OUR 108th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 19- 98 FIFTY CENTS 232- 4407
The Westfield Leader — Serving the Town Since 1890 —
Thursday, May 7, 1998 USPS 680020 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N. J.
Published Every Thursday
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Effort Launched To Secure Funds For Preservation
Jorge Lopez Suero for The Westfield Leader PRESERVATION EFFORT BEGINS... Harold Cohen, far left, Chairman of the Westfield Neighborhood Council, addresses those in attendance at Saturday's kick- off of the town's effort to gain admittance into the state's Neighborhood Preservation Program. Looking on, pictured left to right, are: First Ward Councilwoman Gail S. Vernick; Westfield Neighborhood Council Vice Chairwoman Mary Withers and Mayor Thomas C. Jardim.
By PAUL J. PEYTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
Members of the Westfield Neighborhood Preservation Committee and the Westfield Neighborhood Council kicked off the town's effort to revitalize Cacciola Place, the Central Avenue corridor and the entire neighborhood bounded by South and Central Avenues and Grove Street, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting last Saturday morning.
Westfield is seeking inclusion in the state's Neighborhood Preserva tion Program. The town is pursuing
a grant of approximately $600,000 in the multi- year program. Among the enhancements the program would fund in the Central Avenue commercial area, near Cacciola Place and Grove Street, are improved lighting, sidewalks, curbs, tree plantings and foliage, as well as litter removal.
The program would also provide for the renovation of dilapidated housing in residential areas in the triangular area proposed for preservation.
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Westfield Gains $117,500 County Grant to Create Park At Former Diner Site, Renovate Lincoln Playground
By PAUL J. PEYTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
All 21 municipalities in Union County should be receiving checks from the county within the next 60 days as part of the county's Project Pocket Park Program. A total of $1,588,750 has been approved in matching dollar grants — moneys that will be used to acquire land to construct pocket parks and to renovate existing playgrounds.
In announcing the approval of the grants, Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan said the program will result in over $3.1 million in land acquisition and park renovations, an effort by the county to preserve open space.
The grants, which range from $10,000 to $125,000, follow the county's efforts to upgrade its parks system, according to Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, who serves as Liaison to the Parks Advisory Board. An additional $2 million was spent in 1997 by the county to improve county playgrounds and playing fields.
Among the properties included in the program are the former sites of the Excellent Diner in Westfield and the erstwhile Scotch Plains Zoo site, once known as the Terry Lou Zoo, in Scotch Plains.
The two communities will receive $100,000 each for the acquisition of these properties, which local offi cials hope to convert into parks.
However, there remain some obstacles in that regard. In Scotch Plains, the Township Council's plan to condemn the zoo property has met with opposition from officials from Sunrise Assisted Living, which wants to build a facility on the site.
The council, though, has moved ahead with efforts to condemn the property. Just last month, the governing body voted to seize ownership of the property for a public park, claiming "eminent domain."
The council then passed a $570,000 bond ordinance in order to pay "a fair market price," as required by law, to Sunrise for the 5.87- acre site. The company has indicated it plans to challenge the council's decision in court.
Sunrise purchased the property for $850,000. A local planner has said one- third of the zoo lot lies in a flood plain and thus makes development of the property a potential hazard.
In Westfield, the Town Council last week learned that the owners of the former site of the Excellent Diner, the Honecker family, want to develop a three- story commercial building on the currently vacant site.
Mayor Thomas C. Jardim said the governing body is prepared to move on its plans in the meantime, noting the site has long been an "eyesore" which the town is now "finally doing something about."
He said the condition of the site, located in the middle of the central business district, is "unacceptable."
"One of the biggest assets in our town is our CBD (central business district), our schools and streets. So we (the town) have got to protect our assets," the Mayor stated.
He said he has been told the prop erty could not be developed commercially.
Debbie Schmidt, Executive Director of the Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, added that the number of variances needed by the Honeckers would probably prevent it from being developed.
