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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
VOL. 83 NO. 29
www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014
“Character
consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” — James Michener
75 cents
Committee supports sewer project funding
Kenneth J. Albano, left, from the law firm of Bacon & Wilson and representing the Town of Southwick, discusses a complaint lodged against Southwick Selectwoman Tracy L. Cesan, right, during a public open meeting session at the Southwick Town Hall Monday evening. Michelle L. Hill, Southwick town clerk, filed the complaint against Cesan Jan. 27 and accused Cesan of being unprofessional with regard to a Freedom of Information request from a citizen. Listening in the middle is Cindy Pendleton, administrative assistant for the Town of Southwick. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Cesan, Hill clash over complaint By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Selectwoman Tracy Cesan and Town Clerk Michelle Hill clashed during a complaint hearing last night. Hill filed a complaint against Cesan, who waived her right to an executive session and chose to address the complaint in open session. Town Counsel Ken Albano was asked by Board of Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox to conduct the hearing. Albano allowed both women to speak, uninterrupted and without questions, then allowed for rebuttal. Hill filed the complaint Jan. 27 and accused Cesan of being unprofessional with regard to a Freedom of Information request from a citizen. The resident was looking for an audio copy of the Aug. 26, 2013 board meeting which was overwritten by mistake the next day, according to Hill. Cesan had recorded the meeting herself and had a copy of the audio. The resident was given Cesan’s phone number to make arrangements for a copy. Hill said Cesan sent her an email reprimanding the clerk for her response to that request.
“She thought I did a terrible job,” said Hill, “but I never received the audio directly from Mrs. Cesan.” Hill said Cesan also wanted the office to provide the CD free of charge. Cesan responded to the statement and said Hill’s account of the situation was “misleading.” Cesan said the request was made Dec. 5 and she was not contacted by anyone to provide a copy of the meeting audio even though she said Hill and Selectmen Assistant Sondra Pendleton both knew she had it. Cesan said instead of calling her directly, the resident was given Cesan’s phone number to deal with Cesan directly. “Ms. Hill and her office staff never requested the tape,” Cesan said. Cesan said after speaking with the resident, she contacted Albano to see whether she was allowed to give the resident a CD. Albano said she could but he wanted to review it first so Cesan said she sent a copy to Albano. Cesan wondered why Hill did not reach out to her and said she included Hill on an email Jan. 2 stating that Cesan was giving Albano the
Southwick Selectwoman Tracy L. Cesan reads a prepared rebuttal statement in response to a formal complaint filed by Town Clerk Michelle L. Hill. Hill filed the complaint Jan. 27 accusing Cesan of being unprofessional with regard to a Freedom of Information request from a citizen. (Photo by Frederick Gore) CD. Cesan further stated that Hill was included in a second email later in January and she left her a voice message to call her and Hill refused See Complaint, Page 3
Animal cruelty charged By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A woman is facing a felony charge of cruelty to an animal after she allegedly poured bleach over her boyfriend’s dog and left the dog to soak in the bleach all day. The dog’s owner had reportedly reacted to her ultimatum by choosing the dog over her. Kenneth Frazer, the director of animal control operation in the city, reports that Officer Luis Morales referred the case to him after he responded to the owner’s complaint Thursday. Frazer said that his investigation showed that the woman did not like her boyfriend’s Jack Russell terrier dog and, he reports, “every chance she had, she kicked it or molested it in
some way.” Frazer said that the dog eventually bit the woman and she gave her boyfriend an ultimatum, a choice between her and his dog. “He chose the dog” Frazer reports and said that after the man left for work the woman poured bleach over the dog and also left for the day, leaving the dog in the bleach until its owner came home. “The dog’s feet were all burned, they were cherry red from sitting in the bleach all day” Frazer said and added that bleach got in the dog’s eyes. Frazer reports, “the dog’s doing fine” after appropriate medical treatment. He said that the woman will be summoned to
court to answer a charge of cruelty to an animal. Police Capt. Michael McCabe, Frazer’s supervisor, points out that there is no direct evidence to incriminate the woman for the abuse. He said that police have determined that the suspect woman was alone in the residence with the dog which had recently bitten her and with which she had reason to bear animus. McCabe said, there is no evidence that anybody else made entry to the apartment. Still, he said, nobody saw the woman pour bleach on the dog. McCabe said that he told Frazer to bring the charge against the woman. “I don’t know if it’s winnable”, he said, but filing charges will put the case in the hands of the district attorney’s office.
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Finance Committee will give a positive recommendation to a transfer of $3,450,000 for the Gaslight District construction project that will replace underground infrastructure in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. The committee discussed the appropriation from the sewer undesignated Inflow-and-Infiltration account to the Water Resource Department sewer construction account with City Engineer Mark Cressotti and Water Resource Superintendent Dave Billips last night. Committee members expressed initial concern because there were two sewer appropriations on the committee’s agenda, the one submitted in January by Mayor Daniel M. Knapik and a second from July of 2012 for $2,750,000. Cressotti said the funding issues are both related to the Gaslight District project, but that the 2012 funding appropriation is no longer valid. “The City Council voted to put that $2,750,000 in place, but since we didn’t encumber that money before the end of the fiscal year you have to revote to appropriate it,” Cressotti said. “It’s higher because we have a clearer idea of the cost. “The sewer does need to be replaced. They are falling apart,” Cressotti said. “The water lines are not capable of supporting development in that area.” Billips said the four-inch water lines are clogged because of mineralization. “There’s no fire protection in that area,” Billips said. “Those four-inch lines have an inch and a half internal diameter now. If there was a major fire we’d be in trouble getting water to it.” At-large Councilor Robert Paul Sr. said that the co-operation between city departments has improved, especially between the public works, water, engineering departments and the Westfield Gas & Electric Department “I’m seeing in the plans where you’re all doing this together,’ Paul said. “That you’re putting all of the infrastructure in at once to support future development, the sewer (natural) gas lines, conduit for broadband service, water, drainage, instead of digging it up again and again.” Cressotti said that last year the City Council approved a $2 million water bond, used for the Elm Street water main improvements, and that the remaining funds will also be dedicated to the Gaslight District project which encompasses the neighborhood between Elm and Washington streets and between Franklin and Court streets. Cressotti said that the inclusive construction approach means that sewer, water, drainage line and conduit for fiber optic cable, will all be installed at one time. “That joint infrastructure upgrade is what you’ve been working to get to,” Paul said. “Let’s make it visible.” “This will be the first time we’ve done (mulch-departmental coordination) this,” Cressotti said. The committee voted 3-0 to give a positive recommendation to the full City Council Thursday night.