Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
Partly Cloudy. Low of 31.
“Ninety-eight percent of all statistics are made up.” — AUTHOR UNKNOWN
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 76
75 cents
SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017
Chapter 90 funding in Westfield to go toward mayoral campaign promise
WARD FOUR COUNCILOR MARY O’CONNELL
Long-serving city councilor decides to not seek re-election By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Long-serving Ward 4 City Councilor Mary O’Connell has announced that she will not be seeking re-election this year. O’Connell, who has been the ward four councilor for 12 years, across six terms and five mayors, made the announcement to The Westfield News through a letter Thursday. O’Connell is not stepping down from her current position as ward four councilor, and will serve out her term. She is the longest continuously serving member currently on the Westfield City Council. O’Connell, who said that the decision has been “a long time coming,” said that although she has appreciated serving the community, it seems that now is the right time to step back. “I started looking back on things that I’ve accomplished and I’m proud of them but I’m feeling I’m just a little exhausted,” she said. “I’m a little weary and need to take some time.” In O’Connell’s press release, she listed some of her accomplishments: “There have been notable victories. I helped create a better Water Resource Protecting District (an ongoing project) and the CORE District in our downtown area. I took the lead for Westfield residents to stop Russell Biomass © from polluting our air and water and argued against their plan to use out dated wood burning energy facilities. As Chair of Personnel Action I have been part of the process of vetting Mayoral appointments to staff, boards, and commissions, always asking the tough questions. I did not abdicate my responsibilities and simply “rubber stamp” every appointee. As Chair of Zoning, Planning, and Development I worked hard with other Councilors to implement zone changes in all areas of the City. While serving on the Legislation and Ordinance Committee, I assessed ordinance changes and promoted governing efficiencies. Working with other Councilors on the City budget each June was one of the most challenging but important duties I held. This is a cumbersome process and I am proud that working together, we have found success in paring City budgets to a balanced state. O’Connell did not say if her decision to not hold public office is a permanent one or if this could turn into a “sabbatical” from the elected office temporarily. “I think it’s helpful to take some time away and I will take this term and decide if I like being off the council or if I have a mad desire to run again,” she said. “I will leave that option open, but for right now—to gain some per See City Councilor, Page 7
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The state’s House of Representatives passed $200 million in funding for municipalities in Massachusetts this week, with $1.2 million of that money expected to go to Westfield, as well as funds reaching hilltowns in the area. The money will be coming from the state’s Chapter 90 funding, which is a reimbursement program that gives money back to municipalities for certain approved transportation projects. If approved by both the state Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker, the funds will be used exclusively toward “road repair and upgrades,” according to Mayor Brian Sullivan, which he said will be keeping with his campaign’s promises when he first ran for mayor. “The biggest thing to say is the mayor is intent to live up to his directive—that the Chapter 90 money is going toward paving roads,” Mark Cressotti, city engineer for Westfield, said. The money, as long as both the senate and Baker OK it, will not be available until July 1 of this year, and will be for use for fiscal year 2018. According to a press release from Rep. John Velis, who first announced the total for Westfield on Thursday in The
SENATOR DON HUMASON
WESTFIELD MAYOR BRIAN SULLIVAN
Westfield News, the amount Westfield is receiving is the 26th most “among the 351 municipalities in the Commonwealth, and the third highest in Hampden County behind Springfield and Chicopee.” Cressotti said that Sullivan is “still reviewing the candidate list of streets” that will be in line for improvements, but acknowledged that they have a tentative list of streets they are working with. More specifically, Sullivan said that some of the work that is anticipated to be funded
includes patching with the infrared machine, in-house milling and paving, as well as reconstruction on the most critical streets needing repairs. Additionally, both Cressotti and Sullivan noted that funds from fiscal year 2017 will still be used on Franklin Street and Southwick Road, as previously committed to by the city. Southwick and other hilltowns like Tolland and Granville will also use the Chapter 90 money towards any infrastructure work that is needed. For Sen. Don Humason, who represents all three communities, the annual money from the state benefits much-needed road repair projects in the towns he represents. “Chapter 90 funding is always good news for cities and towns,” said Humason. “They have a lot of road work to do and the governor and the legislature know that the earlier that we give the communities notice of their appropriate funds, the better it is for them.” According to Southwick’s Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart, the town usually receives around $360,000 each year in Chapter 90 money, which is See Chapter 90, Page 7
Westfield election calendar set Papers available starting Monday, April 3
Left to right: Dr. Brian Conz, Patrick Rieker, Kane Sheek, Nichole Mowad, Haley Bergs, and Rob Whipple. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WSU student group holds press conference to reinforce pledge for renewable energy By PETER CURRIER, Westfield State University intern, class of 2017 WESTFIELD – Student members of MASSPIRG held a press conference Thursday to discuss an initiative to add to Westfield State University’s (WSU’s) renewable energy system. The press conference, organized by student volunteer for the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group’s (MASSPIRG’s) Nichole Mowad and keynoted by Dr. Brian Conz, focused on the idea that fighting climate change would start with efforts by college campuses.
