– Since 1897 –
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
WESTFIELD: 318 East Broad St., Fred H. Gray, Jr. Mgr. • 233-0143
CRANFORD: 12 Springfield Ave., Dale R. Schoustra, Mgr. • 276-0092
Executive Administrator – William A. Doyle
• FRED H. GRAY, JR. •WILLIAM A. DOYLE • PAULETTE CRABIEL WAHLER • DALE SCHOUSTRA • DAVID J. CRABIEL
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Dooley Funeral Service, Inc.
Caring & Courteous Service to the Cranford/Westfield Area Since 1913
Westfield
556 Westfield Avenue 233-0255
John L. Dooley Manager
Cranford
218 North Avenue 276-0255
Charles V. Dooley Manager
155 South Avenue, Fanwood (908) 322-4350
Thomas M. Keiser, Jr.
Owner & Manager SSI Medicaid plans available
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1171 E. Broad St. Westfield, NJ
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– Obituaries – Anthony J. Grausso, 87, Was Consultant; Had Owned Scotch Plains Getty Station
Anthony J. Grausso, 87, of Cranford died on Monday, November 23, at Cranford Health and Extended Care Center.
Born in Plainfield, he had moved to Fanwood in 1959 and relocated to Cranford in 1994.
Mr. Grausso had been a consultant for the New Jersey Gasoline Retailer Association in Springfield, where he worked for 20 years before retiring in 1988.
He had previously owned Grausso
Gilbert A. Guarino, 80
Gilbert A. Guarino, 80, of Scotch Plains died on Wednesday, November 25, at home.
Born and raised in The Bronx, he lived in Scotch Plains since 1957.
Mr. Guarino had been a hospital administrator with the Veterans Administration Hospital in East Orange before retiring in 1984 after 42 years of service.
He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in New York City, and his master’s degree from the same school in 1940.
Mr. Guarino served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army in Europe during World War II.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Helen Chashin Guarino.
Surviving are his wife, Joan Eisenbeil Guarino; a son, Gilbert B. Guarino; two daughters, Roberta Guarino and Patricia Burdulia; a brother, Christopher Guarino, and four grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, November 28, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains. Interment took place at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.
Arrangements were handled by the Dooley Funeral Home, 218 North Avenue in Cranford.
Memorial donations may be made to the Center for Hope Hospice, 176 Hussa Street in Linden, 07036, or to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Box E, 1275 York Avenue, New York, 10021.
December 3, 1998
Fred Ducatman, 73, Was Executive; Member of Several Honor Societies
Fred Ducatman, 73, of Scotch Plains died on Wednesday, November 25, at home.
Born in New York City, he had lived in Plainfield and Westfield before moving to Scotch Plains last year.
Mr. Ducatman had served as Vice President of Dart Industries, a chemical producer based in Paramus, before retiring in 1983 after 29 years with the company.
During his career, he was responsible for strategic planning, accounting, personnel and office services for a division of the firm which generated $300 million, and included 1,100 employees, five plants and eight office locations.
Mr. Ducatman was also a member of the company’s Division Board of Directors, Joint Venture Operating Committee, and Chairman of the Joint Venture Strategic Planning Committee.
He was awarded a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Columbia University in New York City. He also received a master’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University in Newark.
Mr. Ducatman was a member of Beta Gamma, a business honor society, and engineering and science honor societies Tau Beta Pi, Sigma
Charles Haase, 91
Charles F. W. Haase, 91, of Mountainside died on Wednesday, November 25, at home.
Born in New York City, he lived in Mountainside for 51 years.
Mr. Haase had been a manager with Dykes Lumber Company in New York City for 30 years before retiring 26 years ago.
He was a graduate of New York University and a member of the Deutscher Club of Clark.
Surviving are his wife, Susan Haase, and two sons, Henry L. Haase and Charles P. Haase.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 28, in the Haeberle & Barth Colonial Home in Union.
December 3, 1998
Elizabeth Repak, 91
Elizabeth Repak, 91, of Cranford died on Thursday, November 26, in the Newton Memorial Hospital.
Born in Westfield, she moved to Cranford 49 years ago.
Surviving are a son, Robert Campbell; a sister, Dorothy Nixon; four grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
Graveside services were held on Saturday, November 28, in Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.
Arrangements were handled by the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home in Newton.
December 3, 1998
Helen B. Ferullo, 89
Helen B. Ferullo, 89, of Westfield died on Saturday, November 28, at home.
Born in Jersey City, she lived in Westfield for 20 years.
Mrs. Ferullo was active in St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church in Westfield, where she unlocked the doors every morning for the priests.
Surviving are a son, Louis Ferullo; two daughters, Adele Prinzo and Kathy Gross; four sisters; a brother, and seven grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass was offered yesterday, Wednesday, December 2, in St. Helen’s Church.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Avenue in Westfield.
December 3, 1998
Elsie Hoehing, 92
Elsie Hoehing, 92, of Westfield died on Tuesday, November 24, in Overlook Hospital in Summit.
Born in Newark, she had lived in Union before moving to Westfield in 1995.
Mrs. Hoehing was a member of the Senior Citizens Club of Union.
Surviving are two daughters, Nancy Sillito and Gladys Senna; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass was offered on Monday, November 30, in St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Cranford.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Gray Memorial Funeral Home, 12 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.
December 3, 1998
Giovanni DiBenedetto, 68, Was Custodian; Member of Local Italian-American Club
Giovanni DiBenedetto, 68, of Scotch Plains died on Sunday, November 29, at his home.
Born in Italy, he moved to the United States in 1970 and settled in
Robert N. Draper, 87
Robert N. Draper, 87, of Plainfield died on Tuesday, November 24, at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield.
Born in Dunellen, he had lived in Plainfield for 65 years.
Mr. Draper had worked at Mack Motors in Edison and later as a sales clerk at Fanwood Liquors for 40 years before retiring in 1978.
Surviving are two daughters, Barbara Watson of Morganville and Lorraine Hooten of Old Bridge; a sister, Dolly Thompson of Somerville, and two grandsons.
Funeral services were held on Friday, November 27, at the Judkins Colonial Home in Plainfield.
December 3, 1998
Getty in Scotch Plains. Mr. Grausso was a member of the Scotch Plains Lions and the Protective and Benevolent Order of Elks in Elizabeth.
He was predeceased by his wife, Josephine Grausso, in 1992.
