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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it inflames the great.” — BUSSY-RABUTIN
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 26
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017
Bridge balustrade boondoggle addressed By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–The city has officially put out to bid a project to replace the balustrades at three Westfield parks. The bids will be to replace the balustrades at the Women’s Temperance, Half Mile and KaneWojtkiewicz parks, located in the Great River Bridge portion of the city. The balustrades were considered unsafe by the third-party engineering firm Habeeb and Associates, so the city will seek to replace them. Bids are due in by Feb. 23, and the project was estimated to cost $300,000, with a majority of the cost for the project being covered by money that was used for another project. “The financing for the project is through the existing parks bond known as the ‘Bullens Field Restoration Project’,” Sullivan said. The Bullens Field Restoration Project helped
Construction barriers af the balustrades at Half Mile Falls Park. bring the Babe Ruth World Series to Westfield, and also helped to improve and modernize several portions of Bullens Field. The money left over from the Bullens project makes up about $275,000, which will go toward
the balustrade repairs and should be able to at least cover its cost until the next fiscal year, if not altogether, Sullivan said. If the city does need to cover additional costs prior to the next fiscal year, then they may have to draw from the city’s free cash account. This account has money that has not been declared yet for city projects, and is often used to fund projects and concerns not addressed in the city’s budget. The balustrades were originally installed during the Great River Bridge Project that occurred in 2012. Although OKed at the time, Habeeb and Associates, who was brought in by the city last year to assess the balustrades’ safety, found that they should be replaced to improve protection. The new balustrades, in addition to being See Balustrades, Page 3
The new balustrades being put in that are currently around the Westfield River.
2017 Motocross Nationals coming back to Southwick By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Select Board discussed the 2017 Motocross Nationals at their Tuesday night meeting. Rick Johnson of The Wick 338, spoke to the board members about the great support the nationals got from the town last summer as he expects the same for this year’s event. “We certainly have one of the strongest fan bases in the country, and growing,” said Johnson. According to Johnson, the title sponsor for the 2017 race will continue to be Red Bull and NBC will do the live broadcast for the event on July 8. There are also three new affiliates that will be joining the 2017 nationals, the Metropolitan Sports Committee, J-Day Sprint Enduro, and J-Day Bar X Bar. Johnson also mentioned a number of additions to the national event. About 1,000 feet of additional new fencing will be added around the course, a new infield VIP suite, and a relocation of the old finish line buildings so there will be room for a retail store. The amount of money that the nationals brought into the area last year was also discussed, as businesses collectively throughout Western Mass brought in anywhere from $1.3 to $1.4 million. Johnson said that several hotels from Westfield, West Springfield, and near Bradley International Airport in East Windsor, Conn., all prospered during national’s weekend. The Select Board also went through the 2017 schedule that Wick 338 has put together. Last year, there were 25 racing events, this year there will be 26. For non-racing events, there were nine last year and this year there will be 12.
The Wick 338 team prepared to get the track ready for the 2016 Motocross Nationals. (Photo
Dan Paquette, left, receiving a donation from Mayor Brian Sullivan, right.
Pictured left to right are Blandford town administrator Angeline Ellison and selectmen Andy Montanaro, Adam Dolby and William Levakis. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Town of Blandford not ready for audit By AMY PORTER Correspondent BLANDFORD – At Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, certified public accountant Josephine Sarnelli, a Westfield resident, reported on the status of the FY2016 closing for the town. Sarnelli said the numbers had stayed the same for three months, and that she was waiting on the completion of Schedule A before signing off and submitting the reports to the state. Board chair Adam Dolby asked if that was the last step of the closing. Sarnelli said the state would then have to accept the reports. “My goal is to get the numbers in so we can start reconciling this year. If we’re doing what we should be doing, we should be closing out each month,” Sarnelli said. Dolby asked if the town would be in the position following the closing to get financial statements on a monthly basis. Sarnelli said until these reports were done, there was nothing to be reconciled to. She said they have minimized the number of accounts, but still have problems linking accounts through the software, a project she is working on. She said
she didn’t begin the process until late September when she was rehired by the town. “If we start the process now, I think we’ll have it done this year, but it has to be with the cooperation of the whole team,” Sarnelli said. Sarnelli, a CPA specializing in forensic accounting, was a key figure in uncovering the alleged theft of more than $150,000 from the town and its taxpayers by former tax collector LeeAnne Thompson, who held the position from 2003 to 2011. Sarnelli first noticed irregularities in the financial statements in 2011, when she was hired to do a turnover audit at the request of new tax collector June Massee following Thompson’s departure. At the time, Sarnelli made a series of recommendations to the town, including converting the positions of treasurer and tax collector to appointed rather than elected positions, and also hiring a town administrator. Angeline Ellison was hired as town administrator in August of last year. Following a series of turnovers in treasurers, Sarnelli was hired back in 2015 to assist in the FY2015 closing See Blandford Audit, Page 3
by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Westfield Athenaeum seeks more donations for renovations By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–The Westfield Athenaeum hopes that this year’s “Love Your Library Month” will not only bring valentines to the library, but also donations. The Westfield Athenaeum staff celebrated the beginning of Love Your Library Month with a fundraiser and informational session last night, with the hopes of raising awareness and funds for the library’s renovations through the Rise to Knowledge campaign. The funding will go toward renovations to allow for greater handicap access to the library, as well as revamping several spaces within the library. “We’re kicking off Love Your Library month with a community challenge,” Dan Paquette, director of the Athenaeum, said last night. “We’re looking to raise capital funds for universal access improvements that total $1.5 million.” To this point, the campaign was said to have raised about $1.1 million and Paquette and others hope that by the end of the month an additional $100,000 can be raised for the project. “We are looking for little donors, just $5 or $10,” Paquette said. He added that any total donation will be welcome and that this month isn’t the only time you can donate–donations are accepted year-round. The renovations are being done to create See Renovations, Page 3
Workshop on Basic Rights in Special Education tonight By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Confused about the difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP? Do you know your rights qualifying for, or receiving special education for your child? The Westfield Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites families to get answers at a workshop Thursday evening, Feb. 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 in the South Middle School cafeteria entitled “Section 504 and Basic Rights in Special Education.” Speakers will be Susan Dargie, Westfield Public Schools director of curriciulum and instruction, and Dr. Adam Garand, administrator of special services. The hour-long presentation will be followed by time to share concerns, get advice, and visit with other parents and families. Refreshments and childcare will be provided. For more information, contact SEPAC leaders Dawn Altieri, Rachel Bullock, Michele Douglas and Melissa Rutkowski at westfieldsepac@ gmail.com.
The Rise to Knowledge sign outside of the Athenaeum, showing how much has been raised