Mowad said the significant energy consumption by colleges combined with an abundance of space to install solar panels and wind turbines makes them the perfect place to start. MASSPIRG stated that their goal is to have WSU running their entire electrical grid on renewables, like solar power, by 2030, and to have 100 percent of the energy consumption supplied by renewables no later than 2050. Conz, a professor in the WSU Geography and Regional Planning department, said See Student Group, Page 7
Baker-Polito Administration announces funding to cover costs of AP Exams for STEM-related subjects By AMY PORTER Correspondent STEM Advisory Council will spend $326,000 to help low-income students afford the tests BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration announced it will cover the costs of upcoming advanced placement exams in STEM subjects for low-income students, after the federal government recently eliminated specific funding for the exams. Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, who cochairs the STEM Advisory Council, made the announcement at the Everett Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. The STEM
Advisory Council Executive Committee endorsed the Administration’s decision to allocate approximately $326,000 this year, from the STEM Pipeline fund, to cover the costs of AP exams in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, calculus, environment science, and statistics. “Massachusetts has one of the fastest growing innovation economies in the nation, and it is important we continue to develop a strong pipeline of skilled workers to fill critical job openings in STEM fields,” Governor Charlie Baker said. “The Administration’s ability to help provide
FUNdraise for your community hospital
See STEM, Page 7
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The election calendar for the City’s 2017 municipal election on Tuesday, November 7 is now posted on the City Clerk’s page at www.cityofwestfield. org. Monday, April 3 is the first day that any Westfield resident may pick up papers to run for mayor, city councilor, Municipal Light Board commissioner, School Committee member or Athenaeum trustee. City clerk Karen M. Fanion said the two requirements to run for office are residency in the City of Westfield, and to be enrolled as a registered voter. Residents must pick up papers in person at the City Clerk’s office, Room 201 in City Hall at 59 Court Street and sign for them. The entire City Council is up for reelection for a two-year term. There are 13 seats available; six ward seats and seven at-large seats. At the Feb. 1 meeting of the City Council, a vote was approved to increase the salary for a City Councilor to $13,000 annually, beginning on January 1, 2018, with $500 step increases annually up to $15,000 in 2026. Currently, the salary is $10,000 annually. The position of mayor, currently held by Brian P. Sullivan, is also up for election for a two-year term. The mayor’s salary is $100,000 annually. The City Council also grappled with term extensions for the mayor and the council over the past year. There was no consensus to increase the term lengths for City Council, and the motion was withdrawn. However, there is some momentum to put a non-binding referendum question on the ballot to extend the term of mayor to four years. Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy, who introduced the motion to extend term lengths, said that he met with Fanion and city solicitor Susan C. Phillips on Thursday to discuss putting the non-binding referendum on the ballot to see if the public is in favor. If the ballot question were to win a majority, he said it would mostly likely go through a home rule petition to change the city’s charter. He said the change in term length wouldn’t go into effect until the See Election, Page 7
Saturday, April 29, 2017 Stanley Park, Westfield
• 7:30 a.m. Registration – 9:00 a.m. Start Time • Register now at: Baystatehealth.org/noble5k Pre-registration is preferred. • New fundraising incentives • All participants will be crowned at registration Teams welcome! • Participants who raise $50 or more will receive a commemorative wicking shirt! • For questions please call Stephanie Johnson at 413-794-7853 or email Stephanie.Johnson@BaystateHealth.org CS1712805
Baystatehealth.org/noble5k