The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

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Scotch Plains – Fanwood THE TIMES

OUR 42ND YEAR – ISSUE NO. 2442 Published Every Thursday USPS 485200

Periodical – Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, N. J. Thursday, June 15, 2000

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

New Owners Of Malibu Site

Present Case By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Times

The principals of Club Malibu on Terrill Road in Scotch Plains began to present their case for having the closed nightclub’s liquor license renewed by presenting testimony last week to the Township Council from an individual who recounted his years of experience in the entertainment and hospitality industry.

Steve Dunnington was hired by Rayric Corporation, the new owners of Malibu, to “overhaul the operations and redesign the facility, both physically and operationally.”

He told the council, acting in its capacity as local alcoholic beverage control authority, that he has 20 years of experience in designing and renovating nightspots, hiring and training staff, and overseeing promotions in locales from Las Vegas and New York City to Moscow and Germany.

Speaking of Club Malibu, which has been shut since January 1999, shortly after a fatal shooting in its parking lot, Mr. Dunnington said “the facility wasn’t being properly utilized.” He presented for the council sketches showing a new exterior for the nightclub, which would be renamed Renaissance, and outlined a number of steps he said would be taken to ensure the establishment would be betteroperated and cause less distress to nearby residents, who complained in an earlier hearing of excessive noise, trash, vandal

Scotch Hills Expansion to Be Funded Through County and State Grants

By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Times

Following on the heels of last month’s approval by Union County of a $150,000 grant to Scotch Plains to be used towards nearly $350,000 in improvements to Scotch Hills Country Club and expanded ser vices for senior citizens, Mayor

Martin L. Marks said last week that he has been told by legislators in Trenton that another $75,000 in assistance from the state will be forthcoming.

Scotch Plains plans to use the county grant money, which was made

available as part of its Senior Focus program, to build a new, separate building to house the townshipowned country club’s pro shop, presently located in the main building, as well as a new meeting room and an enclosed area for the storage of golf carts.

In addition, improvements will be made to the main building, including making improvements to the existing rest rooms to make them more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as replacing some of the furnishings in the common areas.

Mayor Marks said he expects the Township Council to award a construction contract this fall. He also told the Council at its conference meeting on June 7 that the township’s Senior Citizens Advisory Group would like to be included in any discussions regarding plans for the new building.

Councilwoman Geri M. Samuel said one way to secure the approximately $123,000 funding shortfall would be to include an expenditure in next year’s municipal budget. Last month, Township Manager Thomas E. Atkins said that any shortfall in funds could be funded by the township government out of its capital improvement budget or the government could seek some further assistance from the state.

INDEX

A& E............... Page 20 Business ........ Page 17 Classifieds ..... Page 19

Editorial ........ Page 4 Obituary ........ Page 10 Religious ....... Page 11

Social ............ Page 6 Sports ............ Page 13

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Borough and Property Owner Reach End to Dispute Over Mt. Laurel Site

By SUZETTE F. STALKER

Specially Written for The Times

The Fanwood Borough Council unanimously passed a resolution last week which marks the end of a more than fouryearold dispute between the municipality and the owner of a property earmarked for affordable housing.

A 1992 pact between Fanwood and the state Council On Affordable Housing (COAH) requires the borough to provide eight units of affordable housing in accordance with the New Jersey State Supreme Court’s Mount Laurel rulings of 1985.

These rulings mandated that each of the state’s 566 towns provide a certain amount of lowand moderateincome housing.

Four of the eight dwellings for which Fanwood was obligated were built in Elizabeth as part of a regional contribution agreement; the remainder will be constructed locally. Existing plans call for three units on Terrill Road and one on Midway Avenue.

In June and November of 1993, the borough entered into developers agreements with the owners of the properties on Terrill and Midway. These agreements set parameters and conditions for the building and sale of affordable housing units there.