Surviving are a son, Louis A. Grausso of Highland Mills, New York, and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 28, at the Rossi Funeral Home in Scotch Plains.
December 3, 1998
Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon. He served in the United States Navy as an electronics technician’s mate during World War II.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley Ducatman; two sons, Dr. Alan Ducatman and Dr. Stephen Ducatman; a daughter, Dr. Amy Dunn and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Friday, November 27, in Temple EmanuEl in Westfield.
Arrangements were handled by the Menorah Chapels at Millburn in Union.
December 3, 1998
Scotch Plains. Mr. DiBenedetto had been a custodian for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education for 21 years before retiring in 1997.
He was a member of the ItalianAmerican Club and St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, both in Scotch Plains.
Surviving are his wife, Maria Mastrocola DiBenedetto; two sons, Vincenzo DiBenedetto and Alceo DiBenedetto; a daughter, Carmelina Januszanis; a sister, Filomena Mastracola, and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held yesterday, Wednesday, December 2, at the Rossi Funeral Home in Scotch Plains, followed by a Mass at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1 Bleeker Street, Millburn, 07041.
December 3, 1998
Herbert G. Guillaume, 78, Owned Firms; Created New System for Mixing Gases
Herbert G. Guillaume, 78, of Maplewood died on Sunday, November 29, at home.
Born in Buffalo, New York, had also lived in Scotch Plains.
Mr. Guillaume was the founder and owner of three firms which manufactured specialty gases for commercial use. He had owned Pressure Industries of Plainfield, and Ideal Gas Products of Edison, from 1977 until his retirement in 1983.
Prior to that, he had been Vice President of Cryogenic Rare Gases in Newark from 1975 to 1977. He had operated his first company, Precision Gas Products of Scotch Plains, from 1963 until 1975.
Mr. Guillaume graduated from the University of Buffalo in New York
with a degree in chemistry. He began his career in 1944 with Linde Air Products, a division of Union Carbide, in Tonawanda, New York.
In the mid-1960s, Mr. Guillaume developed a highly accurate system of mixing industrial gases by weight instead of pressure.
Surviving are his wife, Maura Guillaume; five daughters, Patrice Karahalios, Marcia Decker, Denise Wyckoff, Jane Dillonaire and Diane Kiesel; two sons, Keith Guillaume and Greg Guillaume, and 15 grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, December 1, in the Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home in Maplewood.
December 3, 1998
Mary Jo Harris, 70, Former CSH Trustee; Active in Junior League, Boosters, Church
Mary Jo Harris, 70, of Fanwood died on Thursday, November 26, in the Gwynedd Square Center in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
Born in East Orange, she had lived in Madison before moving to Fanwood in 1956.
Mrs. Harris graduated from the Connecticut College for Women in New London, Connecticut in 1950.
She had been employed as a job evaluator for the Equitable Life Insurance Company in New York City for six years until 1956.
She was an auxiliary member and former Trustee of Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside.
Mrs. Harris was also a former member of the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield and a former Trustee of the Union County Homemakers’ Association.
She was a member of the Music Booster Club of Scotch PlainsFanwood High School, and of the Fanwood Presbyterian Church.
Surviving are her husband, Thomas R. Harris of Fanwood; two sons, Edward Mason Harris of Hong Kong and Richard Townsend Harris of East Brunswick, and two grandsons.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 1, in the Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Avenue in Fanwood.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Specialized Hospital, 150 New Providence Road, Mountainside, 07092.
December 3, 1998
Rosa Ceccomancini, 84
Rosa Ceccomancini, 84, of Scotch Plains died on Tuesday, November 24, at home.
Born in Hibbing, Minnesota, she had moved to Italy in 1923 and returned to the United States in 1954, settling in Scotch Plains.
Mrs. Ceccomancini had been a seamstress at Hodes Dress Factory in Plainfield for more than 15 years before retiring in 1981.
She was a member of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Ceccomancini, in July.
Surviving are two daughters, Lucy Mancini of Scotch Plains and Anna Piersante of North Plainfield; a son, Anthony Ceccomancini of North Plainfield; two brothers, Albert Menna and Victor Menna; two sisters, Angelina Ceccomancini and Iolanda DeLuca; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 28, at the Rossi Funeral Home in Scotch Plains, followed by a Mass at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Muhlenberg Hospice, Park Avenue and Randolph Road, Plainfield, 07061.
December 3, 1998
Francis M. Keenen, 85
Francis M. Keenen, 85, of Tequesta, Florida died on Saturday, November 21, in Jupiter, Florida.
Born in Rochester, New York, he had lived in Bayonne for 30 years and in Cranford for 25 years before moving to Tequesta, where he lived for the past 29 years.
Mr. Keenen received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Rutgers University.
He had been a Sales Executive with Exxon Corporation for 37 years before retiring in 1971.
He was a member of the Retired Naval Officers Association, having served in World War II as a Lieutenant Commander.
Mr. Keenen was a past member of the Masonic Club of Linden No. 229.
He was predeceased by his wife, Edwina Weaver Keenan.
Surviving are his nephew, George E. Keenen, Jr. of Scotch Plains and George Keenen O’Brien of Bayonne.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, December 5, at 10 a.m. in St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church in Westfield.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the G. Keenen O’Brien Funeral Home in Bayonne.
December 3, 1998
Russell L. Miller, 78, Decorated Veteran; Had Been Florist for Vance and Meekers
Russell L. Miller, 78, of Westfield died on Sunday, November 29, in Overlook Hospital in Summit.
Born in Plainfield, he lived in Westfield for many years.
Mr. Miller had been a florist for Vance Florist and Meekers Florist, both in Westfield, before retiring in 1983.
He was a United States Army veteran of World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star. Mr. Miller was a
member of the American Legion Martin Wallberg Post No. 3 in Westfield.
Surviving are his wife, Doris Miller; two daughters, Sandra Swerdzewski and Deborah Supanich; a son, Gary Miller; two brothers, Walter Miller and Raymond Miller; two sisters, Dorothy Swayze and Audrey Herbert; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Avenue in Westfield.
December 3, 1998 More Obituaries On Page 21
Hanna Blake, 55, Helped to Create Hudson Suicide Prevention Program
Hanna Blake, 55, of Forks Township, Pennsylvania died on Thursday, November 26, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania.
Born in Lintig, Germany, she had lived in Scotch Plains, in Waylan, Massachusetts, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in Hudson, New Hampshire, and in Readington before settling in Forks Township in 1989.