"I think it would require more vari
Jorge Lopez Suero for The Westfield Leader HIGH STEPPERS… Members of the Westfield Dance Company, a young people's dance troupe, kick up their heels as they cross the gazebo in Mindowaskin Park last Saturday during their spring program entitled "Dance in The Park." Pictured, left to right, are: Jennifer Fleck, Kathryn Logan, Alexandra Fredas and Nave Hurtt. Kristin Dunn, Caitlin Mahoney and Rebecca Snyder, not pictured, also participated in the program.
Jorge Lopez Suero for The Westfield Leader PICTURE IN THE PARK… Artist Burton Longenbach, a former Westfield resident now living in Clark, does an oil painting of the bridge at Mindowaskin Park during the opening weekend of the Artslink celebration in downtown Westfield. Artslink, the Westfield Arts Commission, is showcasing the talents of artists, actors, musicians, poets and dancers of all ages from 11 a. m. to 3 p. m. each Saturday this month.
Board Memorializes Subdivision Approval
For Woman's Club By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
The Westfield Woman's Club property subdivision, which was approved by the Planning Board on March 2, was discussed again by the board on Monday night. Members passed a formal resolution at that time to subdivide the property on South Euclid Avenue into three lots.
The subdivision was granted with several conditions. One of those conditions stipulates that the existing home, known as the Colonial Revival House and once the club's meeting place, remains a single- family residence for at least five years.
Another condition states that any new homes constructed on the two new lots would have to be "architecturally harmonious" with the other homes in the neighborhood.
The determination of whether a structure is "architecturally harmonious" would be made by the zoning official based on recommendations from the Architectural Review Board.
The Planning Board reported that a "modern" house would not be considered "architecturally harmonious" and therefore would not be approved by the zoning official.
According to the resolution, the Planning Board advises that "the zoning official take into consideration height, roof slopes and shapes, proportion of the home's front facade and proportion of openings, rhythm of spacing of the building with other buildings on the street, relationship of materials and texture and scale of
the building when making a decision." The resolution also stipulates that the front- yard setback be increased from 35 to 40 feet for the existing house.
According to Robert Kraus of Leib, Kraus, Grispin & Roth in Scotch Plains, who is representing the Woman's Club, contracts for all three lots have been made.
In an earlier interview with The Westfield Leader, Mr. Kraus stated that information regarding the identities of the buyers who signed contracts for the lots was confidential. He did state, however, that the two separate buyers for the adjoining properties, which front on Tremont Avenue, were contractors and have each proposed to build a Colonialstyle home on their respective lots.
Mr. Kraus also stated that a Westfield couple had purchased the Colonial Revival House. He added that the couple planned to renovate and reside in the home.
In this earlier interview, Mr. Kraus concluded that construction on the adjoining lots was likely to begin by June or July.
In other business, a resolution was also passed allowing Louis and Carla Capuano of 460 Hillside Avenue to construct a fence on top of an existing retaining wall which would exceed six feet in height.
There were many conditions to which the Capuanos had agreed during the board's April 6 meeting. These included approval by the Town Engineer and the couple's neighbors of
Board of Ed. Honors Angela LaCarrubba; Staff Changes Proposed
By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
In front of a large crowd of Wilson Elementary School students, parents, teachers and alumni, second- grade teacher Angela LaCarrubba was congratulated for earning the 1998 Westfield Rotary Club's Charles Philhower Fellowship, at Tuesday night's meeting of the Board of Education.
This award, given annually, recognizes outstanding teaching ability at the elementary school level.
Darielle M. Walsh, President of the Westfield Board of Education, congratulated Mrs. LaCarrubba and informed those in attendance that Tuesday was Teacher Day USA, making it an appropriate day to honor Mrs. LaCarrubba, and all teachers, through the Rotary's Philhower Award.
Mrs. Walsh stated that the Rotary Club has awarded Mrs. LaCarrubba its sixth annual fellowship for outstanding teaching interest in children and continued pursuit of profes sional growth.