In 1995, LaGrande Midway Partnership, the owner of the Midway Avenue site, was denied site plan approval by the Fanwood Planning Board for a housing development, that would have included a Mount Laurel unit. The board had concerns over the proposed development’s

proximity to a gas pipeline. The pipeline, which winds through Fanwood, Scotch Plains and many other communities, is part of the same system as another branch which exploded in Edison in 1994.

Planning Board members had asked for a 75foot buffer for the development, which would have required the elimination of several homes from the proposed development.

On March 27, 1995, LaGrande Midway Partnership filed a legal action in the Superior Court of New Jersey against the Planning Board and the borough. The action against the Planning Board, challenging its rejection of the site plan, was later dismissed.

The suit charged the borough with breach of contract (the developers agreement) and “inverse condemnation” of the Midway Avenue property because of the buffer requirement, borough officials said.

In May of 1996, the Borough Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting development within 50 feet of the pipeline, according to Dennis Estis, who was Borough Attorney at the time and currently serves as special counsel to the governing body.

While LaGrande Midway Partnership argued that the ordinance made development of the lot impossible, Mr. Estis said the borough was within its rights to establish the buffer as a matter of municipal zoning.

Over the next three years, the borough and LaGrande Midway Partnership attempted to resolve their dispute through mediation, without

having to go to trial. LaGrande Midway Partnership has entered into a contract to sell the Midway Avenue parcel to BuiltWell Homes, LLC, a Fanwoodbased company which already owns the site on Terrill Road where the other affordable housing units are to be built.

In order to fulfill that contract, however, the Midway Avenue site had to be a “developable lot,” observed Robert Kraus, the Scotch Plains attorney which represented LaGrande Midway Partnership.

Mr. Estis said that during the past six to nine months, “significant negotiations” had been achieved which paved the way for the council’s resolution to amend the developers agreements with both LaGrande Midway Partnership and BuiltWell Homes.

During the negotiations, the borough agreed to reduce the buffer

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 David B. Corbin for The Times READY TO TAKE THE PLUNGE… The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood

Publisher Horace R. Corbin, Jr. prepares to take the plunge in the dunk tank at the sixth Annual Classic Car Show, Craft Fair & Street Fair organized by the Scotch Plains Business and Professional Association on June 11.

David B. Corbin for The Times STRIKINGLY SHARP “BUMBLEBEE”… This 1956 Raven Black and Golden Glow Yellow Ford Fairlane Sunliner convertible known as “Bumblebee” displays a 292 V8, fourbarrel carburetor with dual exhausts through the rear and has a black and white interior. This glowing car is owned by Rich Salzer of Scotch Plains and was among those featured at Sunday’s Sixth Annual SPBPA Classic Car Show.

David B. Corbin for The Times LOOK AT EARL’S PEARL… This Black 1968 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible, which boasts a 310 HP, 350 V8 engine, had everybody thinking of Elvis and Memphis because the interior was adorned with red crushed velour cushioning with yellow trimming. The beautiful vehicle is owned by Earl Sammond. Many vintage cars were on display at the sixth Annual Classic Car Show, Craft Fair & Street Fair organized by the Scotch Plains Business & Professional Association last Sunday.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Lapolla Concedes to Connelly In Congressional Primary By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Times

Opting not to challenge the Democratic Seventh Congressional District Primary election results, Union County Manager Michael J. Lapolla conceded Monday night to Maryanne S. Connelly. He had waited to see if absentee ballots changed the results before making his official announcement.

By virtue of Mrs. Connelly’s victory, she and Republican Michael A. Ferguson — the two unsuccessful candidates in the 1998 General Election Congressional races in the Seventh and Sixth Districts, respectively — will now face off in November.

A former mayor and longtime councilwoman in Fanwood, Mrs. Connelly edged Mr. Lapolla by 295 tallies, 14,931 (45.8 percent) to 14,636 (44.9 percent), or less than 1 percent of the vote cast for the two candidates.

Mr. Lapolla, who was actually named by CBS News, Comcast Channel 8 and News 12 New Jersey on June 6 as the projected winner of the race, opted to concede after the four counties that make up the Seventh District certified election results showing Mrs. Connelly as the districtwide winner.

