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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017
Southwick Recycling rate change mulled By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Southwick DPW Director Randy Brown addressed the Select Board about increasing the recycling prices for residents. Brown had presented this same idea at a Select Board meeting more than a month ago. The current contract for recycling will expire on June 30th and as a result disposal rates will be going up on July 1. With the new contract the current rates will increase more than 16% which is the reason for Brown’s recommendation of increasing their recycling prices for residents. “It’s going to be absorbed by the town,” said Brown. Select Board Clerk Russ Fox declined Brown’s proposal of an increase in recycling prices. However, at Monday’s meeting, Fox suggested that the Select Board put the recycling topic in their goals and objectives for the near future. “There are still a lot of people that don’t recycle,” said Fox. “The more people that we can get to recycle could reduce the cost.” Fox believes that creating more public awareness would be the best step to take. Possible ideas include using Channel 15, offering handouts at the town’s transfer station, doing presentations, and also working with the school district. Brown is certainly willing to comply with the Select Board’s plan for recycling. “If that’s their directive, then I’d be certainly willing to work with them on that,” said Brown. More updates will be given once further progress is made.
Select Board Clerk Russ Fox. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Air National Guard site investigation underway for water contaminants By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD— A site investigation is underway this week at Barnes Air National Guard to further evaluate the issue of contaminants in city water and a potential link to the base. The site investigation is part of a multi-step process being done by the Guard, as outlined from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, according to John Richardson, Base Environmental Coordinator for the site. The investigation is related to the contamination of Westfield groundwater with perfluorinated compounds Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The investigation began on June 26, Richardson said, and is expected to continue until June 30. Results are expected Nov. 30. According to Richardson, this is the second step in a five-step process that is outlined by CERCLA and the EPA. The next step after this one would be remedial/ investigation feasibility, which according to the EPA’s Superfund website: “…involves an evaluation of the nature and extent of contamination at a site and assessing potential threats to human health and the environment. This stage of the process also includes evaluation of the potential performance and cost of the treatment options identified for a site.” See Water, Page 3
(L-R) Andy Myers, chair of the Hilltown Collaborative Members and supporters of the Hilltown Collaborative met with new economic development director Jeanne on Wednesday in Stanton Hall in Huntington. (Photo by Amy LeClair and Chester town administrator Patricia Porter) Carlino at meeting on Wednesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Hilltown Collaborative names Economic Development Director By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – At the start of Wednesday’s Hilltown Collaborativ meeting in Stanton Hall, chair Andrew Myers of Chester announced that the new grant-funded position of economic development director had been filled. Myers then introduced Jeanne LeClair of Haverhill to the group, which is comprised of representatives of the six Gateway hilltowns and partners. Myers said LeClair, who hails from a small town in Missouri, received her bachelor’s degree from Boston University, and master’s in community development from Brandeis. “I’m excited to be a part of this project,” LeClair said, adding that she has told her friends that she’s found her “dream job.” She also said that her aunt and uncle live in Dalton, and she has long admired western Massachusetts. LeClair will formally begin on July 10 and will have office space in Huntington Town Hall, although Myers emphasized that she will be serving the interests of the six Gateway hilltowns, including Huntington, Chester, Middlefield, Montgomery, Russell and Blandford. Following LeClair’s introduction
were updates from two tracks the Hilltown Collaborative has been following in its mission to promote shared services and economic development in the six towns. Molly Goren-Watts of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission gave an overview of the IT analysis PVPC has done in each community. “Jamie Durand and I really enjoyed these visits, and enjoyed your hospitality,” Goren-Watts said. She said the team reviewed workstations, internet connectivity, and software in each of the towns, and is working on a comparative analysis with an eye towards potential shared resources. Goren-Watts said they would not be telling the towns what to do, but making suggestions, such as creating a line item in the budget for information technology, something many towns have not had. She said other recommendations will include specific technical upgrades needed in each community, and the potential for shared document storage and backup, another area in which some of the towns are lacking. Regarding shared personnel, GorenWatts said she thought a shared parttime IT director to do ongoing thinking and long-term planning would be a great idea. The second group to present was
Teen given GSCWM leadership opportunity By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent HOLYOKE-Morgan O’Connor knows in her heart that any future plans she has will include involvement with Girl Scouts. O’Connor, of Westfield, was joined by her mother, Patricia, to meet with Pat Hallberg, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM), on Tuesday afternoon at the Holyoke Service Center on Kelly Way. O’Connor is one of three girl members who have been elected to serve a two-year term on the organization’s board of directors. New members also elected to the board include Diane Ranaldi of East Longmeadow, Jennifer Roy of Easthampton, Felicia Fil of Hadley, Devon Grierson of Pittsfield, Shirley Konneh of Worcester, and Nicole Clarke of See GSCWM, Page 3
Gateway votes on new budget, welcomes new member By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – After receiving the support of only three of the six member towns, the Gateway Regional School Committee met on Wednesday to vote on a new budget and to garner the support of at least one more town. Four towns are required for passage. The new version, which has a bottom line of $16,089,814, includes $105,908 in reductions. “The leaders of the team spent a couple of hours looking at potential reductions from a long list,” said Gateway superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson, adding that they chose ones
with the least impact on student services. Recommended cuts included a halftime nurse in Littleville Elementary, evening security, para subs, and a secretary to be hired mid-year. Also being put off is a planned purchase of textbooks for the high school, and a 30% cut to copier supplies, which Hopson said “may be the most disruptive.” The reductions will reduce assessments to the towns by $7,116 to Huntington and Russell and $4,014 to Chester, the three towns that voted down the budget; and by an additional See New Budget, Page 3
Elan, the design and planning firm that received a grant last year through the Community Compact to do an economic overview of the region and develop a strategy which will be the starting point for the new economic development director. Susan Caruvana, senior planner for Elan Planning, Design, & Landscape Architecture shared an implementation matrix at the meeting designed to outline the initial steps of the strategy, and who would be responsible for taking them. The plan has been completed, and is currently being shared with the members of the Hilltown Collaborative. “The last thing we want to do, after working on this for a year, is to have this sit on a shelf somewhere,” Caruvana said of the plan. The steps in the matrix included project administration, community relations, tourism marketing, and economic development. Newly hired director LeClair was the logical choice to lead much of the effort, with the support of the Hilltown Collaborative and its representatives on each town’s select boards. Other partners who were present at the meeting and offering their support were Michele Kenney, president of the See Collaborative, Page 3
Marijuana sub-committee holds first meeting By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Planning Board’s newly formed marijuana sub-committee had their first meeting on Tuesday night at the Southwick Town Hall. Initially created to get a head start on the marijuana bylaws that will be set by the state, the committee is comprised of seven members of the community: two representatives from the Planning Board, one member each from the Board of Health and Select Board, Police Chief David Ricardi, and two residents of the town. The preliminary meetings involved the committee looking at what is expected See Marijuana, Page 3
The marijuana sub-committee held their first meeting on Tuesday night. (WNG File Photo)