoholic beverage underage and with exhibiting false documents at a liquor store on South Avenue, West. He was released on his own recognizance.

· Vincent Diarchangel, 27, of Oakland was arrested in the 300 block of South Avenue, East, and charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of false documents.

Diarchangel, who was also wanted on warrants from Bay Head and Tinton Falls, was released on $500 bail, authorities said.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21

· Four hundred dollars in cash was reported stolen from the drawer of a bedroom nightstand at a Dorian Road residence.

· A Prospect Street resident reported that unknown individuals walked over her 1996 Pontiac in the 1000 block of Prospect Street, causing dents and scratches to the hood, roof and trunk lid.

· A Lawrence Avenue resident reported the theft of a Samsung Impax camera valued at $200 from his home.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22

· A Plymouth Road resident reported that the front and storm windows of his home were broken by some type of commercial firework.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Clarification Erratum

(908) 2771547 • CECSummit@ aol. com 31 Woodland Avenue • Summit

All CONCERTS ARE SUNDAYS AT 4 P. M.

Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

FEBRUARY 27: MADJAZZ

The a Capella ensemble returns, performing madrigals, jazz, and everything in between.

MARCH 19: DURUFLÉ REQUIEM

The Chorale, soloists, organ, and orchestra in Duruflé's moving and powerful work

APRIL 16: MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE

Eugene Roan on harspichord and John Burkhalter on recorder make their Calvary Chorale debut.

MAY 21: MUSIC OF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

The Chorale and orchestra conclude the season with a stirring concert in honor of the 250th anniversary of the composer's death.

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specific areas, including park maintenance. New Town Administrator Thomas P. Shannon said he will report back to the council within the next month, after a full evaluation of the proposal. Mr. Shannon indicated he would look at what other towns are doing with regard to field maintenance, in addition to considering hiring an outside contractor to do the work.

The administrator said he will also look at a number of areas, including the potential impact to the Public Works Department if its employees are transferred out of the department. Mr. Shannon will evaluate whether there is sufficient work for parks maintenance workers on a yearround basis.

On another budget item, Second Ward Councilman James J. Gruba, who serves as Finance Committee Chairman, explained that that United Fund of Westfield is requesting that the town fund senior transportation in the municipality.

Westfield and Winfield Park are the only two out of the 21 municipalities in Union County which currently do not offer this service.

A Senior Citizens Task Force in town has recommended the town appropriate $175,000 to fund the program. If the council goes along with the request, officials said the program would not begin until September.

The bulk of the proposal, $115,000, would be for salaries and wages of a driver and dispatcher.

Third Ward Councilman Neil F. Sullivan asked if service for commuters had been considered in the recommendation. He said this service would be especially needed if the town decides to build a parking deck.

Mr. Gottko, a member of the Task Force, noted that the committee only looked at providing transportation for seniors and those with disabilities.

He said that the service would be offered from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. Mr. Gottko reasoned that a commuter jitney service could be offered during early morning and evening hours if the council so chooses.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering a new

program this year whereby vehicles will be available to towns for senior citizen transportation. Towns will have to pick up the cost of the drivers. Maintenance will be provided by the county.

Councilman Gruba said the program would cost the town $10,000 a month. The tab for the service would be $40,000 for September through December of this year.

DWC officials, outside of their nearly $300,000 proposed budget, have asked the town to consider the reorganization of town staff in order to establish a Department of Planning and Community Development.

This department would streamline the operations of the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission, Architectural Review Board, grant writing and construction code review and permit review processes. The department would be under the direction of a fulltime town planner.

The DWC, which governs the town’s special improvement district, was established through town ordinance in 1996. It is also seeking an ombudsman or economic development facilitator.

DWC officials recommended that the individual be placed in the Town Administrator’s office or in the proposed Planning and Community Development Department.

A story about The Town Bank of Westfield in the February 17 edition of The Westfield Leader and The Time of Scotch PlainsFanwood on page 20 stated incorrectly that the bank opened in 1997, when it actually opened in 1998.

In a story on Sycamore Field that ran in the February 17 edition of The Westfield Leader,

there was a reference that sod had been laid on the field, but the sod actually was never put down.

Rec. Dept. Seeks Funding For Parks Maintenance Entity