Warren Township Committeeman Jeffrey Golkin finished a distant third,

with 8.3 percent of the vote cast, or 2,698 ballots. Attorney Joel Farley finished with a disappointing 585 tallies, or 1.8 percent of the total vote cast.

The Union County Democratic Committee released statements from Mr. Lapolla and County Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte De Filippo.

Mr. Lapolla, who has served as Union County Manager for the past three years, thanked all his supporters and offered “my congratulations to Maryanne Connelly. From now until the General Election, I will work closely with my Democratic Chairman, as well as our leaders and elected officials, to ensure a Democratic victory throughout Union County this November.”

In a seemingly unusual move, Ms. De Filippo herself announced in a statement that the party would not seek a recount of the election results. She served as CoChairwoman of Mr. Lapolla’s campaign.

“It is time to move forward to electing Democrats this November. This party and I are very proud to have stood with Michael in this election. Mike ran a good campaign and spoke to many issues on the minds of the people of this area,” she stated.

Looking at Mrs. Connelly’s victory, Ms. De Filippo reflected, “It is now clear that Mrs. Connelly won

this election and she has earned the right to be able to move forward with her plan for the General Election.”

Savoring her victory, Mrs. Connelly said, “I am pleased these results confirm what we knew last week – that we won. I look forward to working with every Democrat to win this seat back and take back the House of Representatives.”

The Democrats need a sixseat gain to take back the majority in the House of Representatives for the first time in six years.

Mrs. Connelly had a steep hill to climb when Mr. Lapolla announced his intention to run for Congress in January. Mr. Lapolla’s campaign was cochaired by United States Senator Robert Torricelli, State Senator Raymond Lesniak, Ms. De Filippo and the Union County Election Board Chairwoman, June Fischer.

All nine members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders also served on Mr. Lapolla’s campaign committee, including Linda d. Stender, a former mayor and current Democratic Municipal Chairwoman in Fanwood.

Mr. Lapolla also received the backing of the Chairman of the National Democratic Congressional Committee, Congressman Patrick Kennedy.

The Seventh District seat became hotly contested when fourterm

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Collision in Scotch Plains Injures Two Area Women

By DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Times

Two people were injured Monday when one of the minivans they were driving struck the other and caused it to flip over onto its roof at Front Street and Hunter Avenue in Scotch Plains.

Piscataway resident Joanne Ward, who works for Assemblyman Alan M. Augustine at his Scotch Plains office on East Second Street, was admitted to Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, but released the same evening with minor injuries.

Metuchen resident Vivian Zhong, who is pregnant, was still in Muhlenberg Regional Medical

Center’s labor and delivery floor at press time, undergoing testing.

Police records indicate that Ms. Ward, who was driving a Ford Windstar, was traveling westbound on Front Street in Scotch Plains when her vehicle was struck on the passenger side by Ms. Zhong’s Dodge Caravan, which was traveling southbound on Hunter Avenue at approximately 5: 30 p. m. on Monday.

The impact caused the Windstar to flip over onto its roof. The Caravan had extensive front end damage.

Ms. Ward was on her way home from work when the collision occurred.

Page 12 Thursday, June 15, 2000 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

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New Owners of Malibu Site Present Case Before Council

ism, traffic, illegally parked cars and crowds at the club.

Among the changes being planned if the nightspot is permitted to reopen, according to Mr. Dunnington, are employing several methods to cut down on sound emanating from the club, including fabrics on the windows, fountains outside the building and shrubbery at the edge of the parking lot as well as a modernized sound system inside the establishment.

He also said the lot would be reconfigured so that “there’s one way in and one way out” instead of the haphazard parking situation that existed earlier.

Security inside and outside the club would be beefed up, with offduty police officers being used to supplement the nightclub’s security staff and all doors except for the main entrance doors being alarmed and secured via the use of closedcircuit cameras. “A decisive security plan will stop a lot of the problems we had in the parking lot,” he said.

Mr. Dunnington said the newlyreopened club would seek to attract “a more upscale crowd,” with the target audience being not only members of socalled Generation X but also Baby Boomers.