Mrs. Blake, a homemaker, attended Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs and Raritan Valley College in Branchburg.
Mrs. Blake was a member of the Lioness Club of Hudson. She was instrumental in creating the Hudson Suicide Prevention Program in Hudson, New Hampshire.
Surviving are her husband, William Blake; three sons, Brian S. Blake, Richard W. Blake and William M. Blake; three brothers, Hans Schulze, Henry Schulze, and Richard Shulze; three sisters, Paula Kennedy, Lisa Sohl and Ann Marie Bettyman; her father, Dietrich Schulze, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Monday, November 30, at the Rossi Funeral Home in Scotch Plains, followed by a Mass at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 70 Grove Street, Somerville, 08876.
December 3, 1998
Page 14 Thursday, December 3, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION
The United Fund of Westfield
301 North Avenue, West Westfield, NJ 07090
(908) 2332113
Westfield Fire Department
Turkeys and nonperishable food items for holiday food drive / drop off at the North Ave. Fire Department – Deadline 12/18/98
Westfield Neighborhood Council
classroom materials: globe, world map, dictionary, thesaurus, calculators, and flash cards for math and spelling
First Night
Volunteers for all activities developing and running this New Year’s Eve event.
Westfield Community Players
volunteers for painting, construction, make-up and costuming
Children’s Specialized Hospital
toys, games and clothing for the annual Holiday Toy Drive, given to the special needs children who are treated at the hospital.
The Caring Box Please call the United Fund if you can help!
Because Westfielders Care... the spirit of volunteerism is very special in Westfield. The United Fund of Westfield, through a grant from the Westfield Foundation and the help of The Westfield Leader, is proud to provide The Caring Box. This volunteer clearing house, responding to special, immediate needs in our community, will be published monthly.
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Kiwanis Club will be distributing the luminaries at the Fanwood Municipal
Garage (by RR station) from 9 AM to 3 PM on:
NOTE: We encourage all to participate in the DECA’s TOYS for TOTS and FOOD for the NEEDY. You can drop items off when you pick up your luminaries.
Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th
Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m.
The luminaria kit costs 35¢ per unit. This includes the candle, bag and sand.
(Please bring a container for the sand.)
Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale
ceived in the past. Virginia Mitchell, a first-grade teacher at Coles, said, “I was asked to come, but not told what to say. I’m proud of the work being done...committed to doing my best, now as always.”
She commented on the district’s “history of a prolonged (negotiation) process and making it become a personal and nasty situation.”
Eunice Ellard, educational media specialist at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (SPFHS) said, “I’m saddened and sometimes angered by the conflict between the board and teachers. Two groups of this caliber can and must resolve differences.”
Among the questions he posed to the board, Ted Wurster, a teacher at SPFHS, questioned why Mrs. Larkin did not include letters expressing frustration with the board in her statement.
She replied that those she chose which “gave the tone of the majority of the letters.”
Julia Jennings of School One is “sick and tired of the constant state of limbo. This two-year conflict tarnishes the reputation of (our)schools,” she declared. “As a taxpayer, I’m concerned over the continued controversy’s affect on property taxes.”
A 27-year veteran, McGinn Elementary School art teacher Sanford Harlan criticized the board for not taking into account that $71,000 salaries belong to people “who have been here their whole life.”
“We have taxes to pay, families to support,” he added. “The pension is good, but 2.5 percent for people at the top is not asking a lot.”
He proposed having the negotiating teams sit down in a room.
“No one comes out...without a settlement,” Mr. Harlan stated, “and we’ll see you again in three years.”
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol B. Choye agreed, but suggested the sides begin immediately upon settlement to work out remaining issues.
Responding to Mr. Harlan, Mr. Ruggiero denied that any board member had made “disrespectful com
ments” about teachers. He acknowledged, however, that “posturing” goes on between the paid negotiators with some “inflammatory comments” being made.
“Maybe the negotiators are at fault,” he suggested.
Betty Gasiorowski, a 33-year teaching veteran at Brunner Elementary School, said not attending Back to School Night was “something we had to do to show how displeased we are.”
School One teacher Lorna Everhart rebuked parents’ response to undecorated bulletin boards.
“This is what they judge education on?” asked Ms. Everhart. “....Better find out what’s going on (in classes) before you speak.”
In her comments, SPFEA President Barbara McGuane chastised the board for choosing “to carry on the past tradition of other boards of mediation and fact finding.”
“We have not withheld services to date. We could have closed schools, but haven’t,” she added, referring to the SPFEA’s decision to work Election and Veterans’ Days rather than take off as permitted by law.
As in the past, Mrs. McGuane criticized the board for negotiating in public.
“The SPFEA has never negotiated outside the bargaining table...we won’t now,” she stated.
The union president also revealed that the SPFEA “took a unanimous vote of ‘No confidence’ in the Superintendent and Board of Education” earlier in the evening.
In the midst of the members’ standing ovation to the pronouncement, Board member Jessica M. Simpson said, “Shame on you.”
“I believe that this vote shows the level of frustration that we all share regarding the lack of a contract settlement,” stated Dr. Choye after the meeting.
Mr. Ruggiero responded that, “The board has gone through mediation and fact finding because the board’s offer is above the county average. If you’re so concerned about no settlement, put pressure on your leadership to accept the offer.”
“I’m confident that the fact finder will find in the Board of Education’s favor,” he concluded.
The fact finder is scheduled to take testimony from the board and union negotiating teams on Monday, December 21. The date could be moved up if the fact finder has a opening in his schedule.
Mr. Ruggiero indicated that fact finding could go beyond the initial meeting and could not offer a date as to when a report might be issued.
Though union members grumbled at Board member Richard M. Meade’s request to hear his statement, many did him the courtesy of staying.
“I’m pleased to see all these teachers here,” he said. “This is exactly how we should disagree, en masse at a board meeting.”
As a parent, Mr. Meade urged the SPFEA “not to view Back to School Nights as a tool for negotiating. It’s a part of my kids’ life. It’s important for me to know my kids’ teachers.”
However, he stressed, “As a board member, I don’t view Back to School Night as a tool to settle. The parents’ perception is (teachers) holding the kids hostage. It’s very harmful when parents get emotionally charged against teachers.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Teacher Union Members Converge on School Board
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
School Officials Reveal Improved Financial Numbers
reserve in the medical trust fund as insurance against a year when claims rise.
Auditor Nick Cannone also reviewed a 15-point Corrective Action Plan which would help improve the district’s financial planning, accounting and reporting practices.