Andrew Perry, Principal of Wilson School, thanked the Board of Education for holding its bi- monthly meeting at the school to congratulate Mrs. LaCarrubba, and thanked parents and the Wilson school staff for filling the auditorium in spite of it being a rainy night.
Mr. Perry told the crowd that "Mrs. Angela LaCarrubba was of the finest quality for a teacher." He also stated that she "gets to know her students as human beings and is a trusted leader among her peers and colleagues."
Mr. Perry concluded his remarks by saying that "Mrs. LaCarrubba is a teacher that makes us all feel like a winner."
Second grade student Lisa Zavetz also addressed the crowd, saying "Mrs. LaCarrubba is nice and doesn't give us tons of homework. She is fun. Sometimes she tries to trick us and when it doesn't work, she says that we are very smart."
Classmate Nick Brennan added "Even if she was not nice, she would not give us a lot of homework because we are only in second grade."
Mrs. LaCarrubba has taught in the Westfield public schools for 11 years. She has taught Basic Skills Mathematics, as well as first and second grades. She began her teaching career in Cliffside Park, where she was a fourth- grade teacher.
As a member of the Wilson School staff, Mrs. LaCarrubba has volunteered for many activities including the Family Math program, the Wilson School lunch time Math Enrichment program, and chairing the school- wide Reading and Multicultural programs.
The Rotary Club of Westfield established the fellowship in 1993 in memory of Charles Philhower, who was cofounder and past President of the Rotary Club.
According to the Rotary Club, Mr. Philhower had himself been an outstanding educator during 30 years of service as Westfield's Superintendent of Schools from 1917 to 1947, and helped to establish Westfield as a premier school district in the state.
The Philhower selection committee was made up of three Rotarians, including Superintendent of Schools, Dr. William J. Foley; Mrs. Walsh, and Kenneth Ciarrocco.
The committee also included the Westfield Public Schools' Human Resources Director, David M. Tuller; Jefferson Elementary School Principal Jordan Schiff, and last year's Philhower Fellowship honoree, Claudia Andreski.
Mrs. LaCarrubba received many nominating letters on her behalf from Wilson School parents. These parCONTINUED
ON PAGE 12 David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader PRESERVING OPEN SPACE... Westfield Mayor Thomas C. Jardim, Union
County Freeholders Mary Ruotolo, Chester Holmes and Daniel P. Sullivan, the board's Chairman, shown from left to right, stand outside the shell of the building which once housed the Excellent Diner in Westfield. The site was among those selected by the county to receive matching funds for the creation of a pocket park under a new county program.
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LONG- RANGE PLANNING SAID TO BE LACKING
Change in Terms Among Group's Recommendations
By PAUL J. PEYTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
The Town Council on Tuesday night began addressing some of the recommendations of the Westfield Expenditure Review Commission (WERC), which was formed last year by Mayor Thomas C. Jardim to evaluate how the governing body can improve its municipal budget process.
A memorandum prepared by Mayor Jardim for council members summarized some of WERC's concerns and recommendations. One of the criticisms is that not enough longrange planning is being done by the governing body when it comes to capital improvement plans.
It was recommended by WERC that the capital budget process be tentatively approved before January to free up more time to look at the operational side of the municipal budget.
Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko said the preparation of documents can be done by December, but council members would have to be
able to schedule additional meetings during the holiday season to review and approve the capital plan.
Finance Committee Chairman James J. Gruba said he believes the council "could take a shot" at getting the capital spending plan approved in advance of the traditional municipal budget process which begins in mid- January.
Peter Echausse, of Tuttle Parkway, a WERC member with experience as a municipal financial analyst, said the town is "under utilizing its capacity to use debt." He said this is a "great tool" that governing bodies have available to fund long- term improvement projects.
"It was our impression of the council that you were all micro- managing and that is not the role of a Town Council," he said, further explaining that a governing body's role is to approve policies which are then implemented by the town administrator and department heads.
