The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

Page A2 Thursday, April 15, 1999 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

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Mayor Samuel Asked To Replace Husband

On New Committee By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

SCOTCH PLAINS Scotch Plains Mayor Geri M. Samuel appointed a committee on Tuesday night to examine the processes and questions involved in directly electing the mayor of Scotch Plains.

The seven members of the panel are former Mayors and Council members Robert Johnston and Irene Schmidt; Mauro Checchio, Mary Jane Bergen, John Appezzato, Walter Chinoy and Dick Samuel, the Mayor's husband.

Republican Councilman Martin Marks expressed his displeasure that the Council had not been advised or consulted about the panel, its makeup and its specific duties.

Questioning the appointment of the Mayor's husband, Mr. Marks told Mrs. Samuel that, while Mr. Samuel is "a good man who cares about the town," the panel's recommendations "could have a direct impact on your tenure as Mayor."

Calling the appointment a "conflict of interest," Councilman Marks asked the Mayor to appoint someone else to the committee.

"I don't have a problem with (Mr. Samuel's) political affiliation, but with his marital affiliation," Councilman Marks said.

But Township Attorney Andrew Baron said the Mayor has the right to appoint anyone she wishes.

The recent public discord among Council members brought a plea from Township Democratic Chairman Walter Boright, who called on the five members "to work together."

Watching the council meetings on television, he said, "has been" a disappointment. The tenor of the comments (among members of the council) are not appropriate for this community."

His comments were echoed by a township resident, who called the

chambers to say "the biting and sniping on both sides is not acceptable."

In other business, the council received recommendations on possible roadway work for this year. They include Washington Avenue, Cliffwood Street/Shalom Way, Kramer Manor Park's parking lot, Rolling Peaks, Heather Lane, Forest Road (from Bartle to Grand), Cushing Road, Aberdeen Road (from Highlander to Sunnyfield), Coles Avenue (from Henry Street to Westfield Road), Birch Street, Fenimore Drive and Municipal Parking Lot No. 1 downtown.

In other matters, the council announced that the new municipal Treasurer, William Polidore, took up his new post this week.

Mayor Samuel proclaimed April as Barbershop Harmony Month, and the Rahway Valley Jerseyaires Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America performed for the council.

The Mayor also issued a proclamation encouraging residents to respond generously to the Scotch Plains and Fanwood Knights of Columbus fundraising drive on Friday through Sunday, April 23 to 25.

Lastly, the Mayor proclaimed the week of April 18 to 24 as Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.

Separately, the council approved a resolution calling on the State Legislature to secure funding that would enable towns to acquire thermal-imaging cameras with heat-seeking technology, which would allow firefighters to see through dense smoke.

The council's next meeting, during which the 1999 budget will be discussed, will be held on Tuesday, April 27.

Ex-Councilman Named To Sewerage Authority

By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

MOUNTAINSIDE Longtime Mountainside resident and former Councilman Bart A. Barre was appointed Tuesday night as Mountainside Borough's representative to the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority (RVSA).

Mr. Barre, an attorney with his own practice in Mountainside, was the borough's recipient of the Mabel Young Good Neighbor Award on December 1 of last year.

He has served on the borough's Planning Board and Board of Adjustment as well as holding previous positions on the Board of Education such as Finance Chair and Vice President.

Currently, he serves as a volunteer to mediate for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

According to Borough Administrator Gregory Bonin, the RVSA will vote on the acceptance of Mountainside as a full member of the Authority at this evening's, Thursday, April 15, monthly RVSA meeting.

Mr. Bonin also reported that the membership cost the borough $307,000.

Other member municipalities to the Authority include, Scotch Plains, Westfield, Cranford, Garwood, Woodbridge, Rahway, Clark, Springfield, Kenilworth and Roselle Park.

In other business, discussion regarding the petition from residents who oppose the ordinance which would give the Mayor and council members salaries was postponed.