Of the proposed action plan, Board member and Edward J. Saridaki, Jr. said, “These are the types of things we’d expect to see...it’s refreshing,” referring to the fact that previous auditors offered no comments on last year’s report.
In other business, board members approved the Kindergarten through Grade 12 Content Standards for the Language Arts Curriculum as well as an agreement between the local district and the Union County Improvement Authority to become part of a three-year countywide Internet consortium.
The network would provide Internet access and an internal county electronic mail-data network.
With 11 districts committed to the program, Technology Supervisor Don Williams said there would be “categories of membership” dependent upon a district’s usage of the network.
“If we make more use of the network,” he explained, “we would pay more.”
County-funded for the first two years, participating districts would collectively need to contribute $110,000 during the third year of the program, approximately $10,000 each.
The board also approved a motion drafted by Board President August Ruggiero regarding criminal background checks. As a result, the board will petition the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education to “require that all students majoring in education in New Jersey colleges and universities apply for a criminal background check before their last semester as a graduation requirement.”
New state requirements require the board to employ an applicant “for a period not to exceed three months pending completion of the criminal background check.” The Scotch Plains-Fanwood proposal would facilitate that aspect of the district’s hiring process.
Mr. Clarke updated the board on the status of the Task Force for Enrollment and Facilities, which is expected to present its report to Dr. Choye in January.
While Mr. Clarke would like to consider the state’s requirements for instruction facilities, desegregation and zero-percent financing for new construction in the report, board member Richard M. Meade said, “We can’t wait on (receipt of) state information to make a decision.”
He was referring to the potential need to address facilities requirements in upcoming budget preparations.
In a vote of 6-2, the board passed a resolution urging the State Assembly to defeat Bill A-1777 which includes “a provision that would eliminate unified local school board member
ship in the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) by phasing out mandatory membership over a fiveyear period.”
Board members Jean McAllister and Mr. Saridaki opposed the resolution because they do not believe membership in the NJSBA should be mandatory.
“It would not hurt NJSBA if membership were not mandatory,” noted Mr. Saridaki. “If there is no guaranteed income, perhaps (they) look more closely at how the money is spent.”
Morris H. “Butch” Gillet disagreed. “If (membership is) voluntary, there are a number of districts who, for various reasons, would choose not to join...it’s no longer representative,” he said.
“It loses its effectiveness,” he added.
Board member Jessica D. Simpson spoke highly of the NJSBA’s orientation program for new board members.
“It’s an incredible organization... for training and resources,” she said. Mrs. Simpson indicated the board pays approximately $15,000 in annual dues to the association.
Mr. Ruggiero spoke of the need to maintain a “power balance” between the NJSBA and the New Jersey Education Association, of which he is a member.
Board member Lance Porter reported that the Union County School Board had passed a similar resolution opposing elimination of mandatory membership in the NJSBA.
From the audience, former board member Albert J. Syvertsen said that, while the “creation of the NJSBA was to meet the challenge of the NJEA...it is not meeting its function.”
With respect to contract negotiations with the teamsters, Mr. Gillet reported that the most recently scheduled meeting was canceled at the teamster leadership’s request. takes the helm as Township Mayor,
as expected, in January. In addition, council members wanted additional information from FAA tests to make sure that rerouting planes over the Atlantic Ocean wouldn’t interfere with traffic from other neighboring airports such as Kennedy or LaGuardia Airports.
In other business, Councilman William F. McClintock discussed the latest improvements to the Scotch Plains Library.
“Library technology and computerization has arrived and has reduced everything to a bar-code,” he said.
Township Receives Grant To Complete Road Work
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The entire catalogue has been converted and computerized and Internet access just about completed. He also added the library is “up and running.”
On another matter, Councilman Martin Marks congratulated the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School varsity boys’ soccer team for winning their second consecutive and seventh overall Group 3 state championship.
“The soccer team has dominated Group 3 the last five years. Expectation is very high and congratulations to Coach (Tom) Breznitsky,” said Councilman Marks.
SCOTCH PLAINS POLICE BLOTTER
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
· Police received a report of a bicycle stolen from the Scotch Plains Library area. The incident occurred Tuesday evening. The bicycle was left unlocked.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19
· A Montague Avenue resident reported the theft of a Craftsman Power Blower that was located in an unlocked garage. The incident took place some time during the previous week.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20
· A bicycle was reported stolen from the Scotch Plains Public Library during the afternoon. The bicycle was later discovered on a nearby street.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21
· Sherone R. Long, 20, of Plainfield was arrested for providing false identification pursuant to a motor vehicle stop.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22
· Police received a report that fixtures had been stolen from a house in foreclosure on Cooper Road. Police do not know how entry to the house was gained. The incident occurred some time during the previous week.
· A vehicle parked on Lyde Place received two scratches, according to police.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23
· Warner O. Wesley, 46, and Herbert G. Crisp, 49, both of Scotch Plains, were arrested for burglary of a storage shed from a Jerusalem Road business. They were observed by an area resident who gave a description of the vehicle driven by Wesley. Police located the vehicle on Front Street shortly after receiving the report. Additional charges of possession of suspected heroin and syringes were added after a search incidental to the arrest.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
· A shoplifting incident was reported at a liquor store on Route 22.
· The theft of a license plate from a vehicle parked in a parking lot on Park Avenue was reported.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
· Cesar Alay, 21, of Plainfield, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol pursuant to a motor vehicle stop on Park Avenue. He was additionally charged with obstruction for offering false information as to his identify during the investigation.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29
· The theft of a bicycle from the front of a store located on Route 22 was reported.
Philathalians Seek Actors For Play It Again, Sam
FANWOOD – The Philathalians of Fanwood will hold open auditions for Play it Again, Sam, a romantic comedy by Woody Allen, this Monday, December 7, and Wednesday, December 9, at 8 p.m.
The show, which takes place in 1969, is about a newly-divorced New York writer-film buff trying to find a new Ms. Right at the height of the sexual revolution, with Humphrey Bogart on hand to teach him “how to handle dames.”
There are nearly a dozen speaking parts for women, early 20s to early 30s, and for two men of the same age. A third man will be needed to imitate
Mr. Bogart. No acting experience is necessary. The Philathalians are especially interested in those who have never done theater and those who have not been involved in theater for a while.
Auditions will consist of readings from the script, and will be held at The Carriage House, located at the intersection of Martine Avenue, North, and Watson Road. The play will open on Friday, February 12.
