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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Stoicism is the wisdom of madness and cynicism the madness of wisdom.” — Bergen Evans
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 218
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016
Mandatory water ban in effect for Westfield Westfield Business Improvement District Executive Director Maureen Belliveau, foreground seated second from right, listens to the vote to disband the Westfield Business Improvement District during last night's City Council meeting. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Tempers, votes up for city council By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–Tempers flared and concerns were raised about taxes going up for residents during last night’s city council meeting. The Westfield City Council met Thursday evening and discussed and voted on, among other topics, the recent hot button issue of union contracts with the city. There were a total of seven contracts that the city council had to vote on that were previously negotiated by Mayor Brian Sullivan, all with raises built in over the three-year term of the contracts. These raises are what caught the ire of some councilors, since the raises the first year were factored into this year’s budget, but some councilors believed there was a lack of factoring in those raises for the next two years. The contracts up for vote included ones for Westfield Police, Westfield Fire, crossing guards, clerical workers and municipal employees. The raises were cited as 6 percent over three years for all except the Westfield Fire Department supervisors, which would be 5 percent. “We don’t know everything, we don’t know all the facts,” At-Large City
DANIEL KNAPIK City Councilor Councilor Dave Flaherty said during the meeting. “What are the true numbers? What are the costs?” Flaherty spoke about the unknown amount of money that would be needed to pay for the raises and how the council needed further information before voting “yes.” He also cited a total of $2.1 to $2.4 million as a possible total cost to taxpayers over the life of the contracts if the council approved. This was based on speculation from the first year’s total, which was the only number provided regarding raises to the council by the mayor’s office. “Trees are falling on people, roads need to be fixed, we’re laying off people,”
DAVID FLAHERTY Flaherty said. “We have to say ‘no’ at some point.” At-Large City Councilor Steve Dondley defended Mayor Sullivan’s management of the contracts, however. “I see him as a mayor that’s very conscious of our financial issues,” Dondley said. “I feel the mayor did a great job and the unions worked well with him. I am absolutely in favor of these contracts.” At-Large Councilor Daniel Knapik also supported Sullivan’s negotiations, adding that the risk of not approving the contracts is that the two sides go back to mediation, which could lengthen the process and potentially cost more money. He also wanted
STEVE DONDLEY City Councilor, At-Large to get the votes in and move on to other topics. “Mayor’s job is to take all these issues, city council votes ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” he said. “I would simply say let’s take a vote.” Flaherty disagreed, though. “We’re here to debate,” he said. “If we don’t debate we may as well not show up.” Other councilors spoke up, with Ward 3 Councilor Andrew Surprise, Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell and At-Large Councilor Dan Allie all speaking out against the raises. Each of the councilors said that the groups each deserved raises but voiced their concerns about See City Council, Page 3
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD — The Westfield Water Commission announced Thursday that the city will be under mandatory water use restrictions, effective immediately. Also known as a water ban, the mandatory water use restrictions will prohibit “all non-essential outdoor water use,” according to a handout provided by the water commission. The commission is now taking the next steps to provide mandatory information to all residents. The commission called an emergency meeting on Thursday to announce the ban and address concerns. The ban comes into effect due to three separate underwater wells being put offline due to contamination with PFOA and PFOS–chemicals used for several manufacturing procedures that have been linked to several health problems–as well as the Granville Reservoir, where Westfield gets a majority of its water, continuing to drop in water level. Another well is also currently offline for repairs, but is expected to be back on by the end of the month. David Billups, Westfield Water Resources superintendent, said that the ban is going to be in place “until further notice,” and when asked about when it would be lifted he said “it’s pretty fluid.” According to city engineer Heather Miller, the Granville Reservoir, which is measured by the amount of feet the water level is from the spillway, is currently 8 feet below the spillway. The reservoir’s lowest point last year was just over 6.5 feet. Miller said that these are the worst drought conditions the city has seen since 2002. When the city was in a drought status during that year, she said that there were issues with the water turbidity, which means that particulates were in the water and needed higher filtration. And if water reaches too high of a turbidity level, then water treatment sites have potential to be shut down. Billups said that private wells are not currently affected by the ban, since they are under the regulations of the health department. However, he said that he expects the health department to follow the water commission and ban private wells from non-essential outdoor water use, as well. The announcement could come as early as tomorrow. The water commission will be displaying public notices and using a robo-call system to alert residents about the ban. Westfield Police will reportedly be enforcing the ban, which is a $25 fine on the first offense, then $50 for each subsequent offense. Examples of non-essential outdoor water use include irrigation of lawns, washing of vehicles and washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks. Restrictions will not include water use for health or safety reasons, water use by regulation, water use for production of food and fiber, maintenance of livestock or to meet the core functions of a business, according to the water commission handout.
State official meets with local officials to discuss Congamond Lake By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Several State and Local officials got together in Southwick on Thursday afternoon to discuss the importance of Congamond Lake. Taking place at the Public Boat Ramp for Congamond Lake, the officials first went on a boat tour of the lake, looking at all areas of the body of water and what it has to offer. Mattew Beaton, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, made the trip and it was his first experience on the lake. “I’m happy to come out and see it,” said Beaton. “To be able to come out and see it first-hand gives a different perspective.” Beaton was met by several local officials as they discussed the importance of Congamond Lake and the possibility of helping improve the overall aspects of the lake for the near future. Sen. Don Humason and Rep. Nick Boldyga were present to represent their district. Southwick Select Board Chairman Russ Fox was there along with a few other town officials. Southwick resident John Whalley, who is a strong advocate for preserving North Pond on Congamond Lake, was also at the event. As it was Secretary Beaton’s first time at Congamond Lake, he is certainly not unfamiliar with Sen. Humason and Rep. Boldyga.
All three individuals were in the House of Rep. together in the past. With Congamond Lake being such an important part to the community of Southwick, having the opportunity to show an official at the state level has the potential to be that much more impactful. “It’s both a honor and a privilege to be able to show him our district,” said Humason. “It’s also really helpful in keeping the communications lines open.” “It’s phenomenal to get the secretary out here to really show him that this is part of our aquifer here in Southwick,” said Boldyga. Congamond Lake also provides drinking water to Westfield and West Springfield. The Save North Pond project consists of saving the North Pond land as several members of the Southwick community have made strong efforts to raise $5 million in less than a year. As there are a number of things that Congamond Lake offers to Southwick, officials at the local and state levels will be looking to move progress forward and make improving Congamond Lake a priority for this district. “When everybody realizes that we have such an opportunity like this, everybody’s focused on working together,” said Boldyga. Secretary Beaton does indeed believe that progress will be moving forward with the
From left to right: Rep. Nick Boldyga, Secretary of Environmental Affairs William Beaton, Select Board Chairman Russ Fox, Save North Pond advocate John Whalley, and Sen. Don Humason all went on a boat tour of Congamond Lake on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
help of Sen. Humason and Rep. Boldyga. “We have a great working relationship so I
think we’re going to continue to keep the dialogue going on this.”