The ordinance passed in a four-toone vote back in February, gave sala

ries to both Mayor Robert F. Viglianti and Councilmen, as opposed to the unvouchered reimbursement system that was adopted the last year.

Almost 400 residents recently signed the petition asking that the ordinance be brought before the voters in the next election.

In other business, Mayor Viglianti opened up discussion to the council as to the possible merging of the borough's Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board.

According to the Mayor, small municipalities such as Mountainside have had the option of combining the two boards, but the idea was originally rejected by both the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment because of workloads.

The Mayor indicated that with 90 percent of Mountainside developed, it might be a good time to "revisit the idea." He noted, as well as members of council, that another meeting with the Chairmen of both boards would be a good idea to get their input on the possibility.

Both the Mayor and Council stated that the merging would be a sound financial decision for the borough, citing an estimated $40,000 which would be saved in processing and monies paid to another board secretary as well as an additional attorney as is the case with two boards.

In other business, the council voted to accept the shared services of a tax collector with the Town of Westfield. The change will be effective as of May 1.

Finally, the Mayor announced that a public hearing concerning the 1999 municipal budget will be held on Tuesday, April 20, at 8 p.m. The introduction of the $7.3 million budget was first introduced in March.

Westfield BOE Grapples With Possible Changes

In HS Grading Policy By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

WESTFIELD It was a matter of plusses and minuses and true meaning of the letter "C" for the Westfield School Board on Tuesday night as board members struggled with the configuration of the high school's grading policy.

In January, Principal of Westfield High School, Dr. Robert G. Petix, had reviewed a tentative grading policy with the school board.

While grading is considered "flat" in the high school, without a system of plusses or minuses, Dr. Petix proposed that the plus and minus system becomes part of the grading regimen for all grades with the exception of "A."

He also resolved that Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) students who achieve a "C" would not have that grade weighed. If a "C" was received, it was suggested that the student reevaluate their performance and consider being dropped from the Honors and Advanced Placement courses.

Dr. Petix researched the grading policies of 12 high schools throughout New Jersey and went as far as Minnesota. He later chose three different grading systems which were submitted to the school board for consideration.

The original grading policy had given an "A" to a student who received between a 90 and 100; a "B" for a grade between 80 and 89; a "C" for a mark between 70 and 79; a "D" for a grade between 65 and 69; and an "F" for marks between a 0 and 64.

Honors and AP students would be given an "A" or "B" for their academic efforts.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. William J. Foley revealed that he did not anticipate a definite change in the grading policy for the coming year, but did welcome open discussion on the topic.

He observed that the need for a change in grading was due to the 10point range of current grades being too large. For example, the span of 80 to 89 suggests that the grades are comparable when they are not. Another impetus was that students who were receiving "C's" in AP courses were not motivated to work to their fullest potential.

A Social Studies and AP United States History Teacher, Karen Stark, reported that numbered grading systems and a form of plusses without minuses were reviewed as possibilities as far back as 1989.

The argument regarding the weighing of a "C" was the focal point of the discussion. Ms. Stark maintained that her "C" students were not motivated to achieve "A's" or "B's" because they thought they were doing above average as a "C" student in an AP course.

"If you can't maintain an 'A' or 'B' in the course, you should think twice about being there," she said.

Dr. Petix added that if a student is earning a C in an AP course, "The kid just doesn't belong there to begin with."

Board Member Annmarie Puleio said that she struggled with a student being penalized for doing more work in an AP course but not keeping up.

Board Member Eileen Satkin added that although a student knows the rigorous expectations when signing up for AP courses, she would "hate to see that student who takes the risk (of taking the course) being penalized."

Board Member Arlene Gardner revealed that she felt the grading policy was too much of a focus instead of the needs of the student who is struggling to earn and "A" or "B" in an AP course.

Dr. Petix revealed that he has reviewed literature which is now considering the "C" grade to be below average.

"It's cultural," he stated regarding the current definition of the grade.