He said the commission found that
Page 12 Thursday, May 7, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION
WESTFIELD POLICE BLOTTER
WESTFIELD FIRE BLOTTER MONDAY, APRIL 27
· One hundred block of Breeze Knoll — carbon monoxide detector activation.
· Two hundred block of Clark Street — unintentional alarm.
· Two hundred block of Clark Street — system malfunction.
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
· Three hundred block of North Avenue East — spill on roadway.
· Eight hundred block of Bradford Avenue — animal rescue.
· Seven hundred block of Lamberts Mill Road — gas leak.
· One hundred block of Kent Place — unintentional alarm.
· One hundred block of Kent Place — system malfunction.
· Eleven hundred block of Prospect Street — brush fire.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
· Nine hundred block of Summit Avenue — animal rescue.
· Two hundred block of Kimball Avenue — system malfunction.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
· Four hundred block of Longfellow Avenue — lock out.
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
· A Trek bicycle valued at approximately $850 was reported stolen from a garage on Tice Place.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
· A Barchester Way resident reported that someone fired paint balls at his house.
FRIDAY, MAY 1
· A resident of Dorian Road reported that a blank check belonging to her was stolen and used to purchase $663 worth of items from a supermarket in Warren. The victim told police she believed the check was stolen from her home.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
· Sue Doro, 52, of Clark and Nelina Girgis, 67, of Union were arrested and
charged with shoplifting more than $100 worth of clothing each from a North Avenue department store, according to police. Each of the women was released after posting $275 bail.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
· Francisco Arencibia, 30, of Elizabeth was arrested on South Avenue and charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and with possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, authorities said. He was held in lieu of $500 bail.
MONDAY, MAY 4
· Police reported that lawn lights at a condominium complex on Prospect Street were damaged through criminal mischief.
· Four hundred block of East Broad Street — gasoline spill.
· Eleven hundred block of Prospect Street — brush fire.
FRIDAY, MAY 1
· Four hundred block of East Broad Street — gasoline spill.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
· Four hundred block of Grove Street — electrical short.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
· Three hundred block of Benson Place — carbon monoxide detector activation.
Recent Home Sales WESTFIELD
J. A. Pinto to Rui and Rosa Lopes, 11 Trails End, $385,000.
I. and Y. Shinkai to Joseph and Linda Shea, 1101 Prospect Street, $395,000.
M. Hertz, Trust, to David and Joanne Womelsdorf, 207 Sinclair Place, $443,000.
P. E. and D. M. Kritsch to Christa J. Clarke and E. Brendan Magrab, 437 East Dudley Avenue, $446,000.
Estate of D. H. Dughi to Edward Dulinski, 511 Topping Hill Road, $273,000.
R. J. and L. B. Mikovits to Kathryn A. Specht, 260 Walnut Street, Unit No. 4, $189,000.
R. W. Besho to S. Christian Real Estate Company, LLC, 229 Charles Street, $240,000.
R. W. Walsh to Michael and Jacqueline Costello, 2 Folkstone Drive, $235,000.
J. F. Siniski, Jr. to James S. and Lugenia G. Barden to 231 Windsor Avenue, $67,000.
B. B. and M. M. Ruttle to Michael G. and Melissa M. Maher, 400 West Grove Street, $266,000.
J. R. and D. R. Skolnick to Scott and Lois Kraus, 858 Nancy Way, $379,000.
R. G. and J. M. Denman to Donald Im and Deborah Weiss, 862 Carleton Road, $233,000.
J. D. and Marti B. Irving to John C. Molinelli and Donna R. Varano, 932 Grandview Avenue, $210,000.
S. Scioscia to Mitchell C. and Hope Behrens, 2180 Bayberry Lane, $288,000.
R. J. Pang and May J. Soohoo to Margaraet A. Payne, 629 Norwood Drive, $177,500. The Town Council has already included
$7,500 in this year's municipal budget to pay a portion of the salary for a full- time coordinator who will be required for the local program.
