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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 118
“There are many
Gateway FY17 budget approved after four towns vote for passage By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – With a majority vote in favor of the Gateway Regional FY17 budget at Monday’s annual town meeting, Montgomery became the fourth of Gateway’s towns to vote for passage of the school budget. In the last few weeks, Blandford, Russell, and Middlefield all approved Gateway’s assessments at their meetings. With four towns needed to approve the budget, the FY 17 budget is now official, regardless of how the towns of Huntington and Chester vote in June. Last year, the Gateway FY 16 budget was not finalized until midDecember, after having been rejected four times by the towns at annual meetings and special town meetings over the course of the year. After the Sign at the beginning of Littleville Road in Huntington, leading to the last defeat in November, the Gateway Regional schools. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education came in to set the budget as of Dec. 1, taking control away from the School Committee and the towns for the remainder of the fiscal year. This year, the school district was determined not to let that happen again. The district took action early, reducing the budget by $426,000 by returning 5th grade to the elementary schools, closing the Middle School administrative office, and returning to a Junior High (6-8) and Senior High (9-12) model. Due to the retirement of several key administrators, the district also eliminated administrative positions by attrition and increased the workload of remaining members of the administration but without reducing the teaching staff. After member towns wrote to the School Committee in February
requesting level assessments to the towns, which would have reduced the budget by an additional $190,000 to $250,000 according to Superintendent David B. Hopson, the School Committee voted to pass the budget with an amendment to reconsider assessments in April once the House budget was known. At the April 27 meeting, a revised budget was presented which included a downward adjustment of $91,932 in assessments, reducing the overall increase to the towns to 1.09%. This was made possible due to an increase of just over $30,000 in Chapter 70 funds, and just under $60,000 in transportation reimbursement contained in the House budget, according to Gateway business manager Stephanie Fisk. See Budget, Page 3
Downtown Community Police Center opening By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD – The police department eyes opening the downtown community police center next week. The community police annex will be located on Main St. in Westfield, and is being constructed in space donated by George’s Jewelers. The police hope that the building and location will help to increase community awareness and involvement, while potentially curbing crime. The facility will be opening Monday, May 23, and will have a grand opening celebration scheduled within the next two weeks. “We want to have a place where people can come and it’s not intimidating,” sergeant Eric Hall of the Westfield Police Department said about the building. Hall said that people will be welcome to come into the building and get paperwork or to discuss situations with police. However, the downtown location will not have the capability to process or hold people, although police officers will be present during normal operating hours. The operating hours will be 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition to traditional police availability and reports, Hall said that the location will provide added benefits for citizens. “We are hoping to have other resources (at the downtown location), such as abuse counselors and social workers,” Hall said. These resources will provide citizens with information, and be available for meet and greets, as well as other events. Hall said that the location also allows the police to have a central location for several events in the city. This provides them with ample access to the various needs of citizens, either if a police presence is needed or if there are complaints or questions. According to Hall, the building will be staffed by citizen volunteers and interns. Hall anticipates that the interns will come from the criminal justice program and Westfield State University, and the citizens will be from the city itself. Currently, they are accepting applications for volunteers through the summer, and can be found by emailing Hall at e.hall@cityofwestfield.org.
Report: UMass is admitting too many out-of-state students BOSTON (AP) — A Boston-based public policy research institute has released a report critical of the University of Massachusetts for admitting too many out-of-state students to its Amherst campus. The Pioneer Institute's report released Thursday says the UMass system has ramped up academic selectivity and increased its focus on out-of-state recruiting at the expense of in-state students. Gregory Sullivan, former state inspector general and lead researcher of Pioneer's study, says this combination has placed the Amherst school out of reach for many high school graduates in Massachusetts. See UMass Students, Page 3
Ruth Preston of Southwick succeeded in changing the town from Selectmen to a Select Board at the Annual Town Meeting Tuesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Preston wins name change battle for Southwick Select Board By AMY PORTER Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Southwick town governance got an update at the Annual Town Meeting when its name was changed from the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board at the Annual Town Meeting. Resident Ruth Preston, who is the administrative assistant for the Planning Board, put the question to voters last year, but the article failed. This year, Preston asked to have the question placed on the election ballot. The Board chose to include it in the Annual Town Meeting instead. One of the concerns about the measure was the cost of changing the name and what documents would need to be changed. At the meeting, Preston said that 45 towns have changed from Selectmen to Select Boards. She said she spoke to towns that have made the change, and they reported no expense and no problems. One of the reasons she said is that towns rely less on printed materials, and can make a lot of changes online. She said printed materials that do have the former name can be used as is until they’re used up. Preston said many other public offices have undergone name changes. Firemen are now firefighters, policemen, police officers, and mailmen, mail carriers. A question was asked as to what individual select people would be called after a name change.
Hands were raised for a vote count for the name change, which succeeded 74 to 56. (Photo by Amy Porter) “Members of the Select Board,” Preston replied. “We’re going to leave it up to the voters,” said Russell S. Fox, vice-chair of the Selectmen. “Selectmen, Select Board – we’ve been called a lot worse than that.” Fox said according to his review, there are 296 Boards of Selectmen, and 18 operating as Select Boards. “I would be proud if Southwick changed that. Why not be a leader rather than a follower,” said another resident from the floor. A majority vote was needed to pass the Article. After an audible vote was inconclusive, a vote count was taken from the floor with hands raised. The name change passed 74 to 56. After the meeting, Preston said she has been pushing for the name change for three years. “It’s been a long battle,” she said with a smile.