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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 84 NO. 265
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015
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By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Brent B Bean II will be the longest serving member of the City Council if he is reelected on Nov 3, and he is focused on providing leadership and institutional knowledge to council members. “We’re losing a lot of experienced councilors this year, Brian Sullivan, Jimmy (James R.) Adams and Chris Crean, members who centered the council,” Bean said. “Losing great councilors and their historic knowledge of issues, what certain actions were taken…” “I like to believe that I can bring leadership to the City Council and the city to make sure votes are taken and that nothing is being delayed or pushed off,” Bean said. ”I’ve said in the past that the job of City Council members is to vote,” Bean said. “We’re there to make decisions, not to cloud that process by delaying votes and asking for legal opinions, although in some cases that is required, but it’s being done too often just to avoid voting. Our job is to make an educated decision on record.” “Residents of Westfield deserve city officials who are accessible and responsive to
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VanHeynigen for City Council At-large
Bean for City Council At-large
The Westfield News will run our masthead in pink, in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Westfield residents asked questions following the Urban Land Institute presentation last night. (Photo by Amy Porter)
BRENT B BEAN II their needs. As a lifelong resident and a six-term City Councilor, I can be a resource for others and for our elected and appointed officials,” Bean said. “I strongly believe that voter access to elected officials and continuing dialog with all segments of the community are crucial to the creation and maintenance of a strong city government that truly listens to the voice of its constituents,” he said. “Westfield will always need to address issues regarding growth and infrastructure,” Bean said. “We need to have a long-range plan and become more proactive rather than reactive. Growth is indicative of a healthy and supportive community. It tells us that we are a place where people want to settle and raise their families, but See Bean, Page 3
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Matthew T. VanHeynigen rule for being an effective city councilor is simple: listen to city residents and focus on issues those residents identify as their priorities. “I’m not here to advance any specific issue or agenda other then what I’ve heard from constituents,” VanHeynigen said. “I’m here to be a steady voice of reason,” VanHeynigen said. “I’m a listener. Much of what I do on the council is driven by what I hear from constituents. “I’m not going to invest my time on any issue outside the scope of Westfield,” he said. “I will invest my time on Westfield-based issues identified by my constituents, issues such as roads, schools, taxes.” “I will work to foster business and industrial development to bring new revenue into the city,” VanHeynigen said, “and to work for revitalization of the downtown.” “I am not a career politician or a perennial campaigner, and I am not interested in any higher office here in Westfield, or anywhere else,” VanHeynigen said. “I am seeking a seat on the City Council again for the same reason I sought a seat on
MATTHEW T. VANHEYNIGEN the Council two years ago, for no other reason than to provide a voice for sound investments with our tax dollars here in Westfield, and tax stabilization for residents.” “I do not view my service on the Council as a stepping stone to a higher office. Residents and taxpayers of Westfield deserve better than this,” he said. “I believe my strengths are in listening to the desires and wishes of the taxpayers, and voting accordingly as a member of the Council.” VanHeynigen has extensive experience in reviewing, preparing and advising on budgets and in working to ensure accountability in both the private and public sectors. “Much like I’ve worked with project directors in higher education and land conservation to make the best case See VanHeynigen, Page 3
Applicants sought for committee vacancies By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen is looking for interested parties to serve on four town committees. The Agricultural Committee needs a regular member to help encourage the pursuit of agriculture, promote agriculture-based economic opportunities, and to protect farmlands within the Town of Southwick by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimal conflict with abutters and Town agencies. This Committee will also be responsible for acquiring as to any interest in land, or as imposing any land use regulation, which is properly the subject of state statute, regulation, or local zoning law. The Planning Board is looking for an interested resident to serve as an Associate Member. This individual sits in on issuances of special permits. This position will be for a one-year term. The Conservation Commission is seeking a resident to serve See Vacancies, Page 3
Neighbors help restore Cloutier’s vandalized Halloween display By SY BECKER WWLP WESTFIELD – Neighbors in Westfield have rallied behind the victims of vandalism Friday. Earlier in the week, vandals had damaged Gary Cloutier’s popular Halloween display at his auto body shop along Route 202. Cloutier said that he’s impressed with the outpouring of support. “It’s been incredible, the response given back,” he said. “Please keep decorating the truck. We love to see it that way. Please don’t stop decorating it because you had a bad experience.” One business donated an addition to Cloutier’s display. Such generosity and good will convinced him to continue his tradition of dressing up his battered old pick up for each major holiday, and especially for Halloween.
Joe and Kristi Deedy, owners of the Moo-Licious Ice Cream and Farm, will be staging a free Thanksgiving Day dinner at 12 p.m. at their 258 Feeding Hills Road location in Southwick. (File Photo)
Thanksgiving For All offered in Southwick By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The fourth annual Thanksgiving For All will take place at Moolicious Farm on Feeding Hills Road again this year. The Deedy family, with help from the Magni family and a host of volunteers, will serve a free Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. Most of the items are donated, including Tucker’s Restaurant’s squash, a local favorite. Joseph Deedy said last year 15 turkeys were donated from throughout the community and he hopes to serve 15 turkeys again this Thanksgiving. “We had all kinds of donations, from turkeys to butter,” Deedy said. “We’d be thrilled with the same.” Last year the high school National Honor Society baked pies for See Thanksgiving, Page 3
Urban Land Institute brings experts to downtown Westfield By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – A panel of experts in community development, engineering, real estate and planning brought together by the Urban Land Institute spent yesterday touring downtown, the university and the riverfront, speaking to business owners and residents, and gathering their impressions of Westfield into a presentation that was shared with the public in the City Council chambers. Jim Heffernan, an attorney with Partridge, Snow & Hahn in Providence, RI, said that prior to the visit the group had received a briefing book on Westfield redevelopment from Community Development Director Peter Miller. Heffernan said the visit was an opportunity for an outside group to offer feedback and ideas. Scott Payette, of the Initiative for Competitive Cities, ran down some of the assets that the group observed on their tour. “You may already know, but hearing it from an outsider, it’s beautiful,” he said. He talked about the rivers and the bike path, which he called, “a huge generator of interest.” He called Westfield a city with a small town feel, good schools and a safe environment where “people know each other.” He described good housing stock and low rents and utilities, being close to the turnpike, with a stable and growing population. He also noted the available senior housing, and proximity to the hospital. Westfield has “wonderful physical assets,” Payette said. “You have the opportunity to be the gateway to the hilltowns.” John Mullin, a professor of regional planning and director of the Center for Economic Development at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, talked about conversations with stakeholders. He said the common themes raised included market leakage, with residents going outside of Westfield to shop. He suggested attracting a national retailer anchor tenant downtown, and mentioned Whole Foods as an example, which residents said they drive 45 minutes to get to. Mullin also noted the lack of entertainment venues in town. He said a downtown has to be active 16-17 hours a day, from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. Mullin said other concerns raised by stakeholders included the need for more support of local businesses, in particular regarding traffic and snow removal. Absentee landlords and the gradual degradation of their properties were also mentioned. Another concern was parking, and whether the proposed PVTA transit pavilion was a good idea, which he said See Downtown, Page 3
Jim Heffernan, chair of the Urban Land Institute panel, takes questions at the end of last night’s presentation. (Photo by Amy Porter)