Mayor Thomas C. Jardim said the next step in the process will be preparation of the town's grant application and completing a plan for preservation of the neighborhood.
Part of the application phase will require demographic information which, the Mayor noted, will be collected sometime this summer. The application is expected to be filed by November.
Neighborhood Council Vice Chairwoman Mary Withers, a 29- year resident of Cacciola Place, said she was "so pleased to see that this area is really blossoming into a viable community" through continued improvements in the area.
Mayor Jardim said that with the preservation program, the town has decided "to take a step" towards improving the neighborhood.
"I think we're going in the right direction. We've taken the first couple of steps now to really reinvigorate the area that is included in this Neighborhood Preservation zone," he said.
"This is our neighborhood. This is something that we are proud of and this is an effort we are not going to stop until we get some good results — some safer and cleaner streets and better curbs and sidewalks," he further stated.
The Mayor encouraged residents of Cacciola Place and the surrounding neighborhood to wear T- shirts with the Westfield Neighborhood Preservation Program emblem on them, in an effort to say to the rest of the town, "that this is our neighborhood."
As part of the program, the Westfield Department of Public Works recently planted four new trees in the area.
First Ward Councilwoman Gail S. Vernick said she was "delighted to see the first visible sign of the Neighborhood Preservation with the planting of these trees."
The councilwoman said that as a member of the governing body, she looks forward to continuing to work with the Neighborhood Council and the Preservation Committee on the "modification changes that the area needs to have done."
Union County Freeholder Lewis Mingo., Jr., of Plainfield, congratulated those involved with the preservation grants effort, noting that "you're not just sitting by waiting for a handout. You're getting together and making something happen on your own."
Harold Cohen, Chairman of the Neighborhood Council, said he believes
the preservation program, "will serve to elevate neighborhood selfesteem. This is a neighborhood of basically poor people."
He said people of the community "have never felt themselves a part of the real process."
The Neighborhood Council provides a number of other programs which benefit the immediate area, including tutoring and literacy programs.
The Council's building on Cacciola Place has also been chosen as the local networking Internet spot for the New Jersey Department of Labor. This enables those in the community to browse the Internet for job opportunities listed by the state.
Mr. Cohen said the town's preservation plan would, in essence, "lift up all these neighborhoods so they don't look as they are neglected and they'd (feel) more of part the town."
Terrence P. Schrider, the administrator of the state program, has previously told The Westfield Leader that generally, a town included in the program will receive a minimum of $85,000 a year, with no more than 20 percent of that amount going to the local program coordinator.
Areas included in the program are those that are threatened but which still remain viable. In its application, Westfield will have to demonstrate that the proposed neighborhood can show positive signs of improvement within three to five years, which is the length of the program.
Most of the funds, Mr. Schrider indicated, usually are given to property owners living on low to moderate incomes.
ances than the Planning Board would be willing to give them," she stated. "It's an awfully long and narrow property."
"A pocket park would be a nice use for the property," she said, noting that the park would probably be more popular with workers in the downtown than with the residential community — especially on weekdays.
Freeholder Mary Ruotolo, a resident of Westfield, said she will be happy to see the site cleaned up, noting the location will become an "attractive entrance to the town" along North Avenue.
In addition to the $100,000 grant, Westfield will receive $17,500 to renovate the playground of the former Lincoln School on Westfield Avenue. The school is currently leased to the Union County Educational Services Commission as a high school for emotionally disturbed youths.
The Westfield Board of Education is presently involved in negotiations concerning a proposal to lease the playground to the town.
Scotch Plains will receive an additional $25,000 to renovate Green Forest Park. Fanwood and Mountainside will be granted $25,000 apiece for the creation of a passive park at 130 Watson Road and for the renovation of Sawmill Road Field, respectively.
Freeholder Sullivan said he was not surprised by the number of applications filed with the county, noting that the county "made the program attractive enough that the municipalities would all participate."
