Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT Mainly Clear. Low of 61.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— HOWARD H. AIKEN
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 195
“Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.”
75 cents
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2016
Airport manager Brian Barnes at the L&O Committee Thursday evening. (Photo by Amy Porter)
L&O Committee reviews changes in Noise Mitigation Program By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD- On the agenda at Thursday’s Legislative & Ordinance Committee (L&O) was a report on the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) from Barnes Airport manager Brian Barnes, originally submitted to the City Council in June. He said the plan will be enacted if a vote to approve and accept a $2.5 million grant to continue the program passes the City Council at its next meeting on August 22, after which it will go to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Barnes said the NCP was prepared by Wyle Acoustic Engineers and highlights the changes made in the Noise Mitigation program that affect the public. “Accurately, you’re not voting per se, we just want input,” Barnes said about the NCP. He said when the Council approved the budget they already approved the program, which has also been approved by the Airport Commission. He said they were bringing it before the committee to share the changes, and to be as transparent as possible. According to city attorney Susan Phillips, who reviewed the report for the City Council, the Airport Commission made several recommendations, which the FAA will be looking for them to implement. She said the city has little authority over the plan. The first new recommendation is not to go forward with testing each individual home for decibel levels. The
FAA guidelines recommend testing 10% of each type of home. For example, if there are ten capes in the affected area, one would be tested. If twenty ranch houses, two would be tested. If 30% of all the homes passed the test, then the city would have to pick up 100% of the cost to soundproof the homes. If 10% of homes tested failed the test, all would be eligible for the program. The pass/fail level is 70 decibels within the home. The footprint of the noise mitigation contour map was also changed. Homes that were previously considered to be in the 70 decibel levels area fell to 65 decibels, not qualifying them for noise mitigation. Barnes said with the $2.5 million in grant money, they are going to offer to buy out 25 people – six new homes, and 19 carryover homes from the old program. The program has already bought out 10 homes. He said because the rules were changed significantly to qualify for sound mitigation, the Airport Commission voted in June to discontinue the sound mitigation program after the buyout, because the remaining homes would not qualify anyway. “If there are homes that were getting soundproofed before, why give it up now?” asked Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski, a member of the L&O Committee. “Because the criteria has changed,” Barnes said. See Noise Mitigation, Page 8
2016 World Series Champs! Tri Valley (CA) celebrates a Babe Ruth Baseball 14-Year-Old World Series championship with a 9-6 win over Bismarck (ND) Thursday night at Bullens Field. It was Tri Valley’s second title win in two years. See story and photos Pages 9, 11. (Photos by Marc St. Onge)
Trees set to be removed away from intersection By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Department of Public Works has been looking to make progress on a certain intersection in town over the last few months. This concern was first reported in The Westfield News on June 9th of this year. Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown has announced that the issue with the intersection of S. Longyard Rd. and Granaudo Circle is set to be addressed. As the Town of Southwick received new funding, starting on July 1, Brown has hired Allied Tree Service out of Westfield to remove two trees that are in the way of that intersection. DPW Director Randy Brown has Allied Tree Service ready to remove the trees at the intersection. (WNG File Photo) DPW Director Randy Brown has Allied Tree Service ready to remove the trees at the intersection. (WNG File Photo) There are two trees in the vicinity of the intersection that
DPW Director Randy Brown has Allied Tree Service ready to remove the trees at the intersection. (WNG File Photo) are cause for concern and are being addressed. Brown described one tree being an Oak Tree that is split in two, while the second tree is across the road and is a smaller pine.
As the removal of these trees has been on the DPW’s radar for some time now, Brown estimates the time it will take for Allied Tree Service to remove the trees would be quick. “That’s probably a full day’s worth of work,” said Brown. For the neighbors that have to deal with that intersection on a regular basis, Brown pointed out what could be bothering neighbors the most about the trees in the way. “It’s really an issue with people pulling out of Granaudo (Circle),” said Brown. While speeding up the hill or down the hill of S. Longyard is another main problem with the intersection, the DPW is currently focused on taking care of the two big trees that have been affecting motorists. The main reason for having the trees being taken down is a rather important one for anyone in town or passing through town. “We (DPW) think it’s a safety issue,” said Brown. “We’re happy to get those trees out of sight.”
HUNTINGTON
Woodford Way closes out summer music series
Woodford Way performed at the final Summer Music Series on the green in Huntington on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – The town of Huntington held its seventh and final summer music series performance on the green Thursday with an appearance by acoustic folk/blues duo Woodford Way. Singer/songwriter Kyle Mangini and guitarist Jeff Lynch mixed original songs with classic tunes, as residents relaxed in lawn chairs, and children played in the grass. The Summer Music Series is sponsored by the town’s Community Events Committee and the Cultural Council.
Guitarist Jeff Lynch and singer/songwriter Kyle Mangini of Woodford Way. (Photo by Amy Porter)