While expressing support for the Westfield Neighborhood Council's desire to raise money, the Town Council said there are concerns with the WNC's proposed new and exotic car show planned for April.

The WNC has asked the town for permission to use the South Avenue train station parking lot on a Sunday in April to host a one day car show, with the following Sunday set aside for a rain date. The town has already granted the Downtown Westfield Corporation permission to host a two day car show in the same location in October. There has not been a similar event in Westfield in several years, since the Chamber of Commerce canceled similar car shows in the downtown. 

Council members expressed concern about the WNC hosting an event similar to the DWC's planned event, when it is not known how successful the downtown agency's event will be. The Council said they support the need of the WNC to raise money.

"My concern is the DWC will do it in October and we approved it," Councilman Mark Ciarrocca said. "I am concerned of another organization coming in and doing it."

Members said it would be interesting to see what type of response the downtown agency will be getting and it is not known how much preparation work the WNC has done for their proposed car show. The DWC was forced to delay their planned car show for last October by a year based on the amount of time needed to properly planned event.

The Council adopted Mayor Andy Skibitsky's suggestion that the town approach the DWC is find out if the proposed WNC car show could have a negative impact on the DWC show. Councilman Frank Arena, a member of the DWC board, said he can see benefits of having both shows since the downtown agency could learn from the neighborhood council's event.

The Town Council earlier this year approved a request from the neighborhood council to expand from two to three street fairs this year. The proposed car show would be the groups fourth large fundraiser for the year. The neighborhood council's main sources of revenue have been the street fairs since the United Fund of Westfield stopped providing an annual grant. A social services agency for the Cacciola neighborhood, the WNC sponsors an annual summer camp, an after school program and a pre Thanksgiving Party. The group has been struggling financially since the United Fund's decision several years ago and had to suspend the summer camp for several years.

The DWC car show was one of the more contentious issues in 2009 before the Council. The Council originally leaned agains the proposal, citing concerns about sponsoring a two day miniture version of the New York International Auto Show which could look like a used car lot. The DWC said they were sponsoring the show to help the auto industry in the wake of the drop in auto purchases over the last several years. The final decision was adopted over the strong objections of Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins who noted the used car lot thoughts regarding the car show.

"It's tacky," Kimmins said at the time about the DWC's show.

Kimmins, who represents part of Cacciola, was quiet during the discussion about the WNC's proposal.

Councilwoman Joann Neylan, who represents part of the Cacciola neighborhood, said that she would like to see if the WNC and DWC would be interested in working together on the proposed car show. She noted that she would like to see the WNC be able to raise money for their programs.

"People may think it is the same thing and if it doesn't work the first time, it will hurt the second time," Neylan said. "The person who came first should have the first bite of the apple."