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The Westfield News
VOL. 84 NO. 071
Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015
“Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment.” — ELLIS PETERS
75 cents
Settlement: Voter cards must be offered to welfare seekers By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts residents applying for welfare must be offered voter registration cards and other information under a settlement reached between voting rights groups and the Baker administration. The groups pushing for the settlement with the state Department of Transitional Assistance said yesterday that the agreement will bring Massachusetts into compliance with the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which requires public assistance offices to offer voter registration services to eligible citizens. The suit was filed in 2012. The agreement, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, requires the automatic distribution of voter registration applications to people applying for public assistance as well as to those renewing assistance benefits or changing their addresses. It also requires the state to provide assistance in different languages to those completing voter registration applications and delivering the applications to local election officials. The settlement calls for regular oversight and reporting to ensure state employees continue to provide the voter registration services. A department spokeswoman said the agency has been working toward compliance during the past three years. Both parties have jointly requested that the federal judge overseeing the case enter an order dismissing the claims against the department. The settlement becomes effective when that order is entered. The agreement will be in force for three years. Juan Cofield, president of the NAACP-New England Area Conference, called the settlement a victory for voting rights. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the DTA on matters that should guarantee free and equal access for voter registration to all citizens,” Cofield said. The settlement was nearly completed under Gov. Deval Patrick before Charlie Baker succeeded him in January. The deal will help the state avoid having to send another round of letters to welfare recipients at an estimated cost of about $250,000. “The administration is pleased this matter was settled appropriately,” said Elizabeth Guyton, press secretary for Baker, adding that the administration was able to work with the voting rights groups to reduce the cost of the settlement by 10 percent, or about $75,000. Similar claims against MassHealth, the Executive Office and Health and Human Service, and State Secretary William Galvin’s office are still pending. See Voter Cards, Page 3
ELIZABETH WARREN
State Senator Donald Humason for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District, foreground left, and State Rep. Nicholas A. Boldyga, R-Southwick, seated left, discuss state and local budget items that could impact the Town of Southwick during a meeting with the Southwick Board of Selectmen. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Legislators hear selectmen concerns By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – State Sen. Donald F. Humason (R-Westfield) and state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) visited with the Board of Selectmen last week as they prepared to begin formal sessions in Boston. Both legislators were re-elected in the fall and said they looked forward to working with new governor Charlie Baker, also a Republican, as well as their Democrat counterparts. “For the first time in a while, there’s a real good feeling about collaboration between the executive and legislative branches,” said Humason, who has spent two decades on Beacon Hill.
For the first time he can remember, Humason said the Governor is including key leaders from both parties in a weekly Monday meeting. Humason said there is a feeling of cooperation across party lines. “There seems to be some sense that we can roll up our sleeves and work together,” he said. Boldyga addressed cuts in Chapter 90 and 9C funds and said the 9C cuts likely would not have occurred, or been as deep, if the winter had not been so severe. He also told the board he took their concerns about culverts, a salt shed and dredging of Congamond Lakes to Baker. “I spoke to the governor’s office about those capital projects, so they are aware,”
Kindergarten registration to be slated by appointment
Ex-Gov. Patrick: I’ll forgo paid Boston 2024 consulting job BOB SALSBERG and STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Former Gov. Deval Patrick has decided to pass on a paid consulting job promoting the city’s Olympic bid overseas. Patrick said yesterday he’s planning to take a full-time position soon and will forgo all outside consulting pay, including the $7,500-per-day fee he was to earn for travel on behalf of the Olympic organizing group Boston 2024. “Because I think the Olympics could be good for the Commonwealth, I will continue to help as and when I can, but not for a fee,” Patrick said in brief statement. Hours earlier Mayor Marty Walsh told Boston Herald Radio he didn’t think Patrick should be paid for promoting the Olympic bid. Walsh said he believes former governors should be “ambassadors for Massachusetts.” “I think it would be a good gesture of representing this commonwealth and taking this commonwealth on the world stage — and I don’t think they should be getting paid at all,” Walsh said. Walsh, a prominent supporter of the Olympic bid, was asked if he had endorsed Patrick’s fee. “No. Absolutely not,” Walsh said. Patrick’s compensation was revealed when Boston 2024, a privately-financed group, disclosed the salaries of its top executives and consultants this month after a request from Walsh. Six top staffers of the organization earn annual salaries above $100,000, led by chief executive Richard Davey, who served as secretary of transportation under Patrick and is being paid $300,000. Erin Murphy, its chief operating officer and chief bid officer, earns
Boldyga said. Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox thanked Boldyga and Humason and said the town could use some relief with projects. “We’re going to be between a rock and a hard place in the next fiscal year,” said Fox, citing the sewer project mandated from the state for the school renovation as a financial concern. Fox said the salt shed, lake and culverts are important needs. He said water concerns for the town also impact Westfield and West Springfield because of the water supply and aquaduct that runs through the lakes. “Whatever you can do, we greatly appreciate it,” said Fox.
WESTFIELD – In an attempt to provide the best service to children, the Westfield Public Schools are combining the kindergarten registration process with the mandated screening required by Chapter 766. To make an appointment for registration and screening, parents should contact the elementary school that the children in their neighborhood attend:
FORMER GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK $215,000, while chief administrative officer Joe Rull’s salary is $175,000. Patrick had not done any travel for the group. The former two-term governor, who left office in January, had said earlier he had been retained as a consultant to help promote Boston and Massachusetts as sites for the games to members of the International Olympic Committee. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, who led the organizing committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, has provided advice to Boston 2024 without being paid. Walsh and Patrick are Democrats; Romney is a Republican. The IOC is expected in 2017 to name a host city for the 2024 summer games. Boston has been selected as the American bid city by the U.S. Olympic Committee and likely will compete with several international entrants, including Rome and Hamburg, Germany. Murphy had defended the decision to compensate Patrick $7,500 a day for travel. See Consulting Job, Page 3
Abner Gibbs (572-6418) Franklin Avenue (572-6424) Highland (572-6428) Juniper Park (572-8280) Munger Hill (572-6520) Paper Mill (572-6519) Southampton Road (572-6435) School Committee policy states children must be five years of age on or before August 1, 2015 to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten for September 2015. There can be no exceptions to the policy. Proof of immunizations, proof of lead screening, and a birth certificate are required and should be returned to the school with the registration forms. Screening is not a test or an in-depth evaluation, but an observation of how a child is growing in different areas of development. This screening is mandated by State Law. A screening team composed of specialists will be observing the children’s development in several areas, namely: speech, language, gross and fine motor skills, behavior and physical development. Screening will take place in each elementary school. The school secretary will help set up the appointment and will make arrangements to obtain the registration forms. Due to the expected volume of students, appointments are absolutely necessary. If you are unsure of the designated school, please call the Superintendent’s office 572-6403 to find out the school the children in your neighborhood attend.