Due to the overwhelming response to the program, Union County Manager Michael J. Lapolla, of Westfield, said he doubted that additional funds would be available for a second budget cycle for the program this year. The original amount the county had appropriated was $1 million.
"The response was overwhelming. We never do anything that gets all 21 towns to respond," he said.
Freeholder Sullivan said that, with the level of participation in the program, "it would have been difficult to turn anyone down" had the Freeholders stayed with their original appropriation.
Other communities receiving matching funding include: Berkeley Heights, $13,000 for the renovation of the Columbus Avenue ball fields; Clark, $50,000, for renovating Bienco and Bartell Parks; Cranford, $125,000, for renovation of tennis courts, Lincoln Park, a soccer field and the Cranford Recreation and Community Center; Elizabeth, $125,000, for renovation of Drotar and Brophy Fields, the Mickey Walker Playground and the North Elizabeth Little League Field.
Also receiving grants are: Garwood, $20,000, for the renovation of the Garwood Memorial Little League Field; Hillside, $50,000, for the creation of a pocket park at 211 Hillside Avenue and the renovation of Sanford Park; Kenilworth, $44,250, to renovate the Dimario, 16th Street, 18th Street and Roosevelt Avenue Parks; Linden, $125,000, for renovation of Buchanan Street, Hagel Avenue, Al Kalla, Lexington Avenue and Sixth Ward Parks; Mountainside, $25,000, for the renovation of Oakwood Park; Plainfield, $125,000, for the acquisition and creation of a pocket park at 219- 223 East Front Street, and renovation of the Mathewson Playground, and Rahway, $125,000, for the acquisition and creation of a pocket park at the front of the Rahway Train Station, and for the renovation of municipal property opposite the Union County Arts Center.
Other towns included in the program are: Roselle, $125,000, to renovate Poplar Street, Home Terrace, Grove Street, Cristiani Street and Pine Street Parks; Roselle Park, $10,000, for renovation of Lomonaco/ Perry Park; Springfield, $39,000, for renovations at Irwin, Ruby, Denham, Alvin, Chrisholm, Sandmeier, Trivett, Smithfield, Cohn and Laurel Parks; Summit, $120,000, to acquire and upgrade a Glenside Avenue property and for the renovation of the Jefferson Avenue Playground; Union, $50,000, for the renovation of Teener League and Samuel Rabkin Fields, and Winfield Park, $12,500, for the renovation of park property adjacent to the Winfield Community Center.
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Westfield Receives Grant To Create Park at Diner Site
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Effort Launched to Secure Funds For Preservation
ents had commended Mrs. LaCarrubba for "stressing self esteem, mutual respect, and making learning fun through creative activities."
During her speech before the packed auditorium, Mrs. LaCarrubba stated that she was honored to receive an award in Dr. Philhower's name, and thanked all the members of the Board of Education for Tuesday night's presentation and reception at the board meeting.
She also thanked the Rotarians for her award, as well as the many parents who wrote letters on her behalf, and thanked her family for their continued support in her career.
Mrs. LaCarrubba also expressed her pride in working for the Westfield school system. She said "My husband and I have three children who attended Westfield schools, and have said that they were well prepared to face the challenges of the colleges which they attended."
Mrs. LaCarrubba concluded by saying that "teaching in America is a job for which an educator can be filled with awe, because almost all Americans' lives have been impacted by teachers. Because of our system of public education, most Americans have spent many years working with teachers."
Mrs. LaCarrubba had received her award at the Rotary Club luncheon held on April 21, where she was the guest of honor. She will be honored again on Wednesday, May 27, at the Union County Breakfast for Outstanding Teachers.
In other business, six students from Franklin Elementary School's "Marvelous Mentors" team gave a presentation of their winning Odyssey of the Mind competition performance that earned them a first place title at the regional and state levels.
According to Leslie Lewis, spokeswoman for Odyssey of the Mind for Westfield Schools and the Parent Teacher Organization's advisor to the program, the eight- minute performance had to be a problem- solving effort by the six students.