For more information, please call the Philathalians of Fanwood at (908) 322-8686. The director, Dennis Freeland, may be reached at (908) 317-9793.
Killam Associates. Scotch Plains has the right of 4.5 Million Gallons per Day, “which is the maximum allowable instantaneous peak flow rate.”
In the past, Scotch Plains has exceeded that amount, which causes an “excess rental charge,” the Killam information confirmed.
Killam Associates President, Paul J. Paparella, has addressed what his consulting firm plans to achieve for Scotch Plains through a “reduction program” and other construction and design plans.
On another topic, Mr. Atkins praised a group of five young women gymnasts from Scotch Plains who are part of the “SPARKS” team.
Led by Coach Suzanne Dixon,
Township Council Reviews Counseling Center Pact
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the team, which is comprised of Jennifer Alonzo, Claire Czekaj, Kristi Gyara, Stephanie King and Annmarie Klimowicz, are the new Junior Olympic National Gold Medalists in Beginner Group Ribbon, and Silver Medalists in Beginner Hoop.
The team members competed October 10 at the Elite Training Center in Downers Grove, Illinois. The gymnasts will also be featured in USA Gymnastics magazine.
According to Ms. Dixon, “Their success is a tribute to their hard work and extraordinary ability not only as superior individual athletes but also (for their) stunning ability to work as a group.”
HONORED FOR COMMITMENT…Scotch Plains resident Robert D. Blair, former Treasurer of the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Parsippany, was presented with a plaque by the chapter’s immediate Past President Patricia Lombreglia at the chapter’s annual meeting, held recently at Warner-Lambert in Morris Plains. He was honored for his commitment to the Chapter as a member of its Board of Directors. Pictured, above, are Ms. Lombreglia and Robert Blair.
PLANT LIFE DISCUSSION…Suzanne Easton’s Pre-kindergarten students from St. Bartholomew Interparochial School in Scotch Plains recently enjoyed a discussion on plants led by seventh-grade students in the Life Skills class taught by Karen Franzone and Peggy Brown at Park Middle School in Scotch Plains. Pictured, left to right, are: Erika Viglianti, Mary Soorial, Amanda Searls, Mary Leahy, Steven Hetem, Sarah Trezoglou, Lindsey Theissen, Blair Bamrick, Marina Chaves, Edward Lopez and Jesus Gonzalez. College Club to Host
Special Theater Party
SCOTCH PLAINS – The College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains will hold a theater party with refreshments during Intermission at a performance of Prelude to a Kiss, by the Westfield Community Players on Friday, January 15, at 8 p.m.
All proceeds from the Theater Party will benefit the College Club’s scholarship fund.
Prelude to a Kiss, by Craig Lucas, is an original fantasy comedy about love in a modern fairy tale and the complications that occur between two young lovers.
Westfield Community Players, founded in 1934, has performed over 185 comedies, dramas, musicals and mysteries.
Tickets will cost $15 and will include coffee and dessert which will be served during Intermission. To obtain tickets, please write and send $15 to: The College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains, P.O. Box 32, Fanwood, 07203. Tickets will be sent in the mail.
For further information, please call Jill Barber at (908) 889-2292. from an apparent gunshot wound.
He was flown by Northstar Medivac to University Hospital Trauma Center in Newark.
On December 2, Mountainside Chief of Police James J. Debbie, Jr. confirmed that Mr. Pavolick remains in University Hospital in Newark, the state’s trauma unit. He is in a coma, but breathing on his own.
Chief Debbie was reluctant to reveal additional information about the incident.
“The two females are cooperating,” he explained, “and we don’t want to release anything that might jeopardize that.”
“We are hoping for the best,” said the Chief.
The Department is waiting for an opportunity to speak directly with Mr. Pavolick about the events that led up to the shooting.
Police Probe Mountainside
Shooting
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Christmas Seals Can Help Stamp Out Lung Diseases
The American Lung Association of New Jersey (ALANJ) has launched the 91st Annual Christmas Seal Campaign to raise funds to help “stamp out” asthma and other lung diseases.
According to the ALANJ, by contributing to the Christmas Seal Campaign, the health of children and adults with lung diseases can be prevented.
Anthony J. Albanese, President of ALANJ, said that campaign donations help to support “Camp Superkids,” the ALANJ’s summer camping program for New Jersey children with asthma.
The camp offers children with asthma an opportunity to have a regular camping experience, while building confidence and self-esteem and
sense of responsibility in managing and controlling their asthma.
“Christmas Seal contributions,” Mr. Albanese continued, “also support year-round programs to combat and control all lung diseases and their causal factors, such as smoking, air pollution and occupational hazards.”
More than eight million sheets of Seals are being delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to homes and businesses throughout the state.
Asthma and other childhood breathing problems affect almost 20 million children nationwide. The ALANJ sponsors community and inschool education programs, such as Open Airways, Kids on The Block Asthma Puppet Shows, Anti-Smoking and Smoking Cessation Programs and Family Asthma Programs.
Mr. Albanese noted that the first Christmas Seal Campaign in 1907 marked the beginning of our nation’s commitment to philanthropy, volunteerism and public health.
To receive a Christmas Seal letter or additional sheets of Seals, please contact the Lung Association at 1800-LUNG-USA.
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Drop It Off At Our Scotch Plains Office 1906 Bartle Avenue
Page 14 Thursday, December 3, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Kiwanis Club will be distributing the luminaries at the Fanwood Municipal
Garage (by RR station) from 9 AM to 3 PM on:
NOTE: We encourage all to participate in the DECA’s TOYS for TOTS and FOOD for the NEEDY. You can drop items off when you pick up your luminaries.
Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 6th & 12th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th Dec. 19th, 20th & 24th
Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on Special Sale Time on December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m. December 24 – 1 to 3 p.m.
The luminaria kit costs 35¢ per unit. This includes the candle, bag and sand.
(Please bring a container for the sand.)
Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale Luminaria Sale
The United Fund of Westfield
301 North Avenue, West Westfield, NJ 07090
(908) 2332113
Westfield Fire Department
Turkeys and nonperishable food items for holiday food drive / drop off at the North Ave. Fire Department – Deadline 12/18/98
Westfield Neighborhood Council
classroom materials: globe, world map, dictionary, thesaurus, calculators, and flash cards for math and spelling
First Night
Volunteers for all activities developing and running this New Year’s Eve event.
