The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 10

MIDDLESEX THE C0UmB-NEWS It's Been Said Loud clamor is always more or less insane. Thomas Carlyle SECOND SECTION Middlesex County News Telephone PLainfield 7-4000 PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1964 PAGE 21 aifilllinillllllliMMIiHIMIII-llli County Planning Boards: What Can They Do? Freeholders, Mayors Praise Accomplishments of Planners rs WIT k-ft mf -r I I JOHN GEORGE "Valuable, extremely useful" ANTHONY L. CURCIO "Doing an excellent jobT ANTHONY YELENCSICS "Good suggestions" tial to orderly community Appointed county planning boards, backed by staffs of professional planners, are coming more and more into prominence as elected freeholders cope with increasing problems created by a population explosion. What can planning boards do? What can't they do? Are they needed? By CHARLES DUSTOW (Last of Three Articles) The mayor of one of Middlesex County's biggest and most prosperous municipalities has a sneaking feeling that county planners are dreamers. "They have their heads in the clouds at times," says Edison Mayor Anthony M.

Yel-encsics. ,) But with this grumble out of the way, Yelencsics concedes that county planning boards and county planning departments are an essential arm of county and municipal government. The mayors agree, and so do freeholders approached by The Courier-News. THEIR VERDICT: County planning boards are here to stay. They play a valuable role, a role helping to shape and safeguard future community interests.

Even in Union County of only four counties in New Jersey without a planning board Freeholder Director Jay A. Stemmer gives the service of county planners a vote of approval. STEMMER has this to say about county boards: "I believe in the operation of county planning boards and the establishment of GEORGE L. BURTON "Far-reaching proposals" SAID Fetherston; "Our county planning board has provided a great and valuable service. The planning board has been working effectively with state agencies in the' county's interests and with municipalities where they need professional advisory planning aid." One result of this, he says, has been seen in the alignment and construction of Interstate Route 287 through Somerset County with a minimum of disturbance or trouble.

"This," Fetherston adds, "is in sharp contrast to some other counties where fighting over the highway alignment still goes on." OVER IN Middlesex County, where a. county planning board has been in existence more than 20 years, Freeholder Director George L. Burton Jr. commends the service provided as valuable and essen- BERNARD F. RODGERS "Planning services essential" Yelencsics gives them a vote of approval.

"REVIEWS of subdivision applications made by our county planning board," he said, "have often led to very good suggestions for improvement being received from the county planners. Because of these recommendations, sub division plans have been made more attractive and that's good for everyone." Yelencsics added: "Our own local planning board is excellent. I have no hesitation in saying that. But it's always good to have extra help on occasions." DUNELLEN Mayor Bernard F. Rodgers rates county planning services as "essential." "We must have some overall program of planning on a county level," he says, "and the best agency to provide this "has clearly to be main- tained on a county level." And he adds: "In general I have not found any evidence that county planners try to usurp the decision making powers of those elected to office." SOUTH Plainfield Mayor John George looks on county planning boards as an integral part of county and municipal government one especially valuable where highway and recreational interests transcend local boundaries.

"I have found our county planning board services valuable and extremely useful to local government," he says. "Doug Powell (the county planning director) and his board have done a wonderful job in a coordinating, researching and, advisory capacity." i i BOUND BROOK Mayor Anthony L. Curcio has only one are for developing their ex tensive holdings in the area. Deutsch and Denholtz, the largest developers in the Oak Tree and North Edison sections, have received approval for a 260-unit residential cluster development off Grove Ave. north of the proposed apartment tract.

JAY A. STEMMER "Long-term planning needed" county planning departments because experience has shown that most elected officials in county and municipal govern ment are unable to find time, on top of many other respon sibilities, to cope properly with planning needs. "Good, long-term planning, needed in all branches of government, is like fitting a lot of obscure pieces together. An elected official needs a lot of factual background information. He needs the findings from surveys and research to reach good decisions.

"This is where county planning boards, served by professional planners and by a-cross-section of laymen and county officials, play a valuable advisory role. Certainly those elected to make decisions need the information good planning can provide." STEMMER SAID formation of a county planning board should be given to the hiring of a coordinator for program. Urges Coordinator "There is great enthusiasm for the project but a great deal of organization work will be involved," he said. "A topnotch coordinator is needed to handle the work." Under the economic opportunities act, the county could qualify for 90 per cent federal aid for special projects over an initial two years and for a 50 per cent Federal grant the third year. The establishment of a job training center in Camp Kilmer, Piscataway, and a work Plans Are Judge Fines Drivers Middlesex Indigent Get Both Good and Civic Groups Oppose Plans For Apartment in Edison In Edison Court Edison Almost a score of persons were fined by Magistrate Roland A.

