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WEATHER TONIGHT Mostly Cloudy, Colder. Low of -9.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
VOL. 84 NO. 055
www.thewestfieldnews.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015
“He that respects himself is safe from others. He wears a coat of mail that none can pierce.” — HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
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Watchdog: State could face budget shortfall
Tina Gorman, right, executive director of the Council on Aging, points out features in the entry area at the new senior center under construction as a group of politicians and supporters of the project tour the construction site on Noble Street Thursday. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen
Westfield Senior Center tour
Tina Gorman, right, executive director of the Council on Aging, shares a laugh with Bill Tatro of the Friends of the Westfield Senior Center, City Councilor Dan Allie, city council president Brian Sullivan and City Councilor James R. Adams Thursday during a tour of the new senior center under construction on Nobel Street. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Tina Gorman, right, executive director of the Council on Aging, shows a group of visitors what will become an office in the new Westfield senior center during a tour Thursday of the building under construction on Noble Street. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Tina Gorman, left, executive director of the Council on Aging, and Tammy Tefft, the city’s puchasing director, right, explain some of the amenities of the great room of the new senior center under construction on Noble Street to a group of visitors including Mike Parent of the Friends of the Westfield Senior Center, City Councilor Brian Hoose, Andrew Renfro, an aide to State Sen. Don Humason, Bill Tatro of the Friends, City Councilor Dan Allie (partly hidden), city council president Brian Sullivan, City Councilor James R. Adams and community development director Peter Miller. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Dobelle drops lawsuit over departure SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Former Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle has withdrawn his federal lawsuit against state and school officials blaming them for his departure, saying the legal fight’s cost was too great. Dobelle and defendants filed a motion in federal court yesterday saying they agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. Dobelle was university president from January 2008 until his resignation in November 2013 amid questions about what some people called extravagant spending on travel, restaurant meals and other services. Dobelle defended the expenses. Two lawsuits in state court remain pending. Dobelle is suing claiming breach of contract and demanding payment of his legal fees. The EVAN DOBELLE state attorney general’s office is suing to recover nearly $100,000 in public funds it alleges was misspent by Dobelle.
By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer BOSTON (AP) — A taxpayers watchdog groups says Massachusetts’ budget shortfall could be as high as $1.5 billion, nearly twice what the administration is estimating. The president of the businessbacked Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation told organizations that rely on state funding to “Brace yourselves for a new reality.” REP. JOHN The foundation’s projected shortVELIS fall assumes funding for programs considered discretionary, from public safety to aid to municipalities, stays level. Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration has projected a $768 million shortfall. Earlier this month he outlined more than $500 million in spending cuts to help close the gap. Has said he will not raise taxes. Kristen Lepore, Baker’s budget chief, tells The Boston Globe that state spending is growing at almost twice the rate of tax revenue, which she calls “unsustainable.” State Rep. John Velis of the 4th Hampden District said that while he can’t confirm the accuracy of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundations projections right now, he agrees that they are “100 percent correct” in their assessment that organizations that are reliant on state funding need to brace themselves for a new reality. “From a fiscal standpoint it is absolutely foolhardy to think we can balance our state budget when state spending is growing at almost twice the rate of tax revenue,” he said, adding that Lepore is ‘absolutely right’ in describing See Shortfall, Page 3
Council approves school marketing funds By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The City Council approved two $100,000 appropriations to facilitate equipment purchases, maintenance projects, and a marketing program for Westfield Vocational Technical High School which is seeking to change its name to Westfield Technical Academy. The marketing funding, $29,500, narrowly survived a motion to amend the $100,000 appropriation by eliminating the marketing funding. The council turned aside that motion made by At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty on a 6-7 vote. “I’m for everything (in the appropriation) except the name change. That’s something we can defer,” Flaherty said. “We don’t need to market (the aviation technology program) because we have more students in our system who CHRISTOPHER M. CREAN are interested in that program than we have seats.” Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Crean, in whose ward the airport is located, said WVTHS is a “money maker” for the city, collecting more than $1 million in out of district tuition payments, “money that goes into the general fund.” Ward 3 Councilor Brian Hoose said the marketing program will draw more students from outside the district. “There is new and exciting stuff happening at Voke,” Hoose said. “This marketing is to attract students from See Marketing, Page 3
Baker to address workforce skills gap The former American Red Cross Westfield Chapter building will become Our House. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer WESTFIELD – There is local initiative to provide the city’s neediest with some additional warmth this winter. Westfield-based social worker Cynthia Hartdegen has been leading a dedicated group of city knitters to donate handwoven and crocheted blankets to the city’s homeless and the residents of Our House, the site of the former Westfield Red Cross facility on Broad Street that is now owned by Domus, Inc. and provides housing for homeless teens. “When we put out the call for blankets awhile back, we got
BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order today to begin the process of bridging the workforce skills gap in Massachusetts, establishing a Workforce Skills Cabinet chaired by the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Ron Walker, and comprised of the Secretaries of Education, Housing and Economic Development and others as required. The cabinet is charged with creating and implementing a strategy to develop workforce skills to meet the varying needs of employers in the Commonwealth’s regions, today and in the future. “A talented workforce and growing economy are inseparable and Massachusetts has an opportunity to capitalize on both by ensuring our workers have the skills to meet the needs of employers in the 21st century economy,” said Baker. “The different regions that make up Massachusetts will require dynamic strategies to address the workforce skills gap, but by increasing our communication and coordination, we can prepare individuals
See Knitters, Page 3
See Workforce, Page 3
Knitters furnish fuzzy feeling for less fortunate