Westfield Community Players
volunteers for painting, construction, make-up and costuming
Children’s Specialized Hospital
toys, games and clothing for the annual Holiday Toy Drive, given to the special needs children who are treated at the hospital.
The Caring Box Please call the United Fund if you can help!
Because Westfielders Care... the spirit of volunteerism is very special in Westfield. The United Fund of Westfield, through a grant from the Westfield Foundation and the help of The Westfield Leader, is proud to provide The Caring Box. This volunteer clearing house, responding to special, immediate needs in our community, will be published monthly.
first put forward a plan, such as for a parking facility, and than come back with a fee hike to pay for the structure.
During the meeting, Harvey Davidson of Carlton Road called the proposed 100 percent increase in permit fees, as had been proposed, is “both arbitrary and capricious” as well as being “bloated.”
“What new services are we going to be provided for this new fee? Will we have valet parking?” he questioned, noting that perhaps the town would also provide a police officer to direct traffic in and out of the lot during rush hours.
Anne Wolf of Wells Street noted the condition of the South Avenue lot has deteriorated over the years. She said the higher fees should provide additional benefits for those who use the lot.
After listening to council members, though, she stated, “So we not only don’t anticipate better service, we’re getting worse service.”
She also questioned why commuters were being singled out for bearing the burden for costs associated with the downtown parking crunch.
“So, why us?,” she said. William Kelly of Seneca Place, after listening to the council, noted that the town doesn’t appear to have a concrete plan on “what will be derived” as a result of the increased parking revenue.
“There is no coherent clear plan showing us how we are going to get from Point A to Point B to Point C; Point C being better service; more spaces, reducing the ridiculous three-year wait for parking permits,” he said.
“Frankly I view this parking increase as punitive,” he told the council. He said the governing body should not approve a “wholesale” increase in permit fees to makeup for the lack of incremental increases that should have been approved by previous councils.
In responding to Mr. Sullivan’s statement that the parking situation needs to be viewed as one system, Mr. Kelly said the burden needs to spread to other users of spaces in the downtown.
John Cassidy of Hawthorne Drive said he would have been able “to live with” the $40 fee if he believed it was “really going to improve the quality of life in the town.”
He said he would support construction of a parking garage, indicating that not only would he use the facility as a commuter but that a garage would bring more residents to the downtown on weekends to shop.
David Eisenberg of South Wickom Drive said commuters would likely support the increase if they saw improvements such as jitney or bus service or if the town used the funds to encourage a taxi company to come to town.
He also said that increases in parking
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Council Slashes Proposed Hike in Permit Fees
fees should not be used by the council as a means of cutting the waiting list at commuter lots.
In response to residents regarding a long-range parking objective, Mayor Jardim noted that the town has taken advantage of a $25,000 county grant to conduct a study on where to the town can provide additional parking capacity in town.
He also said a non-profit group in town is close to coming before the council with a plan to operate a jitney service in Westfield.
Anthony M. Laporta of North Chestnut Street, a former councilman, proposed that the town build two decks — one for commuters and one for shoppers.
“What we have to do is build a commuters parking deck. We have to do it,” he said, noting that a parking deck would raise the values of homes in town due to the additional service it would provide residents. He said permit users should only pay a portion of the deck with the remainder coming through the issuance of a bond.
Councilman Sullivan said if commuters were asked to pay for a deck entirely, the permit fees would jump to $100 a month. He thus said that a deck, if it were built, would have to be spread out to all residents.
Joni Charatan of Maple Street called the increase, which she said is no more than a tax on commuters, “discriminatory.” She said raising rates without a parking plan is “premature.”
Kevin Maloney of Shadowlawn Drive said the council did a poor job of communicating the proposed increase to commuters. He called the original plan for a 100 percent increase in permit fees “obscene.” He also said taxpayers should be given parking spaces over non-residents.
Addressing Mayor Jardim, he called it “mindboggling” that no mention of the proposed need to raise parking revenues came up during the town’s mayoral campaign.
In response, Mayor Jardim said it is “unacceptable” that residents have to wait years to get a permit. He said the council “must get to work” to develop a plan to gain more parking capacity in town.
Councilman Sullivan noted that the town oversells permit lots to ensure they are filled. The waiting list at the South Avenue lot dropped by 200 over the summer to 865. A total of 676 permits have been sold for the 469 spaces at the lot.
The town has sold 185 permits for the 146 spaces for the Watterson lot.
Since the town does not have a parking authority, per say, all revenues derived from parking goes into a “general fund.” Councilman Sullivan indicated that he would like to see all these revenues used solely for the town’s parking system.
He said the funds could be used for increased enforcement of parking rules, to create additional spaces, parking lot maintenance, for a centralized pay station or for a jitney bus service.
Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko said he anticipated the town would have generated around $60,000 in additional revenue for the South Avenue lot had the council doubled the fees.
Fees at the South Avenue net the town $158,000 a year. Total parking revenue brings in $750,000 out of a total municipal budget of $22 million.
Prior to the meeting, Third Ward Councilman John J. Walsh said that while he felt the town should raise its permit rates to be more in line with surrounding towns, he questioned the need “to do it all at once.”
Mayor Jardim noted that had the town raised the train lot permits the past eight years based on the Cost of Living, the permit rate would now be $27 a month which is more closely in line to neighboring Fanwood’s monthly commuter rate of $30.
“We could have done something about this before but what we didn’t” acknowledged Second Ward Councilman James J. Gruba in speaking on the original proposal to bring the fees at the four permit lots more in line with each other.
In a related development, it was announced that the town has converted 19 of the 88 downtown employee permit spaces at Municipal Lot, referred to as the Citgo lot, to two-hour meters.
Fifteen of these permit holders will be able to park at the now vacant Wyckoff’s restaurant parking lot on North Avenue.
The town, according to Mr. Brandt, has reached a verbal agreement with the owner of the building, ADCO Electrical Corp. of Staten Island, to temporarily use the spaces for the displaced Citgo permit holders.
The agreement would cover the holiday season and until a new tenant is found for the building.
“Our agreement gives us all the rights that a private person (business owner) has” to have summons issued by the police department for parking in a private lot,” said Mr. Brandt.
William Ziff of St. Marks Avenue, the owner of a small business in town, said his employees use the so-called Citgo lot. He said of the 88 spaces in the lot, 20 are used by his employees, permits which he pays for.
“You are eliminating parking for our employees and that is a concern,” he added.
The council also introduced ordinances last week to relieve parking safety issues at Tamaques Park, the largest park in town.