He said the hope is that “we’re creating almost two clubs in one,” with one room being more upscale, “more of a lounge environment” that would cater to older patrons, while the other area of the club would include the dance floor and, hopefully, appeal to the younger patrons.

Questioned by Rayric attorney Neil Cohen, Mr. Dunnington said the club could be reopened within twotofour months if the license were to be renewed.

Township Prosecutor Kenneth Lipstein asked if, in his experience

in revamping nightclubs, he had ever seen any with problems similar to Malibu’s. Mr. Dunnington said, “I see relatively easy fixes” to the problems that were experienced. “All clubs have problems.”

Mr. Lipstein also attempted, without much success, to pin him down on some specifics, such as the club’s planned occupancy level, the club’s operating budget and the capacity of the repaved parking lot.

Mr. Dunnington did state that the club’s hours of operation would likely be 9 p. m. to 2 a. m., with coffee and dessert being served from 2 to 3 a. m.

He called Club Malibu “a diamond in the rough,” and told the council he’s had experience in developing clubs in suburban bedroom communities similar to Scotch Plains.

In response to a question from Councilman Frank Rossi, Mr. Dunnington said he was confident the parking difficulties experienced in past years, in which club patrons apparently parked on local streets, would not be a problem because the newlyrestriped lot would “make it easy for (patrons) to park.”

Councilman Tarquin Jay Bromley, referring to what he termed Mr. Dunnington’s “puffed” resume, skeptically wondered why, when he contacted several principals from companies with which Mr. Dunnington had worked in earlier years, those individuals had said they never heard of him.

Mr. Dunnington responded by saying that, perhaps, management had changed in the intervening time or that he had not worked directly with the individuals that Mr. Bromley had contacted.

The next hearing will be held tonight, June 15, at 8 p. m.

Cultural Arts Center Finale Kicks It Up A Notch With Original Entertainment

By DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

FANWOOD — An afternoon of culturally diverse music, dance and art from around the world, originated from local artists, was presented by the Fanwood Cultural Arts Committee for its Season Finale, on Sunday, June 11, at the Patricia M. Kuran Cultural Arts Center in Fanwood.

Scottish bagpipes, Irish dance, traditional blues and jazz and a Japanese T’ai Chi demonstration drew a steady stream of art lovers to the Center despite the 95degree heat. Guests stayed cool in the shade of a giant tent or inside the Center’s newly renovated 19th century Victorian Carriage House, while being entertained indoors and outdoors.

Irish Dancers from the Kelly School of Irish Dance in Westfield, dressed in traditional kilts, performed their repertoire of soft and hard shoe reels, jigs and hornpipes.

Father and son duo Fran and Brian Raferty from Kearny delighted everyone with their traditional Scottish bagpipe melodies and a medley

of patriotic songs. A unique rendition of “Amazing Grace” elicited a rousing applause.

Scotch Plains resident Al Madison held a captive audience, who were clapping and singing along to a variety of traditional blues tunes accompanied by Al’s lively harmonica and guitar licks. A littleknown classic called the “Fanwood Sunday AfternoonIt’s TooHotOut Blues” made the intense heat a little more bearable.

The David Izard Jazz Quartet, a group of high school musicians from Summit, wowed the audience with a very tight and polished performance of jazz standards.

Shu Chao, a Fanwood resident, invited the audience to participate in a T’ai Chi demonstration. Mrs. Chao, who has been studying T’ai Chi for over 18 years, had everyone up on their feet and looking like T’ai Chi experts in a matter of minutes.

The 4 Life Alternative Rock Band made up of four Scotch PlainsFanwood High School students had everyone up and dancing to their originals and alternative rock classics. Kalig Chang, Rahul Bansal, Rennier Razal and Jude Silva, the band’s members, have been together for four years, since the seventh grade.

For guests who enjoy the visual arts, The Scotch PlainsFanwood Art Association featured a display of paintings, charcoals and lithographs from many talented local artists.