Winter last night. Two learners driving on permits, both 17 years old, were fined $30 each for being unaccompanied by licensed drivers. They were Stephen Cherris Jr. of 2505 Woodbridge Ave. and Walter Meaders of 206 Lakeview South Plain-filed.

Meaders was also fined $5 for having no registration LWV in Metuchen To Launch Drive Metuchen The League of Women Voters will hold a kickoff meeting for its annual finance drive tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the home of Miss Harriet Molineaux, 31 Carl HENRY L. FETHERSTON "Provide great service" for Union County had been blocked because some municipalities and some former freeholders felt they could cope with planning requirements without incurring the expense of professional planning services. "I think this was a mistake," Stemmer told The Courier-News. "Planners could be playing a very helpful and valuable role in the development, of our county." SOMERSET County Freeholder Director Henry L.

Fetherston has found that he and his board and all municipalities in the county have been provided with a "great service" by the Somerset County Planning Board. And this, he says, has been achieved without the threat of planners' infringing on the democratic principle of decisions being made by those whom the voters can hold accountable at the polls. Patients Bad News corp center in part of Rari-tan Arsenal, Edison, have been advocated. Three contracts for services at Roosevelt Hospital in Edison were awarded. The Big Top Landscaping Service of Avenel was retained to undertake landscaping at the hospital's new annex for $9,500 the lowest of six bids.

A bid from Joseph A. Auer of Milltown to supply 21,600 tulip bulbs for the hospital gardens at $2,666 was accepted, and as an emergency authorization, Stothoff of Flemington Junction, was hired to repair the hospital's deep well pump for $1,700 Drafted finance committee were deputized to determine the atti tude of the Edison Township Committee toward the coun cil. It is understood that only that portion of Edison north of Metuchen is fully regarded as being in the regional plan ning area of Plainfield. Plan Ordinance Chairman A. DeMatteo said it is his hope that the council will have before it when it meets Oct.

15 the model ordinance to be suggested to each participating community. The meeting will probably be held in Scotch Plains, though this has still to be confirmed, DeMatteo said. Representatives of the Somerset and Middlesex County Planning Boards attended with representatives of the state Bureau of Regional Planning. Apart from local expenses, the council is eligible for state aid for the first five years of its existence. In addition, the prospect of federal aid is being explored.

Lions See Slides Westfield Robert Kling, a member of the Westfield Lions Club, last night showed colored slides of past activities to the group in the Moun tainside Inn, Mountainside. In cluded were scenes of the Easter egg hunt in Mindowas-kin Park, the annual picnic and fishing trip to the shore. regret about the Somerset County Planning Board. "It came into being too late," he says. "If it had only been established earlier, a lot of problems could have been avoided.

"As things are," he adds, "our county planning board is doing an excellent job. The board has been extremely efficient and helpful collecting a great deal of data needed for proper planning of county and municipal progress." ALL OF THESE seem to emphasize one thing: The county planners are playing an increasing role and appear to be here to stay. And if they seem on occasion to be "dreamers," this question can be asked: Is it bad to dream and to plan for, a future with fewer problems than we have inherited from a lack of dreams and a lack of adequate planning in years gone by? The developers also are seeking approval of a shopping center on Oak Tree Rd. south of and abutting the proposed apartment site. The league wants the Planning Board to consider how the shopping center and the proposed apartment project affect each other.

plementation of the committees' recommendations. Mrs. Nathan Goun, local schools chairman, will head the study. Tercentenary Costumes Modeled Metuchen Colonial costumes to be worn by members of Alpha Omega Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority at the Metuchen Tercentenary Fair Oct. 3 were modeled by Mrs.

J. P. Casey, designer, Wednesday in the home of Mrs. Donald Herzfeld, 27 Justice New Market. Final plans for the chapter's booth offering white elephant items were announced by Mrs.

Ralph Crawford. She said a workshop had been held Monday to price items in the home of Mrs. Walter Warfield. Mrs. Roderick Greig reported on the recent meeting of the sorority's New Brunswick Area City Council and an nounced that all chapters had been invited to hear Judge Aldona Appleton speak at Douglass College Oct.

6. The cultural program was presented by Mrs. Edward Goracy on "Beauty and Make- Up." Mrs. Goracy told of the early adorning of the face in Grecian days and gave examples of beauty in various parts of the world. 30 ON FERRY DROWN Katmandu, Nepal Thirty persons drowned Sun day when a ferry boad cap sized on the Wakya River, i.i Southern Nepal, according to reports reaching Katmandu.

growth. "Through the more than 20 years of its existence," Burton said, "the board has been a source of sound and far-reaching proposals to improve the physical patterns in which our half million residents live and work." He said that among other things detailed research by the planners had helped Middlesex County exceed the ef-fords of all other counties in the state in acquiring extra parkland through the green acres program. AND HOW DO municipal leaders react? They, too, welcome county planning board services and regard them as an essential tool for good county and local government. Even with his conviction that planners tend at times to be "dreamers," Edison Mayor PTA Begins New Season Metuchen The Rt. Rev.

