Westfield Votes 2011

LoGrippo to Get Full Year's Pay for Half Year's Work

Appointed third ward councilman to receive full dollar.

Looks like Councilman Mark LoGrippo could go wild in the Dollar Store if he wanted to at the end of his six-month term. Town officials confirmed that the new third ward councilman, who was appointed by the Town Council to fill an unexpired term last month, will claim a full year’s salary. That’s right, LoGrippo will receive a full dollar for his term. Town Administrator Jim Gildea said that under past town precedent LoGrippo will receive a dollar check sometime during his term of office, instead of a prorated check for fifty cents. Gildea said he did not know when LoGrippo will receive the check, noting that Mayor Andy Skibitsky and the other eight council members who have served in 2011 have already received their paychecks for the year. …

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Neylan Appointed Acting Mayor

New appointments following Ciarrocca's departure take effect Dec. 31

JoAnn Neylan (R-2nd Ward) was appointed acting mayor of the Town Council, the biggest announcement of a series of changes Mayor Andy Skibitsky revealed at Tuesday night's meeting.  The changes became necessary after former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca resigned from the Council earlier this summer to become a state judge. Ciarrocca had been serving as both acting mayor and chair of the finance policy committee prior to his resignation. He was recently assigned to take the bench in family court in Union County. Neylan had been serving as interim acting mayor during the period between Ciarrocca's resignation and Skibitsky's announcement. Under the town charter, the acting mayor holds all of the mayor's powers in Skibitsky's absence. This …

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Councilman Haas Plays Musical Chairs

Ciarrocca judgeship moves Haas to senior side of the dais.

Hopefully Councilman Dave Haas doesn't have anything else to whisper to Councilmembers Vicki Kimmins and Keith Loughlin during Council meetings. Last month's departure of former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca to become a state judge, has elevated Haas from junior councilman in the third ward to senior councilman. The elevation gave Haas the right to play musical chairs on the Council dais, moving from the right - or junior - side to the left - or senior side. The junior and senior titles are purely based on seniority and are ceremonial. They do not convey any additional powers on a Council member. Councilman Mark LoGrippo - who succeeded Ciarrocca for a six-month term - took Haas' place on the junior side of the dais. Haas has long held the …

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Judge Ciarrocca Assigned to Family Court

Westfielder to hear domestic violence cases.

Superior Court Judge Mark Ciarrocca will be hearing family court cases in his new role. Ciarrocca, a former Westfield councilman, was sworn-in Tuesday afternoon to a seven-year term on the bench. He was nominated by Gov. Chris Christie in June for the judgeship. In his new role as a family court judges, Ciarrocca will hear cases regarding a range of family court issues, including domestic violence, child custody, child abuse, substance abuse and juvenile justice. The family court is considered one of the busiest parts of the judiciary in Union County and draws in a high number of judges. Family court is a traditional starting point for new judges in Union County. Three other Westfield judges - James Hely, Thomas Walsh and Robert Kirsch - …

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Judge Ciarrocca Takes the Bench

Former third ward councilman sworn-in to a state judgeship.

During a ceremony that mixed jokes with praise, Mark Ciarrocca donned a black robe and climbed the bench into his future. The former Westfield councilman was sworn-in Tuesday afternoon to a seven-year term as a state Superior Court judge in Union County. The ceremony, held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth, placed Ciarrocca center stage as his fellow judges welcomed him to the bench and others rushed to praise the Republican in a mini-version of “This is Your Life.” “Transforming from a lawyer to a judge brings a lot of anxiety to you, it also bring a lot of anticipation,” Union County Assignment Judge Karen Cassidy said. Cassidy focused much of her remarks on discussing the process to become a judge, including securing the …

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Ciarrocca To Take Judicial Oath

Mayor Skibitsky to honor former councilman during Tuesday afternoon ceremony.

Former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca will be donning a black robe and taking possession of a gavel Tuesday afternoon in Elizabeth. Ciarrocca, who represented the third ward for seven-and-a-half years, will be sworn-in as a judge of the state Superior Court during a ceremony in Elizabeth Tuesday afternoon. The ceremony will start at 4:30 p.m. at the Union County Courthouse.  Mayor Andy Skibitsky is expected to lead a delegation of Westfield officials to the ceremony. Skibitsky announced last month that he would be honoring Ciarrocca for his town accomplishments during the swearing-in ceremony. Ciarrocca was nominated by Gov. Chris Christie as a state judge in June and was confirmed by the state Senate a week later. Ciarrocca resigned from the …

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Ciarrocca To Take Judicial Oath in August

Mayor Skibitsky plans to recognize former councilman at ceremony.

Former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca is scheduled to take the oath of office as a state Superior Court judge on August 2 in a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Mayor Andy Skibitsky announced last week that the ceremony will occur at 4 p.m. on that day. Ciarrocca, who represented the third ward from January 2004 to July 2011, was nominated for the state judgeship by Gov. Chris Christie last month, with confirmation from the state Senate coming a week later. Ciarrocca dropped his bid for a third term on the Council following his nomination by Christie. Skibitsky said that during the ceremony he and other town officials will recognize Ciarrocca's service to the town. Ciarrocca served as the town's acting mayor and chaired both…

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Skibitsky to Announce New Deputy in August

Mayor needs to fill Ciarrocca's spots as acting mayor and finance chairman.

Mayor Andy Skibitsky said that he plans to announce the name of his new deputy at the Aug. 14 meeting of the Town Council. Skibitsky needs to appoint a new acting mayor due to the resignation of former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca to become a state judge. Ciarrocca had been holding the acting mayor's position for several years. Councilwoman Joann Neylan, the town's alternate acting mayor, will serve as the acting acting mayor until Skibitsky makes an appointment. Under the town charter, the acting mayor holds all of the mayor's powers in Skibitsky's absence. This includes presiding over Town Council meeting, being able to sign ordinances, handling ceremonial functions, setting meeting agendas, performing weddings and civil unions and …

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Haas Supports Moving Stoplight; Resident Declares War on Mayor

Town Council's lone Democrat changes to supporting moving controversial stoplight's movement to intersection.

Councilman Dave Haas became the first Town Council member to publicly support the potential moving of the pedestrian activated stoplight on Central Avenue near the intersection with Clover Street. Haas made his announcement during an emotionally charged meeting Tuesday night that saw one stoplight moving advocate declare war on Mayor Andy Skibitsky. Haas, who voted for the policies which led to the light’s creation, said that he cannot support the light’s current placement until he receives answers from engineering experts on safety of the midblock location. “Now I am saying that I believe, that unless I hear from an engineer, that the best location for the light is at the corner,” Haas said. The pedestrian activated light, placed as part …

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