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The Westfield News
The Westfield News will run our masthead in pink, in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 83 NO. 231
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014
75 cents
Knapik ends Wielgus land-taking effort
Alice Wielgus expresses her concern over the city taking her land by eminent domain during the public comment section of a Westfield City Council meeting in July. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Mayor Daniel M. Knapik has notified City Council President Brent B. Bean that the city has withdrawn its application to the National Park Service which requests the designation of the so-called Wielgus Property as protected parkland. Knapik also stated that the city will reapply to the National Park Service for conversion of a city-owned lot where ball fields can be constructed. Knapik, in a letter Monday stated that the City Council no longer has to take action in an order of taking of real estate to develop recreational fields for municipal use by right of eminent domain.
“Thus, no action is requested from the City Council on the Order of Taking or Order of Appropriation associated with this project that was submitted to City Council on May 14, 2014,” Knapik said in the letter. “Further, I would like to take this opportunity to explain two important matters. First, a history on the Wielgus proposal and second, where we go from here. Please be assured I continue to focus on reaching a solution where the City meets National Park Service requirements for conversion of parkland with an end goal of constructing a model elementary school on the Cross Street/Ashley Street site. Over the past several months, the property owner has been
Second bar hit
A thin young man who was able to break in the City Hotel bar early Sunday morning via a small window is seen letting a confederate into the bar by the back door.
clear with public communication to the City Council that she is not interested in the City purchasing her property. In keeping with her request, the City will no longer seek this property as a solution. I want to be clear, however. The City pursued this path because it had been communicated earlier by the landowner that she that she was willing to entertain the possibility of this transaction. The landowner was present for site inspections during the appraisal process and had granted us the right to investigate potential uses. Again, I respect her wishes and those concerns raised by members of the City Council with respect to their uneasiness with the eminent domain process.
With that as background, we continue our pursuit of 1.38 acres of replacement parkland so that we can begin construction of our much needed elementary school at Cross Street and Ashley Street. Over the past several weeks, the City has prepared required documentation and an Environmental Assessment on 3.88-acre city owned parcel at the junction of Ponders Hollow Road and South Meadow Street. The property directly abuts the newly constructed Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, the Little River, and over 300 acres of protected agricultural land. It is my intention to have this application submitted to the See Mayor’s Letter, Page 3
Manny’s opens
By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Burglars who disabled the alarm system and stole the security video apparatus at a Meadow Street bar are the same burglars who struck the Westfield Hotel bar early Sunday morning, police speculate. A city detective reports that she received a call from the owner of Rally’s Bar and Grill yesterday morning who reported that his bar was broken into about the same time the burglary occurred at the City Hotel. Officer Timothy Grady, a veteran of the Detective Bureau, reports that he responded to the report and found that the break-in appeared to be similar to the Westfield Hotel burglary. He also was told that one of the suspects seen in pictures of the Westfield Hotel burglary that were published in The Westfield News may be a person known, only by his first name, by staff and patrons of the bar. The bar owner told Grady that he had called police and left a message on Monday soon after he discovered the See Bar, Page 3
New tower truck will visit Westfield schools By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The younger children in the city’s schools will get a little more time outside next week – and a little more excitement – as the city firefighters spend Fire Prevention Week visiting all the city’s elementary schools. Dep. Fire Chief Patrick Egloff briefed members of the school department Tuesday and said that next week firefighters will bring the department’s new tower truck to each elementary school, and Fort Meadow School, visiting two schools each day. Egloff explained that at each school the program will begin with a fire drill. See Tower Truck, Page 3
Westfield firefighter Ray Neilsen, center, shows off the department’s platform truck in a 2013 school visit but this year firefighters will bring their new tower truck when they visit each school next week to supervise a fire drill and present a fire safety program. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Manny Rovithis, center, owner of Manny’s TV & Appliances, cuts a ceremonial ribbon in front of his new store at 625 East Main Street in Westfield on Tuesday. Joining Rovithis are, left-right, Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, State Rep. John Velis, Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik, State Sen. Donald Humason Jr., and George Varelas, former Westfield mayor and friend of Rovithis. The ceremony ended with Rovithis presenting a bottle of Manny’s Olive Oil to each visitor who attended the ceremony. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Rules for smoking on Southwick town property to be codified By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – While reviewing a draft of a code of conduct policy, several department heads raised concerns about including a smoking policy on municipal property. Board of Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox said the impetus for the policy was more about behavior and conduct on town property but when the smoking concerns came up, the board felt they should be addressed and referred it to the health department. Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said ysterday that he still has not heard back from Health Inspector Thomas Fitzgerald on the matter. It was discussed during a September Southwick Board of Health meeting. Stinehart said his main concerns for the health board were enforcement and e-cigarettes. Stinehart said he’s not sure where e-cigarettes fall when it comes to public buildings. He added that outlining a designated smoking
Southwick Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown, right, questions members of the Southwick Board of Health about smoking on town property during a recent meeting at Southwick Town Hall. Brown brought the concern to the Board of Health as part of an inquiry from the Board of Selectmen for a Code of Conduct policy that would apply to all town properties. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
area on town property is something he wants included in the policy. As far as enforcement, Fox said that would not be a function of Fitzgerald or the Board of Health. “I hope people would voluntarily comply,” he said. “And as far as enforcement, that would not be the Board of Health’s job. There will be signs and I think if someone is smoking, people will let them know the policy.” Fox said the policy will include a process for complaints for any conduct code violation. “We’re going to have a reporting process for someone to file a complaint,” Fox said. “There will be a clear path for how to proceed.” The policy is currently still in draft form but Fox said he hopes to have it approved before the end of the year. “We’re finalizing it now and should have it done this fall,” he said.