Once adopted, motorists will be prohibited from parking on the Tamaques Park roadway. In addition, speed limits along Dickson Drive between Willow Grove Road and the park entrance will be set at 15 MPH.
The vote on the ordinance for Tamaques will also take place on Tuesday, December 15.
WESTFIELD POLICE BLOTTER
WESTFIELD FIRE BLOTTER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23
· A bicycle valued at $150 was reported stolen from the side of a residence on West Broad Street.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
· Mohamed E. Charib, 29, of Asheboro, North Carolina was arrested at Rahway Avenue and Mohawk Way and charged with operating a vehicle with a revoked driver’s license, according to police. He was released on $775 bail.
· Robert E. Patillo, 33, of Plainfield was arrested and charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property and credit card fraud, according to police.
Authorities said Patillo allegedly obtained a credit card unlawfully from a Westfield resident, which he used to order purchases that were delivered to his home. He was being held on $1,500 bail.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27
· Kyle D. Harvin, 22, of Westfield was charged with robbing a gold chain from a Westfield resident after the victim, described as an acquaintance of the
suspect, gave him a ride from a convenience store on South Avenue, West, to Brightwood Avenue, authorities said. Bail for Harvin was set at $25,000.
· Bruce Hoplock, 35, of Elizabeth was arrested on South Avenue near Sussex Street and charged with operating a vehicle with a revoked driver’s license, his third offense, according to police. Bail was set at $1,025.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
· Police reported that a vehicle was damaged through criminal mischief at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Central Avenue. A window on the vehicle was broken and the exterior had been dented.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30
· Carol Ganczewski, 34, of Scotch Plains was arrested on Westfield Avenue and charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of suspected cocaine and/or heroin, and an outstanding warrant out of Newark, according to police. Ganczewski posted a total of $1,625 bail and was released.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16
· One hundred block of Unami Terrace – carbon monoxide detector activation.
· Ross Place and Boulevard – hazardous condition.
· One hundred block of North Wickom Drive – power line down.
· Seven hundred block of Prospect Street – hazardous condition.
· Eight hundred block of Stevens Avenue – unintentional alarm.
· Nine hundred block of Boulevard – oil burner malfunction.
· One hundred block of Westbrook Road – electrical short.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
· Six hundred block of Roosevelt Street – carbon monoxide detector activation.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18
· Two hundred block of Elm Street – smoke scare.
· Five hundred block of Lenox Avenue – odor investigation.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19
· One hundred block of Tamaques Way – unintentional alarm.
· Two hundred block of Elmer Street – system malfunction.
· Central Avenue and Grove Street – gasoline spill.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20
· One hundred block of Lincoln Road – wire down.
· Nine hundred block of Cleveland Avenue – gas leak.
· Four hundred block of North Avenue West – emergency medical call.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21
· One hundred block of Summit Court – power line down.
· One hundred block of South Wickom Drive – vehicle fire.
· Seven hundred block of Forest Avenue – leaf fire.
· Three hundred block of First Street – system malfunction.
· Seventeen hundred block of Dakota Street – leaf fire.
· Fifteen hundred block of Boulevard – leaf fire.
· Eight hundred block of St. Marks Avenue – electrical short.
· Four hundred block of Clifton Street – electrical short.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22
· Nine hundred block of Woodmere Drive – system malfunction.
· South Avenue and Hort Street – automobile accident.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23
· Nine hundred block of Woodmere Drive – system malfunction.
· Ten hundred block of Wyandotte Trail – lock out.
· One hundred block of Dudley Avenue – automobile accident.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
· One hundred block of Gallows Hill Road – leaf fire.
· Five hundred block of South Avenue East – mulch/leaf fire.
· One hundred block of East Broad Street – mulch/leaf fire.
· Twelve hundred block of Rahway Avenue – power line down.
· Three hundred block of Florence Avenue – good intent call.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
· Four hundred block of Summit Avenue – power line down.
· Four hundred block of North Avenue West – emergency medical call.
· Twelve hundred block of Rahway Avenue – lock out.
· Eight hundred block of Rahway Avenue – standby at bon fire.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26
· Five hundred block of Woodland Avenue – smoke scare.
· One hundred block of Golf Edge – system malfunction.
· Four hundred block of Rahway Avenue – system malfunction.
· Eight hundred block of Willow Grove Road – carbon monoxide detector activation.
· One hundred block of Faulkner Drive – smoke scare.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27
· Two hundred block of Charles Street – smoke scare.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
· Seven hundred block of Central Avenue – smoke odor investigation.
· Six hundred block of Fairmont Avenue – carbon monoxide detector activation.
· Eight hundred block of Standish Avenue – leaf fire.
· Eight hundred block of Bradford Avenue – leaf fire.
· Five hundred block of Alden Avenue – leaf fire.
· Nine hundred block of St. Marks Avenue – investigation.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29
· Five hundred block of Westfield Avenue – leaf fire.
· Five hundred block of Hanford Avenue – car fire.
· Five hundred block of Downer Street – assist police.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
and state aid in the following year. Board Member Annmarie Puleio told the board that she was concerned about adding permanent items to the upcoming budget. She urged the board to concentrate on one-time projects and to focus on what projects are unquestionably necessary.
“She is absolutely right,” observed Dr. Foley. He stated that permanent issues or needs will effect spending authorized in future years.
“It must be cognizant,” Dr. Foley said when referring to items included in the budget.
Ms. Puleio pressed the board to consider the “burgeoning of class sizes” in the coming year. She encouraged the board to factor in the need for aides, special education programs, paraprofessionals, and extra classrooms.
Dr. Foley admitted that the numbers for those issues and needs were “woefully underestimated last year.” He stated that it was more than he anticipated with the enrollment jump.
“We should strive this year for a budget that is more understandable for lay people who don’t pour over it as we do,” Ms. Puleio stressed.
Board Member Arlene Gardner stated that she did not want mainte
nance fees and issues to “fall by the wayside” in the budget and asked if these projects could be addressed to the voting public as a separate question at the polls.
Dr. Foley stated that in taking such an action, the board might find that the community would rebel.
“I’m very concerned about taxes, even young families are concerned about taxes,” revealed Dr. Foley.
“It’s going to be an interesting budget year, but every year is an interesting budget year,” Dr. Foley quipped.
Finance Committee Chairwoman and Board Member, Susan Jacobson, observed that the budget outlined by Mr. Berman presented more of a “big picture” with greater detail and clarity than previous budgets. She said she would be pleased when the draft is presented to the Finance Committee.