Also on display, an historically accurate recreation of World War II

Rifle and Weapon’s Squads, courtesy of the 101st Airborne World War II Historical Reenactment Association. The Association, based out of South Jersey, recreated two squads of the “Glider Infantry” of the 101st Airborne by rigging up a lifelike World War II field camp, complete with authentic machine guns, compasses, radio receivers and other gear poised ready for an enemy attack, camouflaged under an original World War II tent.

The Association’s members, dressed in full field gear, explained to guests how the pieces of equipment were assembled after the airborne gliders landed the “Sky Riders” in enemy territory. The Association also reenacts historical battles and marches in parades.

Adele Kenny, the Director of the Fanwood Cultural Arts Committee said that the show was a great success thanks to a very dedicated committee who was eager to serve the community. She also thanked Fanwood Mayor Louis C. Jung for his participation in kicking off the event and for his advocacy of the arts in Fanwood.

The event was made possible, in part, by a HEART Grant from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Merck & Company, Inc., and the Fanwood A& P also made donations to the event.

Watch for Channel 35’s schedule, which will soon be showing portions of the event.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Lapolla Concedes to Connelly In Congressional Primary

SP Continues to Explore Park, Ballfield Locations

By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Times

SCOTCH PLAINS —Mayor Martin L. Marks said the Scotch Plains government continues to look at alternative sites for new parks and ballfields even as the preliminary studies continue on the feasibility of developing a portion of the Ashbrook Reservation into baseball and soccer fields.

At the Township Council’s Tuesday night meeting, the Mayor, responding to a citizen’s comments about historical artifacts being located in the reservation, said “we are looking into the possible historical relevance” of the site, and said alternatives and other locations in the community are being considered.

“We have our eyes on other pieces of property,” he said.

Last month, at a meeting of the Township Environmental Commission, concerns were aired about artifacts dating as far back as the prehistoric era being disturbed if the Ashbrook development went forward.

In other matters, the council appointed Thomas M. Russo to serve as alternate Public Defender in cases where there might be a conflict of interest involving the regu lar Public Defender or if the Public

Defender was unavailable. The council also approved a resolution authorizing the Township Auction to be held on Saturday, June 24 in the parking lot behind the Police Department. Bicycles, cars, desks and other personal property no longer needed by the township will be sold. Viewing begins at 9 a. m., with the auction starting at 10 a. m.

Separately, Councilman Frank P. Rossi congratulated and thanked Valley National Bank for donating $5,000 worth of children’s and young adult books to the Township Library.

The council opened its meeting by honoring Julia Jennings upon her retirement as a teacher and Brandon Pavlik for having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

The council also congratulated the Scotch Plains chapter of the New Jersey Orators for its accomplishments in a recent competition. Michael Morgan, Brittany Bynum, Alaysha Suggs, Jeffrey Harrel, Ayana G. Brody, Rolonda Oliver, Sonya Garner, Nicole Spivey and Jailyn Suggs were cited for their achievements.

Republican Congressman Bob Franks opted to run for the United States Senate. The list of candidates reached 12 at one point, including seven Republicans and five Democrats. It was later pared down to eight, split evenly between the two political parties.

In Union County, Mr. Lapolla posted a 9,1677,816 victory. However, Mrs. Connelly returned the favor in Somerset County, where she blasted Mr. Lapolla, 3,177672. Mr. Golkin, who ran on the Somerset Democratic organization ballot line, came in second place, with 2,269 tallies.

In Essex County, where the Seventh District includes only Maplewood and Millburn, both of which border Union County, Mrs. Connelly outdistanced Mr. Lapolla 906485, including 12 absentees to three for Mr. Lapolla. Mr. Lapolla won Middlesex County, 4,3103,029, mainly through the support of party leaders in Woodbridge, including 1997 Gubernatorial contender James McGreevey. Mr. Lapolla won the city by a margin of 3,1251,745.