Msgr. John J. Foley, pastor of St. Francis Church, greet ed parents of St. Francis School PTA Tuesday at a season-opening meeting in the parish cafeteria.

Mrs. Dominic Walker, pres ident, introduced the faculty members and in the absence of Sister Mary Hilda, princi pal, acquainted parents with the rules and procedures of the school. She announced that the parent-teacher con ference period preceding the monthly PTA meetings will be extended a half-hour this year to enable more parents to meet the teachers. Individ ual conferences will be re stricted to three minutes. The Rev.

Stephen H. Cong don, assistant pastor, asked for volunteers to serve in the United Fund Drive. The PTA will sponsor a game booth at the Metuchen Tercentenary Country Fair Oct. 3 under the chairman ship of Mrs. Edward Canis and Mrs.

Edward Healy. Albert Kelly and Mrs Kenneth Ward were named as chairmen of the first fund raising event of the year, a card party for the benefit of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart who teach in the school, on Oct. following chairmen were appointed for the year: Program, s. Thomas O'Brien; welfare, Mrs. Matthew Salamone; membership, Mrs.

Joseph Romanowsky and Mrs. Walter Soltys; hospital ity, Mrs. Ur; refreshments, Mrs. Francis X. Kish; civic, Mrs.

Healy; literature, Mrs. Kelly; health, Mrs. James Gleason; social, Mrs. James Gallagher; legislative, Mrs. Fred Bechtold; publicity, Mrs.

Cams; class captains, Mrs. Halpin; and institutional rep resentative for Boy Scouts, Walter Kurowsky, and ways and means, Mrs. Walter Oli ver. Killed by Car Jersey City CP) Mrs. Dorothy R.

Liberman, 52, was struck and killed by a car last night as she crossed a street. By Regional Council The new Regional Council for the Greater Plainfield Area last night adopted in principal the draft that the group hopes will be a basis for a Planning Board to advise 13 New Brunswick There was good and bad news for out-oi-worK indigent resi dents of Middlesex County at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Freeholders. The board called on hospitals in the county to press indigent patients to meet a bigger share of their hospital bills. Then the board reported "good progress" in plans to help the underprivileged by cooperating with President Johnson's federally aided "War on Poverty." Pressure for maximum payment by indigent hospital patients was created with the board lifting a rule under which hospitals collecting more than 12 per cent of a patient's bill had been unable to get county aid for the unpaid portion of the bill. Commending the board's lifting of the rule.

Freeholder George J. Otlowski, chairman of the county welfare depart ment, said it would encourage hospitals in the county to get after indigent patients pressuring them into paying more than 12 per cent of their hospital bills. It was explained that to qualify for indigent aid un der the 12 per cent rule, some hospitals had on occa sions been reluctant to take payments of more than 12 per cent from them. The county this year has appropriated $850,000 for indigent patient care. The appropriation will now be shared among hospitals in the county on a straight propor tion of indigent patient care costs.

Incentive Seen Otlowski said that because of this, hospitals will have an incentive to collect as much as possible from "indigent" patients. Reviewing progress made in the county's plan to aid the president's "War on Poverty" through the economic opportunities act, Otlowski said meetings were being held with Housing Authority directors and social agency representatives to consider projects suitable for adoption in the county. The formation of a county-level corporation to direct operation of the county's role in the program also was under study, he said. Acting Freeholder-Director Joseph R. Costa of Edison felt serious consideration Edison Two civic groups joined forces last night to oppose construction of a large apartment project by devel opers Joseph Deutsch and Jack Denholtz on a 37-acre site in the residential zone north of Oak Tree Rd.

and east of Grove Ave. This is the 658-unit $6 mil lion project presented before the Zoning Board of Adjustment Aug. 18. Subsequently it was discovered that the of ficial zoning map on which the builders relied was in error. Fifteen acres on which they had counted is in a zone in which apartments are banned.

Last night the Oak-Grove Civic Association and the Oak Tree Civic Association issued a demand that any further consideration of the project by the Board of Adjustment be banned unless there is a rehearing for objectors. Could Amend Plan Conceivably, if the developers trim down their project to some 420 units, they may proceed before the board on the basis of an amended application. This would not require a rehearing. Leaders of the two groups met in the home of John S. Mullin of 108 Stephenville Pkwy.

