Thursday, February 21, 2013
The existing equipment has been in use since the Municipal Complex opened in 1994.
Westwood officials hope to have upgraded 911 system and security equipment in place in the Municipal Complex within a few months. The borough Council voted on a pair of ordinances this week appropriating a total of $255,500 for the two projects. The upgrade will replace existing equipment which has been in use since the Municipal Complex opened in 1994, according to Westwood Police Chief Frank Regino. "Technology has kind of surpassed the equipment that we have," Regino said. The upgrades include new computers and switching equipment for the Police Department's 911 system, for which officials put aside $130,000. Improvements to the Municipal Complex's security system will include new door locks, closed-circuit T.V. cameras for halls and …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Borough officials said at least 36 properties are already used for raising chickens.
Westwood officials are considering creating rules for raising chickens because there are already at least 36 properties in the borough with the birds, Councilman Ray Arroyo said Tuesday. The borough has received some complaints about properties with chickens, Arroyo said, but the zoning officer has not taken any action because there is currently no law. Mayor John Birkner also said one resident had brought concerns to him that they could attract rodents. "If we introduce this to the public, I expect some feathers to fly," Arroyo said. The practice of raising chickens for eggs and meat has become increasingly popular in recent years as part of the sustainability and homesteading movements, but the practice remains outlawed in some towns. …
Corey Rooney and Michael Agnello will perform a number of duties, including school and court security.
Corey Rooney and Michael Agnello have been appointed as special officers in the Westwood Police Department. The Westwood Council unanimously voted to approve the two appointments during the meeting Tuesday night. "I feel extremely lucky to find such qualified and eager young men," Police Chief Frank Regino said. Both men were appointed as Class 1 Special Officers, which means they have some police academy training and are granted some law enforcement powers, like traffic enforcement, but do not carry guns and cannot make arrests. Regino said he already had many assignments lined up for Rooney and Agnello, including school and court security, parking enforcement and foot patrols, among others. Have a question or news tip? Contact editor …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Westwood officials said they would investigate ways to prevent skateboarders from performing tricks on the memorial benches.
Skateboarders have damaged four memorial benches in Veterans' Memorial Park, according to Westwood Councilman Peter Grefrath. The benches were purchased by local families as memorials to deceased loved ones as part of a borough program. Families donate $1,700 for the benches in Veterans' Park or $900 for benches in other parks. "I'm not really happy with skateboarders damaging memorial benches," Grefrath said. Officials said chipping on two of the benches could probably be repaired by borough employees, but two others may need to go back to the manufacturer for repair. The damage was not purposeful vandalism, they said, but appeared to have been caused by skateboards being slid along the bench edges because of chipping and multicolored …
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The new officers were informally sworn in Friday afternoon so they could begin training at the police academy next week.
Westwood hired three new police officers this week after officials narrowed down a pool of more than 200 candidates. The council officially voted to hire the new officers during their sine die meeting Thursday and the officers were sworn in during an informal ceremony Friday afternoon so the can begin training at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute. The new officers are Kevin Mullaney, Tristan Ganter and Keith Bott. "I look at these soon-to-be police officers and members of the Westwood Police Department and I just couldn't be prouder," Mayor John Birkner said. Police Chief Frank Regino said the three had been chosen from an initial pool of 217 candidates who were all "extremely" impressive. After a written test, physical …
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Westwood Council held is annual reorganization meeting Thursday.
Westwood Councilmen Peter Grefrath and Ray Arroyo took oaths of office for their new terms and John J. Sciara was unanimously elected as the council president during the borough's annual reorganization meeting Thursday. Sciara has previously served as the council's president several times. Grefrath is a long-time member of the council who was re-elected in November. Arroyo is serving in his first term on the council but has prior government experience on the zoning board, on which he will continue to serve as the council's liason. "I'm very happy and honored to work with such a wonderful group of people," Sciara said. Officials were positive about 2012 and hopeful for some big changes expected to come in 2013, including the official …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The group, which runs Westwood's little league program, plans to build a new field house at Meadowbrook Park.
The Westwood Baseball Association wants to improve the facilities at Meadowbrook Park, the main field used by the borough's little league teams. The association plans to replace the old snack stand and a shipping container used for storage at the field with a new, larger two-story field house. The new field house would still include a snack stand, storage room and bathroom, and would also include a meeting room and announcing/press area on the second floor. Baseball Association President Keith Rivers said that the upgraded facilities would allow Westwood to host more tournaments like the 2011 Bergen All Stars Tournament, which included more than 200 little league teams. "Meadowbrook Park is going to be one of the best little leaue fields …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Peter Grefrath and Ray Arroyo were each ahead of their opponents by several hundred votes after unofficial results were tallied Tuesday night.
Peter Grefrath and Ray Arroyo were declaring victory in their run for the Westwood Council Tuesday night after unofficial results put them each ahead of their opponents by several hundred votes. Republicans Arroyo and Grefrath, an incumbent, and Democrats Ruth "Angel" Nass and David Fischer sought the two available seats. "We went up against tow very good competitors in this election," Grefrath said. Nass said she did not expect mail-in and provisional ballots would be able to turn the results into her favor. Fischer could not immediately be reached for comment. The preliminary totals, which include votes cast in borough polling locations but not mail-in or provisional ballots, have Grefrath with 2,506 votes, Arroyo with 2,353 votes, …
Here's all the info you need to vote in Westwood, Hillsdale or Washington Township.
Tuesday is Election Day, and voters will be picking the country's president, as well as state, county and local officials. Some area polling locations have changed. A complete list of up-to-date polling locations for Westwood, Hillsdale and Washington Township is available here. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hillsdale In Hillsdale, four of the six seats on the borough council are on the ballot. This includes two three-year terms and two unexpired terms for one year and two years, respectively. A total of nine candidates — four Republican incumbents, four Democrats and an independent — are seeking the seats. Two members of the Hillsdale Board of Education are also seeking re-election. They are running unopposed. Westwood Westwood…
Monday, November 5, 2012
Four candidates are running for the two seats available on the Westwood Council.
There are two seats up for election on the Westwood Council and three seats on the Westwood Regional Board of Education this year. Republicans Ray Arroyo and Peter Grefrath, an incumbent, and Democrats Ruth "Angel" Nass and David Fischer are seeking the available council seats. Councilman William Phayre, whose term ends December 31, is not running for re-election. Grefrath has served on the council since 1995. He has been the council president four times and filled numerous other roles on the council. Grefrath noted his involvement in working on the borough's budgets and that less than 30 percent of Westwood residents' property taxes go to the borough. Nass and Fischer have run on a platform of working to lessen the impact of flooding on …
Frances L Parise
11:23 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Fran Parise I have 4 beautiful, contented and loved chickens. My granddaughter named them and runs races with them and has tons of fun. They have a clean coop (daily) and a clean 10'x40' run. I asked each of my surrounding neighbors if they would allow me to have chickens and I check with them all regulary to see if they are a bother. NO one has ever complained. Food is kept in a metal can, coop … more ›