The looming question after last Tuesday’s apparent victory by Mrs. Connelly was whether absent ballots cast in Union County would change the outcome of the results. Repeated calls from The Westfield Leader and The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood confirmed that officials in the office of the Union County Clerk were still counting the ballots as of late last week.

County officials revealed that over 1,500 ballots had been taken out by potential voters. The question that remained was exactly how many ballots were actually returned. In the end, Mrs. Connelly received 163 absentee ballots in Union County, to 136 for Mr. Lapolla.

Looking at the results, Sujata Tejwani, Campaign Manager for Mrs. Connelly, said she believes Mrs. Connelly’s victory had a lot to do with running a campaign that featured a “positive message,” including calls for gun safety, preserving Social Security and educa tion.

To offset Mr. Lapolla’s strong organizational support, Ms. Tejwani said, Mrs. Connelly took her campaign directly to the voters at train stations and grocery stores, etc.

“We did excellent in Somerset County,” she stated, adding that Mrs. Connelly was very pleased with her Middlesex County victory in Edison, which helped offset, to some degree, her loss in Woodbridge.

She also said the campaign did much better in Essex and Union Counties than expected.

In Middlesex County, Mrs. Connelly edged Mr. Lapolla in Edison (549530) and in Middlesex (264196), but lost by a margin of 3,1251,745 in Woodbridge. In Somerset County, Mrs. Connelly defeated Mr. Lapolla in Bridgewater, 29237; in Hillsborough, 487137, and in North Plainfield, 34879.

Mrs. Connelly beat Mr. Lapolla, 425121, in her hometown of Fanwood in Union County. She also won in Scotch Plains, 738606; in New Providence, 311171, and in Berkeley Heights, 307236. She was just nipped by Mr. Lapolla in his hometown of Westfield, 912857.

Mr. Lapolla won in Roselle, Linden, Plainfield and Kenilworth. The Primary campaign became heated at times. Several national women’s groups felt Mr. Lapolla went over the line in a radio spot depicting Mrs. Connelly as being confused on the issue of school vouchers. The ad portrayed Mrs. Connelly as a dipsy game show contestant in a takeoff of ABC’s “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.”

Ms. Tejwani said the political spot only “crystallized” Mrs. Connelly’s support.

The Lapolla Campaign accused Mrs. Connelly of trying to take credit for writing the first Megan’s Law in the state. The Connelly Campaign took on Mr. Lapolla for what they said was a long list of campaign contributions from Union County employees and vendors.

Now the time has come to mend fences in lieu of party unity. Front Street resident Jeffrey Kirby said

that he and his neighbor were the first residents on the scene after hearing the impact. Mr. Kirby pried open the door of Ms. Ward’s overturned van and told her to remain still until the paramedics arrived.

Both drivers were conscious and alert immediately following the accident, according to residents on the scene.

Ms. Ward told The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood that she feels very lucky to be alive. Mrs. Zhong told The Times

that she is doing okay, but undergoing further testing in connection with her pregnancy.

According to the police report, Mrs. Zhong stated that she did not see Ms. Ward’s van coming down Front Street, prior to the collision.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Collision SHARING A DAY… Thomas Watts, right, a resident of the Ashbrook Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Scotch Plains,

celebrated National Nursing Home Week recently with his grandson, Westfield resident Chris Partelow, during the longterm care facility’s first barbecue of the summer season. National Nursing Home Week, observed from May 14 to 20, was sponsored by the American Health Care Association.

Fanwood Gets Okay On Grant Extension For Parks Upgrades

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mt. Laurel Site By SUZETTE F. STALKER

Specially Written for The Times

FANWOOD —Borough officials confirmed last week that the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has honored their request to extend the deadline for Fanwood to use its 1999 Pocket Park grant through December 31, 2001.

In addition, the county has given its blessing to an amended project description for use of the funds, which Fanwood’s governing body submitted for approval by the freeholder board, Borough Administrator Eleanor McGovern said.

Originally tapped to fund expansion of the LaGrande Park building, the $100,000 county grant is now being eyed for capital improvements to both LaGrande and Forest Road Parks. The revised proposal has been endorsed by the Fanwood Recreation Commission.