They displayed letters in behalf of their respective organizations which will be sent to the Zoning Board today. Reviewing their basic ob jections to apartments in the area, they called on the board to hold additional public hearings if the apartment project receives any further consideration. The developers have not indicated whether they will amend the application or withdraw it in favor of a new one. A new application would automatically require another public hearing. Signing the letter for the Oak Grove group was its pres ident, Charles F.

DeArmond, 12 Midland Rd. Signing for the Oak Tree Group was its acting chairman, Robert J. Fenner, 775 Grove Ave. The two groups represent contiguous areas in the Oak Tree and North Edison sec tions. They discussed plans last night to mobilize members and the public to oppose the apartment.

LWV Seeks Details The meeting follows by a day a statement by the League of Women Voters which asked the Planning Board to inquire of Deutsch and Denholtz what their plans in his possession. Two Dallas, truck drivers were fined $15 each for improper towing on the New Jersey Turnpike. They were Robert D. Edwards and Blacksher Burrell. Both were driving trucks owned by the same company: It was the manner in which one of the trucks was towing the other, which broke down, which constituted the offense.

The Virginia Barrel Company of Rahway was fined $15 for failing to exhibit the road tax registration on its truck and another $15 for failing to display an inspection sticker. Peter J. Malone of 261 Dow Iselin, was fined $15 for careless driving; Concet-ta M. Delorenzo of 619 Ripley PL, Westfield, $15, delinquent inspection; and Louis Lindsey of Vineland, $15, careless driving, and $5 no registration in possession. Emmet J.

Thompson of bdgewater was fined $30 for failing to furnish a change of address and another $25 for contempt. George M. Wilson of Lin den was fined $15 for going through a red light; Ching S. Lau of Monmouth Junction, $20, going through a red light; Leo R. Fronzak of Irv-ington, $15, speeding; Nicho las Daniels of New Brunswick, $13, speeding, and Donald L.

Walz of Highland Park, $15, delinquent inspection. William Rutan of 1240 Stel-ton St. was fined $25 for stealing items totalling $2.47 from the Shop-Rite store. Clarence Hasking of Apt. 3F, North Edison Gardens, was bound over to the Grand Jury for non-support of his wife, Estelle, and their two children.

Scout Auxiliary To Conduct Sale Bound Brook The Auxiliary of Boy Scout Troop 47, St. Joseph's Parish, is sponsoring a rummage sale Sept. 24 through 26 at 5 Maiden Lane for the benefit of the troop. Hours will be: Sept. 24, 10 a.m.

to 9 p.m.; Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ton Rd. The speaker will be Mrs. Kicnard Mcvjormick, presi dent of the Piscataway League, member of the taxes committee of the New Jersey League and instructor of mathematics at Douglass College. Following the meeting members will call on civic-minded citizens for their support. In keeping with its nonpartisan policy, contributions will not be accepted from po litical parties or elected officials.

"The funds realized from this year's drive will enable the league to continue serving the community by promoting active, informed citizen par ticipation in government and to publish its new edition of VKnow Your Town," Mrs. George Verbel, finance chairman, said. Among its services to the community the league makes available nonpartisan information on registering and voting and will have a voters registration booth on Main St. today from 5 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 10:30 a.m.

to 5:30 p.m. where deputized league members will register qualified citizens so they can vote in the Nov. 3 election. The league also will sponsor a "Candidates Night" in October and nonpartisan factual information on the local candidates will be distributed throughout the community. Included in its local pro gram for the year is a study of borough finances in order to analyze their growth over the past 10 years in the areas of income, surplus and expenditures.

Mrs. Eugene Mi-chal has been named chairman. The league also will study reports of the local schools curriculum study committees and the progress of the im communities in three counties. The group met in the North Plainfield Borough Hall. The draft included a tentative financing formula to underwrite the cost of the agency which is envisioned as an area-wide planning council supplementing the planning of the 12 municipalities in the Plainfield area.

The tentative formula would have Plainfield pay 20 per cent of a given budget, North Plainfield, Piscataway, Scotch Plains, South Plain- field, 10 per cent each, and Berkeley Heights, Dunellen, Edison, a Green Brook, Middlesex, Warren and Watchung, five per cent each. Revision Suggested However, at the urging of Robert Richmond, represent ing the N.J. Bureau of Regional Planning, the group agreed to review the formula with a possible view to leveling off the proportion of costs. Another key provision of the draft adopted last night provides for membership. Each municipality and each county shall appoint two members each.

At least one member will have to be a member of the local planning board. One of the two members shall serve for four years, the other for three. Still left unresolved after the meeting was the status of Edison. The executive and.