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VOL. 86 NO. 151 VOL. VOL.86 86NO. NO.151 188
TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, 27, 10, 2017 THURSDAY, JUNE AUGUST 2017
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Cowles Bridge off limits to Westfield Fire Dept. By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—In a letter to the Westfield Fire Dept on Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has requested that all Westfield Fire Department vehicles that exceed posted weight limits no longer use the Southwick Road bridge. The Cowles Bridge, which runs along Route 10 and 202 and is over the Little River, has been used by the fire department to gain access to the other side but only in emergency
responses, according to Westfield Fire Chief Mary Regan. Now however, the department’s vehicles are largely unable to use the bridge due to preexisting weight limits, lack of waiver and based on the request from MassDOT, which Regan said can cause delays in responding to emergencies. “Essentially none of our vehicles can cross the bridge,” Regan said. According to Westfield Police Officer Charles Kielbasa of the city police department’s traffic bureau, several of the trucks the fire depart-
ment uses are over the weight limit listed on the bridge, which is 12 tons for 2-axle vehicles, 16 tons for 3-axle vehicles and 29 tons for 5-axle vehicles. “I weighed several of the trucks and all of them are overweight—the two axle pumper trucks and three axle ladder trucks, are well over those limits,” he said. “The ambulances will be under, the rescue truck, that’s under.” The weights are gathered with a See Cowles Bridge, Page 3 A portion of Cowles Bridge, which is along Southwick Road.
Marijuana subcommittee discusses drafted town bylaw
Franklin Land Trust and Preserve North Pond receives check from local business
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The marijuana Subcommittee held their second official meeting on Monday night. Subcommittee member Marcus Phelps noted that their main focus is to form a town bylaw on both medical and recreational marijuana based on the updates in the state’s recreational marijuana law. The state has developed a 75-page document that refers to the original law that was passed for recreational marijuana. “There are stipulations in there that relate to a local bylaw,” said Phelps. Although, there is a document, the subcommittee is still waiting for a more clear and elaborate response from the state about the law for recreational use. “Once we have that, it’ll make a lot more sense,” said fellow member Doug Moglin. It is expected that the state could begin issuing medical marijuana licenses as early as April 2018. On Monday, the subcommittee had two drafted bylaws in front of them for review. The draft the subcommittee looked at was the document that Phelps created which was based on the PVPC (Pioneer Valley Planning Commission) model. The marijuana subcommittee discussed a number of things in the drafted bylaw, including the separation of sales in residential areas, especially with 74% of Southwick being residential zoning. According to Moglin, the areas in town where medical
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Big Y supermarket of Southwick presented a $1,000 check to the Franklin Land Trust on Wednesday morning at their College Highway Big Y location. The funds donated were the result of a recent charity golf tournament that Big Y hosted. Rich Hubbard, the Executive Director of the Franklin Land Trust, was pleased with the relationship that has been formed with Big Y. “This has been a big lift, so we really appreciate the support of Big Y,” said Hubbard. “Finding another partnership is really great.” Hubbard also announced that Franklin Land Trust is working with the Amelia Peabody Foundation, a grant-making institution located in Wellesley, Mass. Through this partnership, Franklin Land Trust will be able to accept a $200,000 challenge grant from the Amelia Peabody Foundation, if they can raise $200,000 worth of donations by December 15, 2017, with the help of North Pond supporters. Christopher Pratt, who is the Chairman of the Conservation Commission and was in attendance for the presentation of the Big Y check, said that it’s important for the community to take part in the latest fundraising opportunities for supporting North Pond. “It’s really important that we get people motivated,” said Pratt. Most recently, and reported by the Westfield News on July 25, Franklin Land Trust met with the Select Board and the CPC (Community Preservation Committee) and discussed the updates on the North Pond land acquisition. Franklin Land Trust has been given an extension from the land owner of the North Pond property, which lasts until May 2018 as there is about $1.8 million left to be raised in order to preserve the land.
