Westfield Town Council Approves Purchase of Mobile Command Center

At Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, Westfield Police Chief David Wayman and Lt. Chris Battiloro presented Mayor Andy Skibitsky, each Town Council member and Town Administrator Jim Gildea with a Hurricane Sandy Service bar and a Hurricane Sandy service certificate for “exemplary service performed during the state of emergency caused by Hurricane Sandy.”

Skibitsky stated that the acknowledgement was “unexpected” and that it was “nice to be recognized.” He also said the recent Westfield Police Department Awards Ceremony will be televised next year, as “The awards these officers have won [is] really quite amazing.” 

Additionally, two representatives from H&R Block, located on 301 South Ave. East, offered tax-paying expertise to Westfield residents. For over 100 years, lawyers and agents at H&R Block who specialize in tax laws have assisted citizens with their tax returns, according to the representatives.

Two primary services they offered are a free 1040 EZ for students as well as anyone else who qualifies, and a free second look, even if the taxes are already paid. They stated that in one-third of the cases that they look at they find that laws have been misapplied and there is money due back to the taxpayer.

H&R Block professionals will also review business tax returns, as well as those of partnerships. To contact H&R Block, call, (908)-232-6648.

Sally Brown from the Westfield Community Players on North Ave notified the town as to the Players’ current production, by David Auburn, a Pulitzer Prize winner, directed by Steve Lemenille.

According to Brown, 'Proof' is about a young woman who has inherited the math genius of her deceased father, but is concerned about her future and whether or not she has also inherited his unstable personality. 

The Players, who are all volunteers, perform four productions every year. To purchase a season pass or tickets, which cost $20 each, call 908-232-1221 or visit http://www.westfieldcommunityplayers.org/.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Karen Egert, president of NJ Residents for Action Against Gun Violence, voiced her shock and disappointment over the mayor’s recent letter in the Westfield Leader responding to a letter written by Councilman in which he urged Skibitsky to join Mayors Against Illegal Guns. 

Stated Egert: “Last month I was very pleased and impressed with some of the things that the mayor started out with about how we all have an obligation to listen to each other… and to state [our] opinions in a respectful manner… Whether or not the mayor agrees with [the] issue [of illegal gun control,] is something that he certainly has a right to present his position on. But I don’t think that it’s really becoming of the mayor to make it into a personal attack.”

With Egert was Lori Bennett who also asked Skibitsky once again to join Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Maria Carluccio and Adina Enculescu also continued to request that the Town Council relocate the Central Avenue stoplight. Enclescu stated that over 122 petitioners—not only from Westfield—as well as a number of people at the Town Council meetings, have asked that the stoplight be relocated, but stated that the mayor doesn’t think about the issue. “You (the mayor) say you listen to residents—you don’t listen!” she said. 

According to Enculescu, her neighbor sold his house and lost $50,000 in property value due to the stoplight being there. 

Said Carluccio: “What I can’t wrap my arms around is how all of you, sans Haas, can be so intellectually dishonest… Where do you teach your kids to cross? At the intersection…If we can’t trust you to make the elementary decision as to where to put a stoplight, how can we trust you to make the big decisions?”

Councilman Sam Della Fera introduced Special Ordinance No. 2180, which is a bond ordinance that would allow for various public improvements and the purchase of new machinery, specifically a mobile command center that was recently displayed at the Armory for officials from around the state, who, according to Della Fera, gave a lot of positive feedback and inquired about purchasing it.

“We need to be ready (for emergencies like Sandy) and the people of Westfield expect us to be ready. With this equipment we can be ready,” said Della Fera.  

In an email to Patch, Della Fera noted that of the $360,000 authorized by the ordinance, roughly $75,000 is allocable to the Department of Public Works' generator and the balance to the "M-SOC and related components."