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City reaches settlement regarding balustrade replacement Bowling Alley demolition Demolition work continues at the former Romani’s Bowling Alley on Church Street. Associated Building Wreckers plan to complete their work early October. (Photo submitted)
Residents, city officials and developers discuss proposed medical district By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—City residents received a glimpse into the proposal for a possible medical services district last night, as the public was invited to Baystate Noble Hospital to hear from developers about the potential zoning change. The potential zoning change would create a hospital district in the city, around the area where Baystate Noble Hospital already owns a majority of the land. According to those on hand representing the zoning change, the potential zone could provide a more efficient way for development to occur, including sending reviews of plans to the city’s planning board, as opposed to the zoning board of appeals that it typically goes to now. “In this particular case, Noble is a preexisting nonconforming use,” Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates said regarding the
hospital’s current zoning designation. Levesque was speaking on behalf of the development of the zoning. “It was basically created before the zoning. There’s no legislation specifically for a hospital—we want to create that,” he said. According to Levesque, in order for development to happen at the hospital, which could include a canopy for an entrance that he offered as an example, then they currently must seek a variance through zoning board of appeals—which he noted was difficult to obtain—or a special permit. “Its based on soil, shape or topography,” Levesque said of variances. “If we can’t show a hardship based on those areas we can’t get a variance.” In order to alleviate the issue, Levesque said that the potentially new zoning district would provide the hospital with by-right uses and a process that could help guide
further development. This could include the canopy, as well as an expansion of the emergency department and parking expansion, which were both suggested as possible developments for the future. “Our goal would be to have an ordinance in place, a sort of roadmap for the hospital,” he said. According to the draft proposal, which Levesque said included working with the city’s law department and city councilors, the permitted uses within the zone would include a hospital, medical or dental offices, clinics, nursing homes and rehabilitation services, social services and parking facilities along with “accessory uses customarily incidental to a permitted use.” In addition to the permitted uses, there would be regulations in place within the ordinance related to developments. These include
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Mayor Brian Sullivan announced that a “pre-suit settlement” was reached with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and private contractors related to the balustrade replacement project around three local parks in the Great River Bridge area. The settlement reached was for $180,000 and will be paid by MassDOT and their private contractors, which will cover 64 percent of the reconstruction and design costs. The balustrades were replaced earlier this year around the Women’s Temperance, Half Mile and Kane-Wojtkiewicz parks, after they were deemed to be unsafe. The effort to initially install the balustrades were part of the Great River Bridge Project. According to Sullivan, the balustrades were replaced after “a couple of sections” became damaged and the city looked into the matter in February 2016. “We actually looked at repairing what we could and it was about the same amount of money and it was going to be very, very difficult to do,” Sullivan said. “So, we went the route of replacing them.” Sullivan said that it was an option for the city to seek a lawsuit but that option could have cost the city. With this option, Sullivan said that the city “probably saved, just in time and finances,” the remaining 36 percent. In addition, Sullivan said that the city and MassDOT negotiated “very amicably” on the issue. When reached for statement, MassDOT spokesman Patrick Marvin said the following via email: “MassDOT is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the City on
this issue, and bring all parties involved together for a closure to this matter, which leaves the park in a better condition for all to enjoy.” According to Meghan Bristol, Assistant City Solicitor for Westfield, the city’s legal department investigated the matter thoroughly and said that the settlement was the best course of action for the city. The settlement will include $25,000 from MassDOT, while the remainder will come from private companies that were contracted for the project through MassDOT, according to Bristol. The deadline for the payment is Oct. 2, and The balustrade replacement project first began in December 2016, when Sullivan announced the city’s intent on replacing them, with the project going on to bid in February 2017. The project to replace the balustrades was finished in July 2017. The replacement project cost the city about $210,000, as previously reported in The Westfield News, with funding at the time coming from a bond that was previously passed for park improvements, including the Bullens Field and bleacher repairs ahead of last year’s Babe Ruth World Series. The balustrades were originally installed in the Great River Bridge Project, which was completed in 2012. According to Sullivan, that project cost about $80 million. From the city’s website, the project was a “joint partnership between local, state, and federal funding provided the opportunity to construct this important link through the heart of downtown Westfield.” The money is expected to be available in the FY 2018, according to Sullivan, with it going into the city’s free cash fund.
See Medical District, Page 3 Rob Levesque discusses the potentially new medical services district, which is outlined in yellow on the screen.
Gateway School Committee votes on third version of FY18 budget By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – At the first scheduled joint budget conference between the Gateway Regional School Committee and officials from the six member towns, chair Michele Crane began by explaining the format of the meetings. Crane said that unfinished and finished business would be first on the agenda for the six meetings, with a goal of the joint FY19 budget talks to begin at 7:30 p.m. The unfinished business at Wednesday’s meeting was a vote by the School Committee on Version 3 of the FY18 budget, which began July 1 and has not yet been approved by four of the six towns. In presenting Version 3, Gateway Regional Superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson asked Megan Coburn, principal of Chester and Littlefield Elementary Schools and Jason Finnie, principal of Gateway High School and Middle School, to explain what impact further cuts would have on their schools. Coburn said that at the elementary level, there are three types of teachers, core teach-
ers, para professionals and specials. This year, three positions and one half-time position have been cut or not filled. Previously, they had three classes for each grade level, and now some grades have two classes and some three. She said they have created looping classes to help with the imbalance, where a teacher will stay with a class for two years. Coburn said that there are also pockets of high enrollment, particularly in the kindergartens, with 21 children in one kindergarten class in Chester, and 25 each in two classes in Littleville. Both Coburn and Finnie said that special teachers, who are teaching subjects other than core, such as art, music and physical education, give core teachers the prep time required by their contracts when students are with them. Regarding special education teachers, Coburn said, “If we can’t meet the needs here, students will go out of district.” She said, as it is, half of the special education See FY18 Budget, Page 8
Granville working on smoke alarm program By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent GRANVILLE – The Granville Fire Department is teaming up with the American Red Cross for a program to benefit Granville residents. On Oct. 28, the Granville Fire Department and the Red Cross will be installing free smoke alarms to eligible residents. In order to have a smoke alarm installed, the home has to have been built before 1975 and their current smoke alarm has to be 10 years old or older. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, 14% of residential fire victims in 2015 didn’t have a working smoke The Granville Fire Department is alarm to give them a proper warning. It is a teaming up with the American Red percentage that fire department officials want Cross. (Photo courtesy of Granville Fire to see decrease and this program is one step to Department) help that cause. “It’s definitely a big deal, smoke detectors do save lives,” said Granville Fire Chief Matt Ripley. “We hope to get smoke detectors updated with as many homes as we can.” Eligible residents are able to sign up to get their smoke alarm installed by calling the Granville Fire Department at 413-357-8572 or email firedepartment@townofgranville.org.