See Bylaw, Page 8
Huntington residents turn out Wednesday for a Special Town Meeting to vote on the Gateway budget. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Huntington votes twice on Gateway budget By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – 85 registered voters came out to a Special Town Meeting on Wednesday to vote for a second (and third) time on the Gateway Regional School budget. The vote on the overminimum contribution of $722,266, the first of three Articles, had to be retaken due to a challenge to the validity of the first vote. Doors were open early to Stanton Hall for residents before any town officials arrived for the 6:30 p.m. meeting. Residents signed in with their addresses, but were not confirmed on the voter registration rolls. The first attempt at a vote by paper ballot resulted in ten more votes cast than residents who signed in, leaving the question of whether the votes were cast by registered voters. The meeting had to be paused as selectmen consulted with the Town Counsel Thomas W. McEnaney by phone, who said the original vote was null and void. Some residents objected, saying that several people had left following the first vote. However, the only course was to have everyone remaining at the meeting sign in on the voter rolls, and cast a second paper ballot. Town treasurer Aimee Burnham, who counted both ballots with an assistant, shredded the first ballot before the second vote was taken. The results of the
first ballot were not announced. In the end, Huntington’s over-minimum contribution to Gateway was rejected by a vote of 32 yes to 52 no, one less than the registered voters that had been confirmed. The second and third Articles were for an additional sum of $4,004 for Huntington’s share of the minimum contribution, which is set by the state; and an additional sum of $11,000 for Huntington’s costs for vocational tuition. Both questions passed by a majority of hands with no discussion. The confusion of the vote-taking overshadowed the discussion on the overminimum contribution that preceded it. When the first Article was moved and seconded, Ed Renauld, chair of the Board of Selectmen, said they were not recommending approval. During the discussion, Selectman Darlene McVeigh read a lengthy argument which challenged Gateway’s assertion that the budget could not be cut without impacting student services. McVeigh cited the following statistics: Gateway spends $17,381 per pupil, 112% of the state per pupil average. She also said the superintendent’s salary is 300% of the state per pupil average, while teachers earn 91% of that same average. By press time, The Westfield News was not able to confirm the accuracy of these See Gateway Budget, Page 3
Big Y of Southwick presented Franklin Land Trust Executive Director Rich Hubbard, Conservation Commission Chairman Chris Pratt, and Select Board Chairman Doug Moglin a $1,000 check towards preserving the North Pond property. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
Girl Scouts seeking vendors for farmers’ market
Westfield Girl Scout Troop 40230, led by leaders Patricia O’Connor and Lisa Stawasz, includes Heather O’Connor, Kristen Stawasz, Allison Bower and Paige Stawasz. The troop will sponsor a farmers’ market at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church on Aug. 20.
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondeent WESTFIELD-Food vendors have a unique opportunity on Aug. 20 on the grounds of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church – to showcase their local produce at a farmers’ market hosted by Girl Scout Troop 40230. The troop members – Allison Bower, Heather O’Connor, Kristen Stawasz and Paige Stawasz – gathered Wednesday morning at the church at 127 Holyoke Road to discuss lastminute logistics with their leaders, Patricia O’Connor and Lisa Stawasz, in anticipation of filling the front lawn of the church from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jordan Bower, another troop member, was unable to attend the gathering. The deadline for vendors to reserve a space free of charge is Aug. 13 by emailing Patricia O’Connor at oconnorp1749@comcast. net. Vendors are expected to set up their space at 7 a.m. “Vendors and shoppers should participate because it is a great opportunity for the community to come together to share healthy, local foods, to support local businesses and neighbors, and to help the environment by encouraging eating locally,” said Patricia O’Connor, adding that an additional
benefit for vendors is a guarantee of a “good amount of potential customers.” This will be the third year that troop members have conducted a farmers’ market and note each year the event continues to grow. The market idea was spawned after an intensive year-long Girl Scout leadership journey titled “Sow What?” “The girls looked at where our food comes from, how it is processed and delivered to us and the carbon footprint created in the process,” said Patricia O’Connor. “We spent a good amount of time focused on local foods and food sources.” The “journey” challenged the girls to examine food-related issues and put a plan into action that would help solve one or more of the issues raised. “The plan the girls chose to put into action was to create a farmers’ market that would bring attention to all the wonderful foods and food sources we have in our own backyard – in some cases – literally,” added O’Connor, who has a garden brimming with zucchini, tomatoes and squash. After the girls studied “backyard gardeners” they realized See Girl Scouts, Page 8