80% of Westfield Voters Pass Roof Bond Referendum

The Westfield school district will now receive a tax break of $2.7 million from funds allotted to the remaining roof repairs that will begin during the summer of 2014, now that residents have voted ‘Yes’ on public question #3 on Tuesday’s ballot, according to official results from the Westfield clerk.

The results show 6,329 voters answered ‘yes’ on the public question, while 1,529 voted ‘no’.

Back in May, Gov. Chris Christie announced that state aid is available to fund school construction projects. The district immediately prepared applications for the remaining roof projects and the state has approved those applications, which amount to approximately 40 percent of the cost of the remaining roof bonds. 

Westfield voters approved a $6,684,000 referendum in December and the referendum voted for on Tuesday will serve as a tax reduction for residents.

For the Board of Education elections, three uncontested incumbents, Mitchell Slater, Ginny Leiz and Brendan Gilligan, will serve additional three-year terms.

Slater received 3,789 votes, Galligan, 3,581 and Liez with 3,575.

Board challenger, Jonathan Blitt, withdrew his candidacy earlier this year, stating, "I will commit to run for a position on the board as soon as I can give it the time and dedication that it requires."