Politics & Government

Westfield Town Council Hears From Cable Provider, Residents Debate Light

Letter carriers accept food donations, residents debate Central Avenue stoplight.

Mayor Andy Skibitsky was in attendance at Tuesday evening's Westfield Town Council meeting after recovering from an illness that prevented him from attending the previous meeting held on April 24. 

Skibitsky, who was welcomed back by several residents, began the meeting by announcing that on Saturday, May 12, the National Association of Letter Carriers will be holding its annual food collection. Westfield letter carriers will pick up food items for donation to the  

The mayor noted that this marks the 20th year that the town's letter carriers have participated in the food drive. Canned food and other non-perishables can be left on doorsteps for carriers to collect.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As the Town of Westfield is in the process of negotiating its cable franchise agreement with Comcast, New Jersey's largest cable service provider, Charles Smith, Comcast's director of government and regulatory affairs for Northern New Jersey, introduced himself to the Council and was on hand to answer questions from the public, of which there were none. 

Town Administrator Jim Gildea said he and several others will be working on the new franchise agreement with Smith from now until November.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Westfield residents Greg Kasko and Adina Enculescu both spoke before the Council regarding the controversial Central Avenue pedestrian activated stoplight. Kasko, looking for clarification on how the light ended up being moved from its proposed location at the intersection of Central Avenue and Clover Street, asked Skibitsky if he knew who attached the sketch of the light at its midblock location to Westfield's Consulting Engineer Gordon Meth's report. Meth had indicated that he did not draw it. Skibitsky answered that someone in Meth's firm was responsible for the drawing.

Kasko also asked why Cambridge Road was turned into a cul-de-sac, to reduce cut through traffic, if the light was not intended to be placed at the intersection.

Skibitsky said he had already covered that "'100 times." He added that he would not continue to answer questions that he'd already answered. Kasko said he will continue to seek answers. 

Enculescu once again asked the Council to reconsider its position on the placement of the light as she feels it is unsafe for children, pedestrians and motorists. The Central Avenue resident stated that there have been more accidents in the past 21 months since the light's installation began, than in the previous eight years.

"I support the current location," Skibitsky said. 

"If a mistake was done, it must be corrected," Enculescu said.

Residents Tony DelDuca and Dan Lynch both spoke before the Council, stating that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result" and that the recurring light discussions "border on the absurd."

"We have a lot more pressing issues,"  said Lynch.

Skibitsky assured them that less than one percent of his time is devoted to the Central Avenue stoplight.


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