Mrs. Jacobson concluded that one of her goals as Finance Chairwoman would be to carefully “craft a budget that will not create a tax impact on top of the bond.”
In earlier board business, Board President Darielle M. Walsh stated that the public would be able to view a special bond presentation constructed by Dr. Foley, Mrs. Jacobsen, and five members of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Channel 36 from Thursday, December 3, to Sunday, December 6.
Dr. Molnar presented The Westfield Leader with two resolutions scheduled to be introduced to the New Jersey Assembly regarding the School to Work (STW) initiative.
The first resolution, “strongly opposes the STW provisions in the new code and urges that the STW provisions be revised.”
The second “urges that the STW provisions be eliminated. Standards of such magnitude should undergo legislative review.”
The STW mandate requires career awareness in kindergarten through fourth grade; career exploration in grades 5 through 8 in which students would develop career plans; and career preparation in grades 9 through 12 with a career major identified.
Eleventh and 12th grade students would be required to join volunteer activities, community service, or paid or unpaid employment opportunities.
During past board meetings, several board members have expressed that STW limits the choices of students too early in their academic careers.
BOE Analyzes Timeline, Cap Increase for 1999-2000
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Gottko revealed that the town is charged per street lamp and not by usage. That rate is set by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Noting that the town currently pays Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) for the service, he asked, “Will we now expect to see two bills...one for pole and light fixtures and the second bill for power?”
Customers, including the town, who select the program would be billed by the new supplier as part of their electrical bill.
“It’s like switching from AT&T to MCI for your long distance service,” Assemblyman Bagger explained during a telephone interview yesterday with
The Westfield Leader.
The town would contract with the supplier for its electrical needs.
Through municipal aggregation, Mr. Bagger said towns would be allowed to purchase their electricity from a utility other than PSE&G, one of the major providers in the state. PSG&G would continue to maintain the wires and deliver the electricity to its service area, while the town buys its electricity from any utility or independent power producer in the United States.
Another firm, General Public Utilities (GPU) has opted to pull out of the retail electricity business and has sold off its power plants. The utility will continue, however, to service lines and deliver electricity in its region. PSE&G and Elizabethtown Gas have both opted to sell electricity in a deregulated marketplace.
Mr. Bagger said that under the aggregation program, Westfield could go out to bid to gain a better rate than currently offered by PSE&G. Firms would be asked to provide several rates based on a certain number of households, businesses, etc., that join the program.
After a final rate has been set, residents and businesses would be contacted to see if they are interested in the rate, which would be offered on a voluntary basis.
Groups such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association would also be able to seek a lower rate for their members.
Currently, a proposal by Governor Whitman would require a three-year moratorium prohibiting towns from entering into aggregation agreements. Groups and associations, though, would be able to enter the program as soon as deregulation takes effect.
Assemblyman Bagger said the bill is being amended to remove the waiting period for towns to enter the aggregation business.
Counties or towns could band together to offer what Mr. Bagger described as a “super municipal aggregation.”
Commenting on a resolution issued by the League of Municipalities, Mayor Thomas C. Jardim noted the League’s concern regarding the state public contracts law, which forbids towns from entering into municipal contracts which extend more than five years.
Municipal Aggregation Could Cut Energy Bills
Assemblyman Bagger said he would favor a change in the law to allow longerterm contracts for electricity aggregation agreements. He said this change, in fact, “is probably essential to make this work.”
Mr. Gottko noted that Westfield has opted to join a cooperative purchasing agreement offered by Union County.
The council approved the contract with NUI Energy Solutions on August 11 to provide a comprehensive energy program for the town.
A kickoff meeting to launch the county program, originally scheduled for this Tuesday, December 8, was postponed as a result of a strike by NUI workers.
Mr. Gottko said the county program will enable the Town of Westfield to gain better prices for its electrical needs, while also identifying improvements to cut energy usage.
School boards, also contacted for the county program, will be making their own decisions on whether to join the energy efficiency arrangement.
In other business, Laws and Rules Committee Chairman Lawrence A. Goldman, who represents the Fourth Ward, said the committee is continuing its work on an ordinance to regulate the placement of newspaper vending machines in town.
The current proposal would require the major publications with newsboxes to provide a list of the locations of their machines, and to notify the town when a machine is to be added or relocated.
Dimensions for machines would be set, along with a requirement that they be made of metal, thus eliminating the smaller, plastic models which typically contain the so-called “throw-aways,” such as real estate and employment publications.
A small fee of $5 per machine would be charged to ensure compliance. The Director of the Downtown Westfield Corporation would be responsible for maintaining the list of machines.
Newspaper representatives, which met with the committee, said Westfield is considered a “high visibility” town for placement of the machines.
On another item, Westfield Police Chief Anthony J. Scutti has clarified a misunderstanding regarding the town’s holiday “courtesy ticket program.”
The program, he noted, provides motorists with an additional half hour over the expiration time on their meters.
After this time period, the police department and parking enforcement personnel will issue summonses.
The program replaces the bagging of meters, which was discontinued last year due to the concern that downtown employees were parking in the spaces, thus defeating the purpose of the program, which was turnover of spaces for shoppers.
male, Eugene Pavolick, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was flown by Northstar Medivac to University Hospital Trauma Center in Newark.
On December 2, Mountainside Chief of Police James J. Debbie, Jr. confirmed that Mr. Pavolick remains in University Hospital in Newark, the state’s trauma unit. He is in a coma, but breathing on his own.
Chief Debbie was reluctant to reveal additional information about the incident.
“The two females are cooperating,” he explained, “and we don’t want to release anything that might jeopardize that.”
“We are hoping for the best,” said the Chief.
The Department is waiting for an opportunity to speak directly with Mr. Pavolick about the events that led up to the shooting.
Police Probe Mountainside
Shooting
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
EXERCISING OUR MINDS…Students at Jefferson Elementary School in Westfield celebrated National Children’s Book Week and American Education Week by participating in an evening story time. Faculty members and staff read stories, fables and poetry to small groups of students. Daria Bonavita, School Librarian, and June Gleason, Basic Skills Instructor/Achieve Reading Coordinator provided reading strategies to parents who attended the event. Pictured, left to right, are: second grade teacher Patricia Gentesse and fifth grade teacher Michael Craver; Alison Ricardo, Phillip Russo, Caroline Fahey, Lauren Posluzny, Melissa Riegel and Diana Rogut.
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