Central and Clover Light Evaluation Continues

Analysis of the pedestrian activated stoplight on Central Avenue remains ongoing in the .

Town officials made the announcement during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, when questioned by resident Adina Enclescu, who owns the property where the light was placed. Enclescu questioned the Council do to 90 days passing since the light became operational. Mayor Andy Skibitsky said the town would analyze the light’s placement after the 90-day period expired.

Town Administrator Jim Gildea said the police department is conducting the analysis, but did not say what the time frame is for the analysis. Clarifying a question from Enclescu, he said the Council’s public safety committee is not involved in the analysis process.

Enclescu and her neighbor, Maria Carluccio, have been lobbying the Council since September for the moving of the light from Enclescu’s front lawn to the nearby intersection of Central and Clover. Enclescu kept referring to the project as a town generated project, which Gildea objected to, saying the town made recommendations to the county, which approved the final location of the stoplight.

“If you read the letter and the attached map, the town’s recommendation was to put the light away from your home and put it between your house and Mrs. Lojo’s house,” Gildea said of a letter from the town to county engineering officials. “The county recommended the final location. The county had a separate engineering come in and make a recommendation.”

Enclescu and her allies have said the final decision of the light’s location was made by town officials and have requested that the town bring traffic safety consultant Gordon Meth in to speak to residents about the light. Greg Kasko, an Enclescu ally, has offered to pay for Meth to speak to the Council, an offer Skibitsky has declined.

“You asked the county to execute this project in front of my house,” Enclescu said.

Enclescu also asked the Council if anything else was planned for the area around the light. She said white stripes were painted in the street recently in front of her house.

“It is like I have a business that the Council of Westfield wants to advertise,” Enclescu said. “I want to ask if I have any more surprises to wait for, Mr. Ciarrocca.”

Councilman Mark Ciarrocca, serving as acting mayor, referred the question to Gildea. Ciarrocca, who represents the third ward, has been a frequent target for questions from Enclescu and her allies. Ciarrocca served as public safety committee chairman when the Central Avenue project was designed and he has been an advocate for the new traffic safety measures on Central, including an additional light between Sycamore and the Clark town line. Kasko is challenging Ciarrocca’s bid for a third term in the November election, with Democratic nominee Matt Sontz being the third candidate for the seat.

Gildea said he has asked the county for an update on any future developments with the area in front of Enclescu’s house

“I am not aware that the project is done, the striping that you refer to was done yesterday,” he said. “They indicated to us that they are doing striping and I asked them for an update.”