Odyssey of the Mind officials had assigned these students a problem of creating a humorous performance about an ad agency commissioned to make a commercial about a nutritional product.
"The script, costumes, props and performances came from the work of the students," said Mrs. Lewis. "The coaches are just facilitators."
The group consists of students Amanda Gross, Barrett Newell, Elissa Niemiera, Mathew Delaney, Adam Subhas, Martin Paul and coaches Joanie and Matthew Niemiera.
This group will compete on May 27 in an international Odyssey of the Mind competition in Orlando, Florida.
The non- profit group helps to foster creative and problem- solving skills for students in Kindergarten through college. Working under the guidance of coaches, teams of five to seven students develop solutions to problems and compete annually.
Odyssey of the Mind has member schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and many countries.
In other business, Dr. Foley advised the board of his recommendation to eliminate one Assistant Principal position in the high school in order to put some additional staffing at the elementary school level.
According to Dr. Foley, there has been a recent drop in student enroll ment at the high school level, while
the number of students attending grammar schools has increased by 552 students since 1989.
Dr. Foley had proposed to add one additional support teacher for the elementary schools, and one additional technician for the elementary school computer stations to accommodate a significant increase in computer work stations.
He had also introduced ideas for reorganization of staffing, including creating a position at the high school for a department head for special education, and appointing the existing Basic Skills Coordinator as an Elementary Curriculum Coordinator.
Dr. Foley stated that there is also currently a search for a replacement for Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, as well as for a Kindergarten through grade 8 Math Coordinator.
Scott Cutro of Oak Avenue, a senior at Westfield High School, asked the board for its opinion about how the eliminated position will impact the students at the high school.
Dr. Foley acknowledged that it will be a loss for high school students, especially because with a lower enrollment, students benefit from personal contact, but that he needed to address the additional staffing needs of the elementary schools.
The superintendent added that enrollment at the high school is expected to increase again in about four or five years.
In other business, Board Vice President Ginger Hardwick brought the first reading of the proposed Holocaust/ Genocide Curriculum for grades Kindergarten through 12 to other board members.
According to Ms. Hardwick, the curriculum is infused, and therefore is worked into such curriculum components as language arts, social studies and health classes. It is a curriculum that is geared towards prejudice reduction and is required by the state.
New board member Eileen Satkin stated that she was glad to see such a curriculum in place, since she was a child of two Holocaust survivors. She said she also wanted to see the curriculum outline specific history classes that will teach it because of it being an infused curriculum.
Board member Arlene Gardner was also enthused about the curriculum, stating "I hope we can get this curriculum in place by September."
Alice Hunnicutt of Stanley Oval stated that in teaching tolerance, the board should not forget the 450,000 people with cognitive disabilities who she claimed are put into institutions because of intolerance.
Beverly Grant of Prospect Street, the Press Secretary for the group Concerned African- American Parents of Westfield, said she wanted the board to include in the curriculum slavery issues.
She pointed out that AfricanAmerican slaves were people who were captured like animals in their native lands. She also stressed the importance of teaching students about the experiences of 70 million Indians during the history of the United States.
She stated that, just as students need to learn about what happened during the Holocaust, they need to learn about what happened to people in their own country. She concluded that not until then "can we all live in harmony."
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Mrs. LaCarrubba Honored; Staff Changes Proposed
the type and size of the plantings to be made between the fence and the top of the retaining wall, as well as the landscape plan modifications.
The Capuanos also agreed that the planing plan would be approved and all plantings would be in the ground by Monday, November 30, and that they would change the color of the stain for the wall to a color acceptable to the neighbors.
In other business, the application for the minor subdivision of 1310 Prospect Street has been withdrawn. According to William S. Jeremiah, 2nd, the board's attorney, there are currently no applications pending for this subdivision.
The application of Bronx Realty, LLC (formerly Video Video), located
at 184 Elm Street, has been postponed at the applicant's request until the Monday, June 1, meeting.
