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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 127
“Originality
does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself.” — JAMES STEPHENS
75 cents
Land taking approved, transfer pushed off By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Legislative & Ordinance Committee will bring out two motions to the City Council tonight with positive recommendations, but are keeping some of the more controversial issues in committee for further review. The committee voted Tuesday night to bring out a zone change for property at 353 Root Road to the entire council with a recommendation that it be approved. The zone change would allow the establishment of a farm brewery. Ralph, Joseph and Nicholas Cocchi are requesting the zone change to support operation of a farm brewery at that location. The business would not only involve small scale brewery operation, but also retail sales and serving of alcohol on premises.
The zone change is being made because a farm brewery business does not fit neatly into any of the current zoning classifications. The motion under consideration by the City Council would change the current Commercial A zoning to Business A, which is more compatible with the proposed farm brewery use. If the City Council approves the zone change, the petitioners will still have to seek a special permit from the Planning Board because the property falls within the city’s Water Resource overlay district. The special permit is required to ensure groundwater, which includes the city’s aquifers, protection. The petitioners would also have to obtain state and city alcohol-related licenses. The L&O will also give a positive recommendation to property takings related to the North
DAVID FLAHERTY RALPH FIGY MARK CRESSOTTI Elm and Notre Dame Streets intersection land abutting the work site before construction improvements which include dedicated turning can begin. lanes to reduce traffic congestion at the intersecThe Finance Committee, slated to meet tonight tion. at 6 p.m. also has to approve an appropriation of The addition of the dedicated left-turn lanes $86,575 for the eminent domain takings related to require that the pavement be widened and the the intersection reconfiguration work. installation of a new sidewalk on the west side of Elm Street mean that the city will have to take See L&O, Page 3
Humason amendment seeks reimbursement for Southwick residents
Southampton OKs CPA projects, vehicles By CHRIS LINDAHL @cmlindahl Daily Hampshire Gazette SOUTHAMPTON — Voters at the second and final night of Town Meeting on Wednesday approved purchase of a new police cruiser, a Highway Department pickup truck and five Community Preservation Act projects. Around 55 people attended the gathering, which ran just over an hour at the William E. Norris School. The attendance was a sharp decline from more than 200 people who turned out Tuesday night to approve three Proposition 2½ overrides and a debt exclusion while voting down a $10.8 million public safety complex. Voters Tuesday also approved a $16.43 million operating budget for fiscal 2016. On Wednesday night, residents took about a dozen votes to approve housekeeping matters, such as the establishment of revolving accounts and dealing with transfer station and water department finances. Voters also unanimously approved the purchase of five big ticket items, to be paid for from the capital stabilization fund: $61,551 for a new 2015 Ford F-450 with snowplow for the Highway Department, which Highway Superintendent Randall Kemp said will replace a 1997 Ford F-350. $47,000 to replace parts of a 19-year-old heating and cooling system at the Edwards Public Library. $44,623 for a new police cruiser with dashboard camera to replace one of the Police Department’s Crown Victorias. $24,000 for a new telephone system for the William E. Norris School. $9,000 for three sets of firefighter turnout gear. Voters also unanimously approved funding of these CPA projects: $11,000 to install automatic doors at Town Hall and the Senior Center. See Southampton, Page 3
purpose of funding the Gateway Regional School District OverMinimum contribution for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2015? A “yes” vote would have resulted in a permanent increase to the levy limit, adding about .58 cents per thousand to the tax rate. The question was defeated by voters 207-60. The second ballot question asked for a debt exclusion for the remainder of the loan on a highway loader the town purchased last year, after approval by voters at the annual town meeting. A “yes” vote would have resulted in a temporary increase to the tax rate of about .16 cents per thousand through the last payment in 2019. The question was defeated 176-91.
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer BOSTON – Some local residents are one step closer to financial relief related to switching their power company. An amendment crafted by state Sen. Donald F. Humason (R- Westfield) passed the Senate unanimously this week that will require refunds and/ or credits to those rateSEN. HUMASON payers that saw retroactive charges on their electric bills this winter due to a largely unknown Department of Public Utilities regulation from 2000. The amendment was adopted without opposition and will be part of the Senate’s final budget proposal. “We still have two more hurdles.” Humason said, “We need it to make it through Conference Comittee to the budget and get it signed by Governor Baker.” A similar bill proposed in the House failed. Humason said the big difference between his bill and the House bill is reimbursement. “The House version didn’t have anything about reimbursement,” he said. “I’m happy we were able to get this passed in the Senate.” Humason credited his colleagues for their support, but said it was the constituents themselves who made it happen.
See Voters, Page 3
See Humason, Page 3
HUNTINGTON TOWN HALL
Huntington voters elect Damon, nix tax bumps By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – In the only contest in Saturday’s town election, longtime School Committee member Roland Damon defeated write-in candidate Darlene McVeigh, a member of the town’s Finance Committee, 121-105 for a three-year term on the Gateway Regional School District School (GRSD) committee. Damon previously taught at Gateway for 22 years. Also defeated were two ballot questions asking voters to ante up. The first question asked for a Proposition 2 ½ override for the GRSD over-minimum contribution. The question read: Shall the Town of Huntington be allowed to assess an additional $110,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the
For Airmen, ‘it’s all about collaboration’ By BONNIE HARPER Second Lieutenant Massachusetts Air National Guard RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany— When it comes to protecting and defending the United States, the Air National Guard and active-duty Air Force have different roles, primarily fulfilling state and federal missions respectively. Regardless of the chain of command each branch falls under, all Airmen wear the same uniform, train the same way, and train the way they fight. In wartime contingencies, Airmen from both Guard and active duty are called to deploy and will have to integrate with each other while overseas. Having the opportunity to train together in a non-war environment provides great opportunities for learning and teamwork. Approximately 50 members from the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base recently deployed to Ramstein
and Spangdahlem Air Bases to train and work with their active-duty counterparts from May 4-17. “It’s all about collaboration,” said Maj. Matthew Mutti, 104th Force Support Squadron commander and project officer for the deployment. The guardsmen who deployed all fall under the 104th Mission Support Group, working in the various units of services, personnel, security forces, logistics, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, and fire department. Members of the services flight spent one week training in dining halls, gyms, and lodging facilities across Ramstein, giving them the opportunity to train on specific aspects of services that cannot be duplicated at Barnes. “I have taken full advantage of this training opportunity,” said Staff Sgt. Adrianne Johnson, the noncommissioned officer in charge of lodging at Barnes.
Members of the 104th Military Personnel Flight spent a week working with the 786th MPF at Ramstein and had the unique opportunity to help then with the Kaiserslautern Military Community Joint Passport Outreach Day on May 6. “The visiting members from the Massachusetts Air National guard augmented our passport agents and volunteers in an outstanding manner and with such a positive attitude,” said Annette Davenport, chief of customer support, 786th Force Support Squadron. In four hours, they were able to expedite 543 passports and birth registrations, helping the Kaiserslautern Passport Offices and the U.S. Consulate to cut the wait time from six to three weeks. “This was a great team effort,” Davenport said. See Airmen, Page 3
Master Sgt. Lori Rowe, 104th Contract Specialist, Barnes Air National Guard Base, works with Erich Reisinger, civilian contractor, 700th Contracting Squadron, May 7, on a new file plan, Kapaun Air Station, Germany. Rowe created a file plan that could track the status of various construction projects, guaranteeing the correct filing and documentation of active and completed projects. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Melanie J. Casineau/Released)