Town Council Starts New Year With Organization Meeting

Council members Frank Arena, JoAnn Neylan, James Foerst and Mark LoGrippo were sworn in.

The Town Council's organization meeting started off the new year with familiar faces on the dias. The meeting, which began at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, saw Council members Frank Arena (First Ward), JoAnn Neylan (Second Ward), James Foerst (Fourth Ward) and Mark LoGrippo (Third Ward) take their oaths of office. LoGrippo, who was appointed to a six-month term in July when Mark Ciarrocca became a judge, was elected for the first time in November, while the other Council members were re-elected. In his State of the Town Address, Mayor Andy Skibitsky said he wanted to assure citizens that he will "stay the course" of fiscal restraint and sustainability. Saying he knows many seniors, as well as those who are unemployed and underemployed living …

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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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Town Looks to Expand Recycling Center

Town seeks $25,000 grant for project costs.

Residents could see a possible expansion of the town’s recycling center. The Town Council voted Tuesday morning to seek a $25,000 grant from the Sustainable Jersey program for expansion of the recycling center from 2,500 square feet to 17,000 square feet. The program will also include expansion of the brush and grass section of the conservation center from 15,000 square feet to 27,000 square feet. Town Administrator Jim Gildea told Council members at the rare 8 a.m. session, that the program will include changes to how the recycling center is used. He said new lanes will be installed to access the recycling center from Lamberts Mill Road and moving the recycling portion of the conservation center closer to the road to allow for traffic for…

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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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Westfield Votes 2011

Neylan Unopposed As Democrats File for Three Wards

Major party Council candidates set as filing deadline passes.

Second Ward Councilwoman Joann Neylan is unopposed in her bid for a third term as Westfield Democrats filed candidates in three out of four wards. Monday’s filing deadline for the June primary ended with town Republicans fielding an all-incumbent slate for four seats on the Town Council and Democrats running two newcomers and one returning candidate. The respective parties endorsed the candidates in the past few weeks. In the first ward, Republican Councilman Frank Arena will face off against environmental consultant Tim Van Epp in his bid for a second term. Arena, an information technology salesman, was first elected to the Council in 2007, defeating Democrat Ross Katz. He currently serves as the chairman of the public works committee. …

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Council Sees Few Changes in 2011 Assignments

Haas changes vice chairmanships.

The move of the Town Council's lone Democrat from one vice chairmanship to the other and a swap of downtown and recreation liaisons are the main changes in the Town Council's 2011 committee assignments. Councilman Dave Haas, the Council's lone Democrat will retain the same committee assignments for 2011, finance policy and public works, but will swap the vice chairman's post on the budget panel for the vice chairman's job on the public works committee. Councilman Sam Della Fera, trades the vice chairmanship of the code review committee for the finance post. Della Fera has been a member of the budget panel for the past year. Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins takes Della Fera's post as code review vice chairwoman, after serving as vice chair on …

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Haas Succeeds Rotter as Dem Chief

Long time party chairman steps down after 11 years.

Already the town's top elected Democrat; Councilman Dave Haas has taken on the top spot in the Democratic Party due to a party leadership shuffle this week. Haas was elected Monday to succeed longtime town Democratic Chairman Ken Rotter, who resigned after 11 years in office. While Haas is billing himself as an interim chairman who will be recruiting a permanent successor to Rotter, the new party chair could hold the post till the end of Rotter's two-year term, which expires in June. "I am filling out his term. How long I stay as chair depends on how long it takes to find my replacement," Haas said. Haas indicated he had formed a search committee for a permanent chairman. He said he is looking for someone with organizational leadership …

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Gov. Christie: It's My Job to Build Grassroots GOP

Councilwoman Kimmins leads Westfield delegation to attend county Republican fundraiser in Summit featuring governor.

At a fund raising dinner for the Union County Republican party in Summit Tuesday evening, Gov. Chris Christie promised to help build a grassroots GOP by supporting local candidates so they can someday lead the party. "You didn't vote for me just to be governor," Christie said. "You voted me for in the primary to be the leader of our party. And so my job is to not only lead the State of New Jersey – Republicans, Democrats Independents – but it is also to be the steward over what our party is and what it will become." Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) donated $15,000 to the county GOP, while Assemblymembers Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) and Nancy Munoz (R-Summit) donated $10,000 a piece. Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins led the Westfield delegaton …

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Lt. Gov. Discusses Small Business, Taxes, Education During Westfield Meetings

Guadagno holds closed-door meetings during statewide "listening tour."

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno brought her listening tour of state municipalities to Westfield Wednesday, holding closed-door briefings with municipal leaders, non-profit officials and the business community. Guadagno is criss-crossing the state on behalf of Gov. Chris Christie, meeting with local leaders to hear concerns and share information from Trenton. Interviews with those who met with Guadagno today said she listened intently to all comments and shared plans and proposals from the Christie administration. "I got the impression of a real willingness to listen and really start to address what is reasonable," said Anna Mastroianni, the owner of Sole who attended the small business roundtable. The Westfield contingent of municipal and business …

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HelloBabyCakes

10:29 am on Thursday, August 19, 2010

Definitely a Bottle Blond. I can't believe the Governor making fun of our beloved Snooki a true Jersey Guidette when he has one IN DA HOUSE   more ›

The Blink and You Missed It Mayoralty of Joann Neylan

Second ward councilwoman gets second chance at top job.

On the same day that the country got a U.S. senator for four months, Westfield got a mayor for roughly 15 minutes. Councilwoman Joann Neylan briefly seized control of the reins of town government Tuesday night, when the absence of two people let executive power fall into her hands. Mayor Andy Skibitsky and Councilman Mark Ciarrocca's absence from the Council's agenda review session at 7:45 p.m. let Neylan, the town's alternate acting mayor become Westfield's chief executive. This is the second Neylan Administration in Westfield history, with her holding power in June 2009 for roughly 20 minutes. Neylan followed in the footsteps of some of her national colleagues who have short stints in office by sticking to business. Sen. Carte Goodwin (D…

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