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The Westfield News
“There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.” — Calvin Coolidge
Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 258
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Club licensing issue still clouded By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The city’s License Commission and the Licensing Department staff met with representatives of the eight fraternal and social clubs in the city to discuss the requirements which the state is putting into effect next year for renewing club licenses across the commonwealth. Commission Chairman Christopher Mowatt said “the purpose of this meeting is to help you understand these ABCC communications. It’s a lot to take in and it does take in all of the clubs” in the state. Licensing Director Denise Carey said the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission is “respectfully recommending that you take this opportunity to ensure that all club licensees have current officers and directors identified in your license file and that said officers and directors have been approved by your board, as well as this agency.” Carey said that while that appears to be a straight See Licensing, Page 3
Carter: Students on ‘pathway to good standing’ By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – At last night’s Westfield School Committee meeting, Westfield High School Principal Jonathan Carter discussed an initiative called “Pathway to Good Standing”, an effort to discpline the actions of troublemakers on school grounds and to avoid suspending students. “My job is to make sure that Westfield High School is the safest place kids and staff can go to,” said Carter. “We’re trying to provide a Pathway to Good Standing for some of our students who are chronic offenders against our school policies and procedures.” “There are some students at Westfield High School who need to understand that Jonathan part of being a good school Carter citizen is to understand what good school citizenship is,” he said. Carter said that the Pathway to Good Standing promotes attendance, discipline and academic performance, along with instilling personal responsibility and accountability. “Getting to class on time and not being in the hallways, no referrals and for students who continue to not get with the program, there are steps for them to See Students, Page 3
Southwick residents took to the voting booths this morning for today’s statewide elections. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Candidates optimistic on election day By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – As voters around the Commonwealth of Massachusetts head for the polls today, the candidates campaigning for their votes are out and about as well, making the final push that they hope will put them in office. In the race for the 4th Hampden District seat in the state House of Representatives – a district composed entirely of the city of Westfield – the incumbent, Democrat John Velis, is confident he will prevail again in his rematch with Republican City Councilor Dan Allie, who he narrowly defeated in
A little girl, left, peeks under a voting booth at an array of legs at the Southwick Town Hall this morning. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
their April 1 special election. “We’re happy right now. I think overall, people are
happy with what I’ve done, which is essentially what I said I’d do – put Westfield
first,” said Velis this morning. “I’ve considered what is in Westfield’s best interest with everything I do. Every vote I’ve taken is a reflection of that.” Velis believes that people in Westfield – and nationwide – are absolutely disgusted with the two-party system. “I think people are looking for candidates and elected officials who are going to come forward and say ‘enough,’” said Velis. “Let’s solve a problem and compromise for the people that elected us, as opposed to representing ourselves.” See Election Day, Page 3
CPA survey set for next census in January By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on the future of the Community Preservation Act this January. A survey on the act, which is funded by a three percent residential tax, will likely be included in the next census, which is set to be sent in January. The Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Community Preservation Committee (CPC) met last night
to discuss a recommendation by the Finance Committee to place a question on the 2016 presidential election ballot to reconsider the CPA tax. CPC member Dennis Clark said it wasn’t that simple. “There’s no reconsideration,” said Clark. “It’s lower it or eliminate it. It would have to be a specific question.” Clark also pointed out that a ballot question must first be approved by Town Meeting. Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox said the CPA is “a great program,” but that “things have
changed.” “We picked up some serious debt with the school project and we know there are some taxes coming up with the sewers,” said Fox. Fox suggested a survey in the census or a non-binding ballot question on the next local election. Clark and CPC Chairperson Chris Patt were concerned that would be an opportunity for educating the public with those options. See CPA Survey, Page 8
Jocelyn Linnekin
Street disturbance becomes melee By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A disturbance call turned into something of a melee for officers attempting to break up a fight on Taylor Avenue early Saturday morning. Officers Francis Gaulin and David Burl responded to Taylor Avenue after multiple callers reported two men were fighting at 12:27 a.m. Gaulin reports that the officers arrived to find about ten people in the street who were focused on two combatants who were pushing and shoving each other. He reports that a shirtless man was yelling at another man and waving his arms as he
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advanced while the other man egged him on. When Gaulin saw the shirtless man raise his fist to strike he grabbed the man’s arm but the other man twisted away from him and, as he was attempting to control the man, a woman (later found to be his mother) attacked him from behind. Gaulin passed the man he was attempting to control to Burl as he fended off the woman and then found that a man had grabbed him around his neck and pulled him backward. Burl managed to unlimber his Taser to assist Gaulin, while at the same time trying to take custody of the first man, and fired at the man assaulting Gaulin, bringing that man to his knees.
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Sgt. Jeffrey Baillargeon, and Officers Patrick Shea and Gary Hagar arrived to assist the officers and the situation was stabilized. The shirtless man, Jerry D. Mauldin, 30, and the man who came to his assistance, Albert M. Maimone, 35, both of 30 Taylor Ave., Apt. 5, were each arrested for disorderly conduct. Mauldin was also charged with assault and assault and battery on a public servant while Maimone was also charged with resisting arrest. A criminal complaint for resisting arrest was filed against Mauldin’s mother for interfering with her son’s arrest and a criminal complaint for disorderly conduct was filed against the man who had been involved in the initial dis-
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ALBERT MAIMONE
JERRY MAULDIN
turbance with Maudlin. Both men appeared in Westfield District Court before Judge Philip A. Contant yesterday. Mauldin was released pending a Dec. 8 hearing while Maimone, who pleaded guilty, was fined $100 and assessed $50.
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