Page 2 Thursday, April 23, 1998 The Westfield L The Westfield L The Westfield L The Westfield L The Westfield Leader eader eader eader eader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION
SPRING CLEANUP Dean Talcott, Chairman of Fanwood's Environmental Commission, was recently recognized by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders for his wildflower project. He is pictured accepting a resolution which was sponsored and presented by Freeholder and former Fanwood Mayor Linda d. Stender. Mr. Talcott, who is also groundskeeper for the Fanwood Nature Center, was instrumental in organizing the borough's annual Earth Day celebration held last Saturday. He is employed with the county in the Department of Operational Services. Spring Speakers Series
On Gardening Offered
Master Gardener Ed Petz will discuss every aspect of vegetable gardening from bed preparation, seed selection, varieties, spacing, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting.
With good garden hygiene, one can reduce pesticide use. Flowers and herbs to accompany the vegetable garden will also be discussed.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is offering this free seminar. The session will be held at the Westfield Administration Building, located at 300 North Avenue East, on Monday, April 27, at 7: 30 p. m.
In addition to this program, on Wednesday, April 29, at 7: 30 p. m., Union County residents are invited to learn the "tricks of the trade" of gardening with ease. This lecture will offer tips on making working in the garden fun and easy and will also be offered at the Westfield Administration Building.
Master Gardener Warren Lowell will share many humorous and time saving tips to help get results in much less time with minimum labor. This lecture will help seniors and handicap gardeners. Attendees are encouraged to bring along their questions for Mr. Lowell.
To register for these free spring speaker series session, please call the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County at (908) 654- 9854.
Public Invited to Take Tour Of Deserted Village April 26
A tour of the deserted village of Feltville, located in the Watchung Reservation, will be held on Sunday, April 26, beginning at 2 p. m.
Daniel J. Bernier, Chief of the Bureau of Park Operations for Union County, will lead a tour of the village, which was first settled in the early 1700s. The village was built into a thriving mill town in 1845, and became a summer resort in the late 1800s.
Mr. Bernier is coordinating the county's program to restore the village's 10 buildings and 130- acre grounds.
A highlight of the tour will be the preservation activity currently being undertaken
on the village's Building 2, commonly known as the church/ store.
"Using a $220,000 grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust, Union County is rehabilitating this building," said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan.
"When it is completed, the former general store will serve as a visitors' and interpretive center, with modern restrooms and exhibit space to help the general public learn more about this unique site," he added.
The tour will begin with a 45- minute slide lecture, followed by a stroll along the village's paved road. A one- mile, slightly strenuous hike to a Revolutionary War- period cemetery and the site of the 1845 mill will conclude the program.
There is a $3 per adult program fee, and children under the age of 12 may attend free. Participants are asked to park in the lot just off Glenside Avenue, at the top of Cataract Hollow Road on the Berkeley Heights side of the Reservation, and proceed by foot down the village's road until they reach the barn.
Attendees are encouraged to wear shoes suitable for walking in the woods. For further information, please call Trailside at (908) 789- 3670.
Mountainside Council Adopts Budget; Taxes Drop 39 Points By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
The Mountainside Borough Council adopted its 1998 municipal budget on Tuesday, a spending plan which was first introduced last month.
The budget, which totals $7,168,081, represents a reduction of $186,090 over last year's figure.
According to Mayor Robert F. Viglianti, this year's budget is down 39 points from last year, bringing the tax rate to the same as it was in 1996.
The municipal tax rate is 81 cents per every $100 of assessed value, or about $810 for a house assessed at $100,000. According to a budget summary, the average residential property in the borough is assessed at $154,000.
The reduction of 39 points this year will decrease the municipal portion of residents' tax bills by approximately $607 on an average Mountainside home.
Major differences in the budget are attributed to such changes as police salaries and wages being set by contracts, the abolishment of the Recreation Commission and establishment of a Recreation Department, and required payment of outstanding debt.
Also, the full dissolution of the Union County Regional High School District has borough taxes resuming their normal rate.
Less than 53 percent of the total municipal budget will be supported through property taxes.
"This means that homeowners pay a little more than half of the entire budget," stated Mayor Viglianti.
Other sources of income at the municipal level are investment income, state and federal revenues, energy receipt taxes and income from Mountainside Municipal Court fines and court costs.
The Mayor pointed out that the biggest percent of the budget goes toward the protection of its residents. Twenty- four percent of the budget goes to pay for the local police department. Insurance costs represent 9 percent of the appropriations, while the volunteer fire department and
first aid squad are at less than 1 percent.
In other business, Mayor Viglianti announced that Michael Disko, Borough Engineer, had applied for a Department of Transportation grant to pay a majority of the costs for a new commuter parking lot.
"This grant," Mayor Viglianti stated, "would pay about 90 percent of the entire project."
The Mayor also announced that State Senate President Donald T. DiFrancesco, who represents the borough as part of the 22nd Legislative District, was not only writing a letter to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to ask for approval of the project, but was asking the department to make this project a top priority.
Mayor Viglianti also commended Mr. Disko's success in obtaining two other grants from the NJDOT for the paving work on New Providence Road.
