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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 84 NO. 258
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015
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Flaherty for City Council At-large
Holcomb for City Council At-large By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Richard Holcomb wants to bring responsibility to the Westfield City Council. A candidate for an At-large seat, Holcomb said there is a lack of follow-up on projects, no long range plans, and no one taking hold of the city’s economy. “There is no fiscal responsibility in this city,” he said. “I think we’re overpaying for a lot of things, and I think it’s about time we had a budget that’s realistic.” Holcomb, who is a retired Ford Motor Co. mechanical engineer, said he lives on a fixed income and the city has to do the same. “We need to say ‘This is the money we’ve got and this is what we can spend’,” he said. “I grew up in a time when if you didn’t have money, you gave up something to get something else, or you just didn’t get it.” Holcomb said the lack of planning leads to fiscal irresponsibility. “The Cross Street School is a prime example of that,” he said, “as well as the Ponders Hollow land transfer.” Holcomb was born at
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RICHARD HOLCOMB Noble Hospital during a blizzard in 1944 and was raised in Springfield. He graduated from Springfield Technical High School and received his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Massachusetts. He worked for Pratt and Whitney before joining Ford. He traveled the world for work and lived in Japan and Korea before retiring in 2011 and returning to his birthplace. “I have tons of family here,” Holcomb said of his decision to move to Westfield. “My family was in Westfield before it was Westfield.” Holcomb is a member of the Grandmother’s Garden board, the Dollars for Scholars Board of Directors, and is an avid gardener. “I’m usually in the garden weeding,” he said of his spare time. “I have been part of the garden tour twice. I love gardening – it’s a tension reliever.” Holcomb said common sense is needed in government, and his goal, if elected, will be to influence and promote the concept of forward planning, fairness, transparency, and financial accountability in city operations.
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The platform underlying David A. Flaherty’s bid for a fourth term as an At-large member of the City Council is basically the same as his three previous platforms, redefining the budgetary priorities of the city. “My platform issues are about the city’s finances,” Flaherty said yesterday. “We have a lot of needs in this city, but we have a horrible budget, we have a ton of debt and no way to pay it down. It’s crazy. “I ran for office six years ago to serve the community and to help make Westfield a great place to live, work and play,” Flaherty said. “Along these lines I donate more than half of my City Council pay to non-profit organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, youth programs, Westfield schools and other community organizations.” Flaherty said that he sees his role on the City Council not only to votes on issues but to inform residents of what those issues are and how they affect residents. “I make major efforts and spend the time necessary to fully investigate issues,” he said. “I take stands for what I believe is right, even when faced with strong opposition. I
DAVID A. FLAHERTY feel that residents have the right to know what’s going on in government and that you, as citizens of the city, should have all of the information you need to fully participate in the process. And, I make great effort to communicate with residents regularly with articles in newspapers, community forums, Facebook and other websites.” Flaherty said that he sees the function of the City Council to be a counterbalance to the executive branch of city government. “The City Council is supposed to be a second set of eyes, a separate branch of our municipal government that independently reviews finance plans, the hiring of key municipal employees, the implementation of programs and the development of laws that serve the best long-term interest of citizens,” Flaherty said. “I believe this independent thorough review is necessary. Asking hard questions and doing our own due diligence is critical to the check and balance system of government.” Flaherty said he is also focused on the present, and See Flaherty, Page 3
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Man gets probation for sexually assaulting a WSU student on campus By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A man who assaulted a Westfield State University student in her dorm room a year ago has received a year probation. Kristopher E. Howard, 19, of Holbrook, had charges of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over continued without finding when he appeared in Westfield District Court on October 15. On Friday, October 3, 2014, police were called to a dorm room in Davis Hall at 8:28 p.m. for a possible sexual assault, according to court records. The student told campus police that she knew Howard from outside of WSU and that they had “hooked up before,” according to court records. The victim had invited Howard to her room, but allegedly told him repeatedly that she was not interested in having sex, but he proceeded to make advances and try to get her friends to leave the room. “I told him at the beginning of the night we were not going to have sex and if that is what he wanted See Probation, Page 3
Alcohol compliance protocols challenged
By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD- Westfield police officers were called to a home on Day Avenue Friday afternoon and discovered five dogs in very bad shape, as well as an elderly couple in poor health. According to police logs a call for an animal complaint came in at 3:23 p.m. Friday. The Westfield Regional Animal Shelter reported on its Facebook page Sunday that when Animal Control Officer
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The License Commission agreed last night to amend its procedures for conducting underage alcohol sales compliance checks after discussing the concerns of a group of licensed business related to a “sting” in September. The Westfield Liquor Licensee Association was formed to present a united voice and to protest what the individuals members feel are deceptive practices by the city. John Bonavita, owner of the Tavern On the Green Restaurant, served as the spokesman for the 35 to 40 licensees and their employees of restaurants, bars, and package stores across the city. “This is a great opportunity to have an open discussion in a non-confrontational setting,” Bonavita said. “This group is newly formed because we feel that there were discrepancies in the policy used for the September sting.” “We as a group have always trained (staff) by the 17 guidelines the Massachusetts ABCC (Alcohol Beverage Control Board) has put forward. Most of us were trained on those procedures,” Bonavita said. “We’d like to ask the commission to adopt the 17 state guidelines, then we’ll have something to follow.” Bonavita said the License Commission policies appear to involve “trickery” which would be alleviated by adopting of the ABCC compliance check guidelines. “It will be neat and clear if we adopt the state guidelines,” Bonavita said. “Under the state guideline you just ask the (underage person participating in the compliance check) if they are 21 years of age, then that person leaves.” Bonavita said that the city’s policy requires employees to check the person’s identification, of
See Rescue, Page 3
See Protocols, Page 3
Committee formed to screen chief candidates By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen voted last night to establish a screening committee to find a replacement for Fire Chief Richard Anderson, who will retire next year. Selectman Russell Fox suggested Selectman Douglas Moglin and Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart serve on the committee. “We should also have someone with fire experience and I thought we could ask a former fire commissioner,” said Fox. Fox and Board Chairman Joseph Deedy agreed to include former commissioner Art Pinell. Deedy said he would like a member of the police force to serve as well and suggested Sgt. Robert Landis. Fox then said he would like to include Police Chief David Ricardi. “Then we would have a fifth person and he would give [the committee] an odd number,” said Fox. RICHARD ANDERSON The board also recognized the efforts of three police officers last night. Ricardi sent a letter to the board acknowledging exemplary work by Sgt. Donald Day, Officer Michael Westcott and Sgt. Robert Landis during the investigation of recent break-ins both in Southwick and Connecticut. The Board also announced a fundraiser for the Police K9 unit. The event is a spaghetti supper set for Nov. 7 at The Cove at 6 p.m. Cost is $10 for adults and $4 for children
The Westfield News will run our masthead in pink, in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
One of five Cavalier King Charles Spaniels rescued by the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter (Facebook photo used with permission from WRAS) October 18, 2015.
Five Cavalier King Charles Spaniels rescued from city home