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WEATHER TONIGHT
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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2017
VOL. 86 NO. 114
“The worst-tempered people I’ve ever met
were people who knew they were wrong.”
— WILSON MIZNER
75 cents
Chapter 90 funding total is in for Westfield By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–With the official announcement of how much chapter 90 funding will be available for Westfield this upcoming fiscal year, city officials can now begin the process of utilizing the funds, which means more infrastructure work in Westfield. Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan confirmed the $1.224 million total that was granted through chapter 90 funding, a reimbursement program that gives money back to municipalities for certain approved transportation projects through the state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The money, according to Sullivan, will focus on his previous
campaign promise to improve infrastructure and roads. “The funds are committed to roads and infrastructure projects solely, 100 percent,” Sullivan said. “But we’re not just filling potholes–we are updating streets, repaving.” According to Mark Cressotti, city engineer for Westfield, the city already has a list of streets ready for implementation of the funds. He said that the list is almost complete, with most of the money being set aside for each project. However, the city may add projects to the list. “We are close to the full amount, just under the total,” Cressotti said. Cressotti added that the list may be
changed, with exigent circumstances being a reason, but if a change occurs the entire list may be modified. This could apply later to streets like St. Dennis and Avery, Cressotti said. The city currently has projects listed in order of priority. Among the roads slated for projects, Cressotti said that Montgomery Road, North Road, Granville Road and Dry Bridge Road are all expected to get paving work done on them, as well as “mill overlay.” According to Sullivan, the chapter 90 funds can only be used on city-approved public streets, which is why he believes See Chapter 90 Funds, Page 5
New city budget could lead way for more code enforcement
Bike Week to offer community events to residents By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – With National Bike Week starting today, May 13, Westfield continues its tradition of bringing the initiative to the residents of the Whip City. An annual event in the Pioneer Valley since 2000, New Horizons Bike Shop Owner Don Podolski had been the coordinator of the event until 2016. A part of the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, Podolski said that Bike Week became statewide and Westfield has grown into a major supporter of the event. “We’re probably one of the most active communities in bike week,” said Podolski. Once Podolski decided he was finished with coordinating in 2016, Alice Flyte took over that role for the Friends of Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Receiving help from PVPC (Pioneer Valley Planning Commission) for coordinating some of the events, Flyte sees Westfield Bike Week as a tremendous opportunity for the residents. “It’s just to get people out and get biking in their brain,” said Flyte. “That’s what the rail trail is all about, biking, walking, and being active.” Flyte also added that PVPC has provided posters around town and surveys for bikers to fill out. Kicking off Westfield Bike Week, on May 13, “Pedal-In Coffee Break” will take place from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Mama Cakes on Elm St. in Westfield. See Bike Week, Page 5
Don Podolski of New Horizons Bike will be offering one of many events for Westfield Bike Week this year. (WNG File Photo)
CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars president Cynthia Neary. (Submitted photo)
MONDAY NIGHT
CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars set to give out 97 scholarships By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The 55th annual CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars Awards Night will be held this Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the South Middle School. CSF Westfield, which stands for Citizen Scholarship Foundation, gave out its first scholarship in May of 1963, one year after the chapter started raising money for student scholarships. Since that time, more than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded to more than 6,000 Westfield students. On Monday night, 97 scholarships will be awarded for a total value of $125,000. According to CSF Westfield president Cynthia Neary, in order to qualify for up to four scholarships, students must be Westfield residents. Due to school choice, they may be attending high school anywhere. “We have students who were home-schooled and attended Christian schools. One student is at Northampton High School, one at Gateway, Williston, and Suffield. Students may complete their education within or outside of Westfield,” Neary explained. In a departure in policy from other chapters around the country, many of whom restrict scholarships to high school seniors, CSF Westfield also gives scholarships to returning college students. See CSF, Page 5
Southwick DPW recaps winter season By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick DPW is working and preparing spring and summer road projects but has reviewed the snow removal results from this past winter. According to DPW Director Randy Brown, there were 12 plow-able snow events this past winter, with three of those being two-day events. Unofficially, Southwick had 74 inches of snow, which is higher than the average winter for this region of the country. “This was certainly a more
Southwick DPW workers were involved in 12 plow-able events this past winter. (WNG File Photo)
Chapter 90 funding in the city could also mean increased use of the infrared pothole vehicle, which uses infrared technology to fill potholes. Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan previously stated the potential for this in early April.
challenging year than the last couple years,” said Brown. “Overall, I think it went pretty well.” With a brand new salt shed this year, it certainly was helpful as the DPW used around 2,000 tons of salt while crews used 70 tons of sand. Brown also mentioned that when storms had accumulations of two inches or more, 15 to 18 trucks were brought in from outside contractors to assist Southwick DPW. “The toughest are when we get those back-to-back storms,” said Brown. In total, the DPW spent about $500,000 out of their budget for snow removal operations.
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—As budget season kicks into high gear, officials hope to bring back a position that could quell some residents’ complaints about lack of enforcement in the city. Mayor Brian Sullivan is gathering budgets from each of the city’s departments, with many coming with little to no increases. According to Sullivan, his budget should be done by the end of the month and ready for city council review. And while budgets are coming in, city officials may have found a way to fund a code enforcement officer, giving them an additional person to fine for an array of code and ordinance violations. “It’s planned in the budget currently for a code enforcement officer,” Sullivan said. “Peter Miller [community development director] has money in community development through block grants for code enforcement, and we will entertain the idea for fiscal year 2018.” With the use of block grants, Sullivan said the position would not have to be funded through the general fund, which means it does not have to be directly paid for through the city budget. Sullivan said that the potential position would be through the city’s police department, which previously had a code enforcement officer about five years ago. The position would be an appointed one, going to an as-of-yet-named person, possibly within the police department. The position would not be fulltime Sullivan said, but rather he suggested it would work similar to an overtime position. “I think it’s a great thing,” Sullivan said. The position would be able to enforce a number of ordinance and code violations, ranging from the health department to zoning to animal control to building. This potential could help ease residents’ concerns, who in public meetings at times have asked for increased enforcement of existing rules and regulations. Regarding the budget overall, Sullivan said that he is hoping for a balanced budget that is on the level of last fiscal year’s budget. “The department heads were saddled with giving me 0 percent increases and in most cases that’s what we’ll have,” Sullivan said. However, he noted that exceptions to that are expected to occur. Ones that may be excepted are “project-based,” he said. “Like the Department of Public Works infrastructure projects,” he said. “Numbers aren’t set in stone but that’s where we are leaning.” He also said that the city would is not expected to lay off any workers, “but there will be unfunded positions based on attrition.” One such example of this is the combined job of treasurer-collector for Westfield that previously occurred. This will happen through an anticipation of retirements and other departmental changes, he said. Mayor Sullivan is scheduled to be a guest on The Westfield News Radio Show Thursday June 1st to discuss the city’s budget. The Westfield News Radio Show happens every Thursday from 6-8am on WSKB 89.5fm live from the Press Room coffee shop on School St.
WESTFIELD MAYOR BRIAN SULLIVAN