Cockren Honored for 25 Years of Service

It may not have been a gold watch, but former Town Attorney Robert Cockren was honored for a quarter century in Westfield government.

Cockren, who retired in April, was recognized by the Town Council last week for his decade as town attorney and previous 15 year stint as attorney for the Board of Adjustment. Cockren was first appointed to the town attorney’s post in 2002 by former Mayor Greg McDermott and reappointed by Mayor Andy Skibitsky.

“It was his loyalty and deep respect for the town that defined him,” Skibitsky said.

Cockren started with the town in January 1986 when he was appointed by the Council to serve as the Board of Adjustment’s attorney, a post he held until his January 2002 appointment by McDermott as the town attorney. Cockren was long active in Westfield Republican politics, including serving as the town’s Republican chairman.

McDermott, who resigned in 2005 and relocated from Westfield to Bernards Township, returned to Town Hall to honor the man he said brought him to the mayoralty. McDermott said Cockren approached the then first ward councilman in 2000 to run to succeed Mayor Tom Jardim. Following McDermott’s election, Cockren would give up the Republican chairmanship to accept the town attorney appointment.

“I remember looking at you if you had three different heads,” McDermott said when Cockren approached him about running for mayor. “I appreciate the service you did for me as mayor. As mayor I could always trust you. You care so much for this town.”

Members of the Town Council joined in the tribute to Cockren.

“I’ve worked with Bob on the Council and the Board of Adjustment,” Councilman Dave Haas said. “Bob certainly deserves the thanks of the town. I’ve never found him to give anything but good advice to whatever board I’m on.”

Councilman Jim Foerst cited Cockren’s work with the Council’s code review and town property committee, which Foerst chairs. Foerst noted that Cockren worked with the CRTP committee on redrafting the town’s land use codes, along with a variety of ordinances. The CRTP committee handles a variety of ordinances covering a range of policies from noise to land use.

Foerst said that he believes Cockren’s biggest achievement is helping institute the town’s quiet zone for the Rahway Avenue railroad crossing on the Clark town line. Foerst noted that Cockren worked for several years to institute the first quiet zone in New Jersey, including navigating arcane federal railroad laws and regulations. The quiet zone went into effect in 2009.

In addition to his political and legal roles in Westfield, Cockren has worked in both areas on a larger scale. He was the longtime state committeeman for the Union County Republican Party, a post he did not seek reelection to in 2009. Foerst succeeded him in the state committeeman post. Cockren has also served for a number of years as a trustee of Kean University, including a tenure as the board’s chairman.

Cockren remembered the changes in the town over the 25 years he served in municipal government. When Cockren started, many of the downtown’s stores were not similar to mall stores and the town’s housing stock was different, prior to the tear down period of the 1990s and early 2000s.

“At the same time, at it’s core, it is just what it was like 25 years ago,” Cockren said of Westfield.

Cockren also took time to thank Skibitsky and McDermott.

“I thank you both for the confidence you placed in me,” he said. “It is the job I always to do for a time. I am grateful to the both of you and the members of the governing body who supported me.”

Cockren is continuing to assist the Council with several pending cases, including the town’s pending litigation with the Sunnyside housing development regarding compliance with the state’s Council on Affordable Housing rules.

Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins delivered the most personal of the tributes to Cockren. 

“Bob, Cindy and I all lived in the same neighborhood raising our young children,” she said. “When I first decided to run for Council, Bob was the first to speak on my behalf. Thank you all you’ve done for the town.”