The Alternative Press

WESTFIELD, NJ - At its regular meeting this week, the Town Council again responded to issues regarding the Westfield Fire Department, among others.

After discussion, the council passed an ordinance regarding firefighter entrance exams in an effort to reduce the fees associated with them.

According to the ordinance, the fire chief will not be able to charge fees for entrance exams that exceed $75.

In other business:

Councilwoman Jo Ann Neylan updated the council on the status of the parking project at Westfield High School.

“I’m glad to report that all is going as planned,” she said, assuring the council that the project would be completed by the time students return to school in September.

Ross Katz, a member of New Jersey Transit’s Adopt-A-Station program, told the council about various improvements that could be made to the Westfield train station.

“There are certain things that need to be worked on,” Katz pointed out, including a roped-off staircase leading to a train and some unkempt shrubbery on the North Avenue side of the station.

“Our town is aesthetically pleasing,” Katz said, “and we want to make sure it stays that way.”

Residents Greg Kasko and Maria Carluccio spoke during the public comment session to again express their displeasure about the HAWK light on Central Avenue.

“People are not using the light,” Carluccio told the council, “and they say it’s because they don’t trust
it.” Carluccio called Councilman Sam Della Fera "rude" when he told her “I’ve safely crossed [the street] a
hundred times."

“For two years residents have approached this council about the light,” Kasko said. At Tuesday's meeting, another resident came to voice her opinion about the light.

“You’re governing Westfield on a part-time basis,” said the Cambridge Road resident, wondering
how the council does their job when “there have got to be so many things in [their] lives that take
precedence over Westfield.”

“What I know is what I see,” she said, “and what I see is that the timing [of the light] is so wrong and it doesn’t do the
job it was supposed to.”

Members of the Westfield High School Marching Band appeared before the council to make their first annual request for a fundraiser. Set to take place in early September, members of the band will be stationed in 24 locations across the downtown area to raise funds for a national competition in November.

The council approved the fundraiser request after many members reminisced about their high school experiences in marching band. This fundraiser will help parents offset the cost of the overnight trip to Annapolis, Maryland where the band will compete.

Scheduled for Saturday Sept. 8, the fundraiser will last from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The rain date for the event is Sept. 15. While no definitive plans were made, the Town Committee spoke of creating a poster for the fundraiser to be displayed in the Westfield train station.