Last month, the council announced it would seek an extension on the deadline for completing work at the parks until the end of 2001 so that both parks would not have to be closed simultaneously while renovations were being done.

The grant, which the borough matched with capital improvement funds, was set to expire in August.

Officials also revealed at the time that they would seek county approval to revise their initial project description and said they would also study a twoyear plan prepared by the Recreation Commission for improving the two parks.

Proposed upgrades include renovating playing fields, fences and walkways; landscaping and increased storage at one or both park buildings. LaGrande and Forest Road are the only two parks in the borough.

The Recreation Commission has also recommended a study of ways in which playing fields at the park may be reconfigured to improve safety.

Mrs. McGovern said the next step is to have someone with expertise in landscape architecture or the like review what the borough has in both parks right now and then make recommendations concerning the best ways to utilize the two facilities.

In 1998, the borough was awarded a Pocket Park grant of $125,000 from the county, which it matched in funds and inkind services to develop the pocket park now underway on Watson Road.

from 50 to 45 feet, enabling the land to be developed for housing, Mr. Estis said. He acknowledged that borough officials believe this will still provide a sufficient safety barrier.

Approved prior to the council’s June 7 agenda session, the resolution confirms that BuiltWell Homes will have the option of relocating the affordable housing unit planned for Midway Avenue to the Terrill Road site.

Under this proposal, two duplexes on Terrill Road would provide four units of affordable housing.

The other option calls for a singlefamily residence to be constructed as affordable housing on Midway, with two duplexes to be built on Terrill. One of the duplexes would contain two units of affordable housing, while the other would be split between affordable housing and market price.

Mr. Estis noted that BuiltWell Homes will still have to obtain site plan approval from the Planning Board for each of the developments.

The council’s resolution directs Mr. Estis to prepare amendments to the borough’s Land Use Ordinance to reflect the amended agreements and “to obtain whatever approvals may be necessary” after the revised agreements have been signed by all parties.

Mr. Kraus called the conclusion to the protracted case “a practical, reasonable resolution that came about as the result of a compromise on everybody’s part.”

Mr. Estis concurred, saying “I think that since (BuiltWell, LLC owner Frank) Cannone has entered the picture, we have been able to move forward on this to accomplish what for a long time the borough has wanted to accomplish (in terms of meeting its affordable housing obligations.)”

SCOTCH PLAINS POLICE BLOTTER

MONDAY, JUNE 5

· A Westfield Avenue resident reported that someone had attempted to gain entrance to the house by kicking in a rear basement window. Entry was not gained.

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

· A Shady Lane resident reported that someone had thrown a large rock through the rear window of his 1993 GEO.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

· A Park Avenue store reported an overnight burglary of $5,000 in Pokemon cards plus an undetermined amount of cash. Entry was reportedly gained by prying a rear door open.

· A Donamy Glen resident reported finding a screwdriver and pry marks around a rear window of the house on June 8 in what police said appeared to be an attempt to gain entry.

· A resident of the 1600 block of Front Street reported the theft of a pocketbook containing miscellaneous personal items from the house sometime during afternoon hours. Police reported that there was no sign of forced entry.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

· Joseph P. Diana, 24, of Union, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams in connection with an officer’s investigation of suspicious activity in the 500 block of Pine Street.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Expansion

In other matters, Mayor Marks reported to the Council that the local government, working with the Downtown Task Force, will be purchasing 16 new concrete decorative planters for the downtown business district. Planters will be placed at the intersection of Park Avenue and East Second Street and Westfield Avenue, with others being located near the gazebo on the Village Green.

He also said seasonal banners showing autumnal and patriotic themes are being purchased for use downtown. They will be interspersed with the Home Towne Feeling banners already in place in and around the central business area.

The Council is also expected to approve, at its June 27 meeting, a resolution authorizing township participation in the county’s S. L. A. P. (Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program) program, which makes nonviolent offenders available to localities to perform certain jobs. Scotch Plains would share the cost of the program with Westfield and Clark.