The applicant is seeking approval for a second story addition with an atrium at the rear of the building, and wants to continue use of office space in the basement.
The meeting concluded with the board reconvening in the conference room to discuss the Master Plan. This Master Plan, according to Mr. Jeremiah, must be evaluated every six years by the Planning Board.
During the evaluation process, the board examines all zoning laws and related issues deemed necessary by board members. The agenda for Monday night's portion of the review included residential and community facilities.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Planning Board Memorializes Woman's Club Subdivision
the operating budget includes only a one- year outlook on spending, with the capital budget not much better — projecting only two years into the future.
Mr. Echausse recommended approval of a long- term bond now rather than waiting until the outstanding debt on the Westfield Memorial Library bond, issued in the mid- 1980s, is paid off.
The commission also determined that the council's long- range planning efforts may be impaired by the two- year terms of council members.
The commission recommends terms of three years with a non- partisan format. It also suggests that the council include at- large seats — persons who would represent the entire town, not just individual wards.
Mr. Echausse suggested the council set up a commission to review the Town Charter, which has not been looked at in three decades. Mayor Jardim, through his memo, is seeking the appointment of a non- partisan group to review the "pros and cons" of such an action.
The current Town Charter, which assigns policy- making duties to the council and administrative powers to the employees, has been intact since 1967. Prior to that, the council had the dual role of approving and then implementing its own policies. At that time there was no Town Administrator, although an administrative assistant was on the payroll.
In order to change the Town Charter, Mr. Gottko said the council would have to petition the state Legislature. The recommendation would have to be approved through legislation which would have to be signed by the Governor, and then approved by voters through a referendum. The ordinance would take effect immediately.
In 1961, voters rejected an attempt to switch to what is defined as a "strong Mayor, weak council" form of government.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Janis Fried Weinstein said she supports the current system, noting that it enables voters to oust elected representatives every two years if they choose. She said this serves "to keep us on the ball."
Among the other WERC recommendations is that all departments submit annual reports with "specific goals, mainly centered on how to run their department more efficiently," according to the commission's report.
WERC also said council liaisons should meet with department heads
on at least a quarterly basis to evaluate departmental goals and ways to improve efficiency.
In other business, First Ward Councilman Gregory S. McDermott said a demonstration of a sidewalk sweeper, known as the "The Clean Machine," will be held this afternoon Thursday, May 7, at 12: 30 p. m. in the downtown. The machine, weighing 800 pounds, is diesel powered with a quiet engine.
Resembling a "space- age jet ski with brushes," Mr. McDermott said the machine pulverizes glass bottles, shreds aluminum cans and picks up animal waste, grease, cigarette butts and other garbage, and shoots it into standard plastic garbage bags. Sidewalks are also disinfected by the machine.
Third Ward Councilman Neil F. Sullivan, Jr., noted that a public hearing will be held at 8 p. m. tonight and at 7: 30 p. m. on Wednesday, May 20, in the Community Room of the Municipal Building to address parking issues in the downtown.
Noting that spaces at the Westfield Train Station have opened up with the completion of renovations by NJ Transit, he said the Transportation, Parking and Traffic Committee, which he chairs, is looking for public input at these forums.
Surveys will be sent to all parking permit holders and to those on a list for permits in order to evaluate alternate parking locations or even a shuttle bus service to and from the station.
The council approved two requests from the Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the first of which approves the closing of Prospect Street from North Avenue to East Broad Street on Saturdays throughout the month of May as part of the "Artists Celebrate Westfield" ongoing promotion.
Also, a last ditch effort to hold Westfield's annual "Spring Fling" street fair, which has been rained out twice, has been approved for Sunday, May 31. Due to time constraints of the event's promoter, Advertising Alliance, there will be no rain date if weather does not cooperate this time around.
Also, the council has been informed that the rain site for the Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series has been changed from Cranford High School to Temple Emanu- El on East Broad Street in Westfield. The concerts are held Wednesday nights in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.
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