Crossing Guards Recognized and Thanked

Against the backdrop of discussions regarding their future in town, Westfield's crossing guards gathered in the Municipal Building Friday morning to be honored for their contributions to the town.

The annual BRAKES crossing guard recognition ceremony brought together crossing guards from all ten schools, along with parents, school administrators and town officials to celebrate the work of the guards. The ceremony was started as part of the group's work to promote pedestrian safety in town.

"A big part of our work is getting people to know what the crossing guards do," BRAKES Chairwoman Deirdre Gelinne said.

Councilwoman Joann Neylan, the chairwoman of the public safety committee, thanked the crossing guards for their work and noted that she sees many around town during the day. Neylan took time to address the current discussions regarding the future of crossing guards in Westfield. Neylan's committee and the Council's finance committee are currently studying the amount of crossing guards in town as part of the development of the town budget.

Neylan reiterated previous Council discussions that it is not known if any crossing guards will be laid off as a part of the new budget. Westfield currently has 57 crossing guard posts, the most of any town in Union County. She said it is a decision that the Council does not want to make, noting that all town staff posts are being discussed to make up for decreasing revenue.

"The honest truth is we can't have any answers right now," Neylan said. "This is a difficult economy and there will be cuts across the board, not just crossing guards. Any decision that has to be made will not be made lightly."

While some were discussing the future of crossing guards in Westfield, others spent the time celebrating the work the crossing guards do. All of the crossing guards received a certificate of appreciation for their work, presented by Neylan, along with their current pay check. Town officials in attendance said they were excited to take part in the ceremony.

"It is an inspiring day for me," Board of Education member Ginny Leiz said. "It is one of the most rewarding experiences I have annually. I love to celebrate the sense of community and spirit our crossing guards bring to our town. This is an example of a village coming together for its people."