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Ward 3, Ward 4 kick off Candidate Forum series The candidate forums for Wards 3 & 4 were held consecutively on Monday evening, hosted by Tina Gorman, Executive Director at the Westfield Senior Center. The forums, along with the others in the series are sponsored by The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce and The Westfield News Group. Moderator was Patrick Berry, President of The Westfield News Group and Kate Phelon, Executive Director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, was the timekeeper. Each candidate was given a minute and a half for an opening statement, followed by rotating questions between the two candidates. At the end of the forum, each candidate was allowed two minutes for closing remarks.
Ward 4 candidates make their opening remarks.
Opening remarks for both candidates for Ward 3 City Council.
(Photo by Lynn F, Boscher)
(Photo by Lynn F, Boscher)
Ward 3 Councilor forum recap By AMY PORTER Correspondent WARD 3 CANDIDATE FORUM WESTFIELD – The Ward 3 candidates in the first hour were incumbent Andrew K. Surprise and first-time candidate Rob Atkocaitis. During his opening statement, Surprise thanked the hosts for the opportunity, and constituents of Ward 3 for the honor of having served them for the past two years. About himself, he said he is 39 years old, and engaged to the “smart, beautiful Amy Brown.” Surprise said he has been going door to door speaking to residents. He said their concerns are holding the line on taxes, stabilizing the property tax rate, the roads, and bringing life back to the downtown. Last year, he said was the first in a decade with no property tax rate increase. Atkocaitis also thanked the hosts of the forum, as well as the residents for coming, and his family for their continued support. He said he is 100% vested in Westfield, having grown up on George Street where he learned to distinguish between “needs and wants,” growing up in a sin-
gle parent family on welfare, and putting himself through college. He said his wife and four kids are all products of Westfield Public Schools. He said he began his career at Mestek, where he had a chance to relocate, but refused to do so. Both candidates were then asked what are the three most important concerns facing Ward 3, and what would they do to address them. Surprise named the hospital zone, taxes and roads; while Atkocaitis named the Western Avenue project, the hospital zone and roads. Surprise said he understands why the hospital is seeking a hospital zone because, being in a residential zone it has to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals for any renovations. However, he said that the city sent vague regulations to the City Council regarding the zone change that would allow features and buildings that the residents do not want. Atkocaitis said that he agreed the hospital zone is a “big thing” for Ward 3. He also said the hospital is good for the citizens of Ward 3 and for the city as a whole. In a later question about
the medical district surrounding Baystate Noble hospital, Berry asked both candidates how they would balance the needs of Baystate Noble with those of nearby residents. Atkocaitis said that Baystate Noble is the largest employer in the city. He added that he enjoys having a hospital, and would want to negotiate, and let them know what the residents want. He said he wouldn’t want to make it so difficult for the hospital “that they pull the plug.” See Ward 3 Recap, Page 8
Ward 4 Councilor forum recap By AMY PORTER Correspondent WARD 4 CANDIDATE FORUM WESTFIELD – The Ward 4 candidates in the second hour were Dawn Thomas and Michael J. Burns, the top two vote-getters in the preliminary election held on Sept. 26. At the start of the forum, Patrick Berry disclosed that Dawn Thomas is the President of the Board of Directors of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. He said forum co-sponsor Kate
Candidate ForumS
Hosted by The Westfield News, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce and The Westfield Senior Center
Monday, oct. 26
6:30 City CounCilor - WArD 3 Jeffrey Gosselin, timothy o’Connor, Cindy Sullivan, Heather Sullivan
7:30 City CounCilor - WArD 5 robert A. Paul, Sr., leslie leFebvre
At the Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble Street, Westfield. Doors open at 6:00 for Candidate Meet and Greet.
Phelon did not participate in formulating the questions for the Ward 4 candidates, and was strictly serving as timekeeper for this forum. Asked to present their opening remarks, Burns thanked The Westfield News Group, Chamber of Commerce and Senior Center. He said he is a lifelong resident of Westfield, graduate of Westfield Public Schools, and raised his family here. He is a 26 year veteran of the Navy and Air Force, and is now retired and working in sales. Burns said that his only interest in running for City Council is to serve Ward 4. He also said he has served the city for the past 8 years as a Water Resource Commissioner. “I love Westfield. It is my home,” said Thomas. She said she grew up and went to school in Westfield, and having served on numerous boards and committees, she now wants to serve in city government. She also said that she helped to build a successful small business in Westfield, and has spoken to many Ward 4 residents about their concerns. To the question of what are the three most important concerns facing Ward 4, Thomas
cited roads, the Western Avenue project, and taxes. Burns said the number one concern is taxes and spending. He said the number two concern among residents is the Western Avenue reconstruction. “Residents haven’t been informed. A lot of people are worried,” he said, adding that he has had the opportunity to speak with the engineer. He also said the third major concern is traffic and speeding. In terms of the top priority facing the city as a whole, Burns said he believes that wastewater and water are the top concerns. He said currently the way the city decides sewage improvements and who should get it done is too politicized, and should be taken out of the City Council’s hands. He said he’s been told there’s a five-year plan, and he’s been there eight years and hasn’t seen it. He also said there are residents in his ward that have been promised sewers for close to thirty years. “The Water and Sewer Commission is the first place to start,” Burns said. For Thomas, the top priorities city-wide are the budget See Ward 4 Recap, Page 8
Granville residents approve capital borrowing plan at Special Town Meeting
SEN. DON HUMASON
REP. NICHOLAS BOLDYGA
American Flag Donation and Flag Raising Ceremony SOUTHWICK – State Senator Don Humason and State Representative Nick Boldyga, with the assistance of members of American Legion Post 338 in Southwick, will be hosting a brief ceremony to raise a new American flag at the Ahrend Circle Apartments. The ceremony serves as an opportunity to provide residents of the complex with a new flag and to honor the veterans and military families that reside in the complex. Senator Humason and Representative Boldyga have donated the flag and members of American Legion Post 338 will assist in the flag raising ceremony. The 1:00 PM Saturday, October 28 ceremony will take place at the Ahrend Circle Apartments located at 216 Sheep Pasture Road Southwick.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent GRANVILLE – On Monday evening at the Granville Village School, Granville residents voted 63-48 in favor of approving the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District’s FY (Fiscal Year) 18 capital borrowing plan. Previously, Granville residents voted the capital borrowing budget down at two separate special town meetings. Before Monday night’s vote, Southwick and Tolland already decided to take no action, which meant that the budget passed in both towns. Needing the budget to pass in all three towns, the result of Granville’s special town meeting vote allows the budget to move forward. It was something that Superintendent Jen Willard was very happy to see happen. “I’m just so happy for the children in the school district,” said Willard. “I truly feel that this is the beginning of us coming together.” With a total of $525,000, the FY18 capital improvement plan consists of the following items: • Transportation vehicles $200,000 • Technology $150,000 • Equipment $50,000 • Buildings $25,000 • Playground $100,000 Accounting for more than half of the budget, transportation and technology are important items in the budget. The transportation portion allows the district to purchase three new mid-size buses. The buses will primarily benefit the children that live in Granville. As there are several roads in
Superintendent Jen Willard speaks to Granville residents about the capital borrowing vote. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
Granville that make it extremely difficult for regular-size buses to get down the street, the mid-size buses will be able to pick up children right near their homes. The technology will help the district get prepared for MCAS 2.0 testing, which is mandated by the state by the spring of 2019. The $150,000 in technology will be going towards hard wiring and wireless connections, as well as any additional computers that the district may need. “We need to start there in order to start moving forward with the technology in the hands of the children,” said See Special Town Meeting, Page 3