The Mayor also reviewed projects discussed at last week's work session, which included updating the lighting at the Mountainside Library, shingle replacement at the library, general work for the new community room in Borough Hall and updated tennis court lights.
In other business, Wendy Wulstein was given permanent status as Assistant Treasurer in Finance, effective Saturday, May 2.
According to Councilman Thomas Perrotta, "Ms. Wulstein has been doing the job since February and has proven herself to be an exemplary employee."
Also, the position of Borough Administrator was awarded to Gregory Bonin, effective Monday, May 18.
According to Mayor Viglianti, the extensive search for a new administrator began last December with 140 applicants.
Borough Clerk Judith E. Osty reported that Mr. Bonin is in the process of obtaining his master's degree in public administration from Rutgers University's Executive Program.
Presently, Mr. Bonin is the Borough Clerk and Assistant Administrator in Hillsboro. He will replace former Mountainside Borough Administrator Kathleen Toland, who left the position in December.
In other business, proclamations were made for the observance of Arbor Day tomorrow, Friday, April 24; Hunger Awareness Week, from Sunday to Saturday, May 3 through 9, and Municipal Clerk's Week, for the same period.
In observance of Municipal Clerk's Week, Mayor Viglianti publicly
thanked the Ms. Osty for her "continued hard work and selfless dedication to the borough." The Mayor pointed out that Ms. Osty has been working many extra hours, including many evenings, in order to manage all the work generated by the absence of a borough administrator.
Before adjournment, Councilman Werner C. Schon informed residents of the importance of the borough's new Recreation Department.
Councilman Schon and Council President Keith C. Turner acknowledged that having a Recreation Department is better than having a commission because it affords borough residents a chance to serve as department advisors.
"Advisors or volunteers," Councilman Turner pointed out, "offer ideas and suggestions for the Recreation Department on the pool, community room or sports programs. Currently, we have six advisors for the (municipal) pool."
Mayor Viglianti stated that any member of the borough who was interested in being a recreation volunteer should send a letter to Ms. Osty.
Mayor Viglianti pointed out that the sports programs and Community Room could use volunteers from "all aspects of the community."
A moment of silence was observed for former Mountainside Mayor Joseph A. C. Komich who died on April 17 at the age of 91.
Mr. Komich, a borough resident since 1939, served as Mayor from 1957 to 1960. He was a civil engineer and, as Mayor Viglianti stated, "was an asset to the history of this community."
Miss Paynter Receives Scott- Ellis Scholarship
Vaneisha Camille Paynter, of Scotch Plains, recently received the Scott- Ellis Scholarship and the Administrative Scholarship from Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Miss Paynter is an honor roll student and a member of the Spanish Club and student government. She has also been listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students.
She is a member of the Faith Fellowship Ministries in Edison where she is a volunteer in the children's ministry. She is a graduate of Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School.
Miss Paynter is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aldwyn Paynter of Scotch Plains.
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
Westfield Imaging Center
, the Imaging Center you have trusted for , the Imaging Center you have trusted for , the Imaging Center you have trusted for , the Imaging Center you have trusted for , the Imaging Center you have trusted for 10 years, is bringing you patient friendly MRI. 10 years, is bringing you patient friendly MRI. 10 years, is bringing you patient friendly MRI. 10 years, is bringing you patient friendly MRI. 10 years, is bringing you patient friendly MRI.
Open- Air MRI
Located in the center of Westfield, our full service diagnostic Facility is Located in the center of Westfield, our full service diagnostic Facility is Located in the center of Westfield, our full service diagnostic Facility is Located in the center of Westfield, our full service diagnostic Facility is Located in the center of Westfield, our full service diagnostic Facility is staffed by on-site, Board-Certified Radiologists and offers staffed by on-site, Board-Certified Radiologists and offers staffed by on-site, Board-Certified Radiologists and offers staffed by on-site, Board-Certified Radiologists and offers staffed by on-site, Board-Certified Radiologists and offers
a complete range of Imaging Services including: a complete range of Imaging Services including: a complete range of Imaging Services including: a complete range of Imaging Services including: a complete range of Imaging Services including:
SPIRAL CAT SCAN BONE DENSITOMETRY ULTRASOUND FLUOROSCOPY MAMMOGRAPHY NUCLEAR MEDICINE
INTRAVENOUS PYELOGRAM GENERAL X- RAY
118 Elm Street Westfield (908) 232- 0610
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
to
Greenscapes Greenscapes Greenscapes Greenscapes Greenscapes Landscape Design
732- 321- 6929
Professional Landscape Design Professional Landscape Design Professional Landscape Design Professional Landscape Design Professional Landscape Design & Installation & Installation & Installation & Installation & Installation
New Computer Imaging Design Complete Lawn Maintenance
New Lawns - Sod or Seed Professional Installation
Interlocking Pavers
Free Estimates Fully Insured References Available
Reliable Service QUALITY DOLL HOUSES, UNIQUE MINIATURES, AND MORE
Little Little Little Little Little T TT TTr rr rreasur easur easur easur easures es es es es
Building & Decorating Consultants on Staff
120-128 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090
Tel: (908) 654- 1315 Fax: (908) 654- 4071
| www.goleader.com | press@goleader.com | Copyright |