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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE 27,26, 2017 WEDNESDAY, JULY 2017
Fate of Westfield CDBG funding determined
Peter J. Miller, Westfield director of community development, reviews the CDBG FY17 Action Plan at a public hearing in April. (Photo by Amy Porter)
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Despite uncertainty leading up to the announcement of Community Development Block Grant funding for FY17, Peter J. Miller, director of community development said that Westfield will receive $347,000 for the fiscal year (July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018), an increase of $24,000 over FY16. “That’s good news. It’s helpful,” Miller said. At the public comment meeting on the FY17 Action Plan, Miller had presented two scenarios; one based on level funding of $323,448, plus a contingency plan containing a 30% cut in the allocation to $226,413, per HUD (Housing and Urban Development) instructions. Part of the uncertainty was due to President Trump eliminating CDBG funding in his supplemental budget for FY17 and
FY18. Miller said the city can now fund everything on the Action Plan list. He submitted the plan, including public comments to HUD two weeks ago, and said funding usually is available within 45 days. Among the items to be funded are $48,500 for public services, including grants ranging from $1,000 to $7,500 for the Boys & Girls Club, Kamp for Kids, DOMUS Hi-SET GED program, the Samaritan Inn, Westfield Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Westfield THOM Play Group, Westfield Council on Aging Companionship Program, Soup Kitchen, YMCA Transportation and New Beginnings. Economic development is slated to receive $60,000. Miller said that businesses with five or less See CDBG Funding, Page 7
Town officials and residents discuss covered bridge By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Select Board held a public hearing on Monday night, regarding an issue with a covered bridge located near 412-418 College Highway. Back on April 15, 2007, a Nor’easter swept through the eastern region, including communities in Western Massachusetts. According to Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson, he was told by the past fire chief that the storm may have jeopardized the bridge. “I was made aware of it, and wanted to get some resolve to it, and made numerous contacts to one of the residents there about providing some information,” said Anderson. Anderson’s dilemma is if the bridge is actually safe for some of his heavy equipment to be supported on if his emergency personnel needs to head over to that area of town for something like a fire. The department’s fire truck tanker weighs approximately 45 tons, although, years back the bridge was rated to support 65 tons. During Monday night’s meeting, along with the Select Board, Chief Anderson, and town counsel, three neighbors of the covered bridge, Ed Carroll, Paul Degray, and Dana Cerone, were also present for See Covered Bridge, Page 7
The Southwick Select Board discussed the covered bridge on College Hwy with town counsel, Fire Chief Russ Anderson, and residents who live right near the bridge. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
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Hilltown Community Development Block Grant fully funded By AMY PORTER Correspondent HILLTOWNS – Last week, Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, and Housing and Community Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay awarded 39 Community Development Block Grants, totaling $30.5 million, to 58 communities across Massachusetts. Among the grants to be awarded is $1,183,165 to Russell, Huntington, Middlefield and Chester for housing rehabilitation assistance, infrastructure improvements to Main and Old Westfield roads in Russell, an engineering study of two roads in Chester, and funding for social services. “$1,183,165 is the full amount we requested,” said Erica Johnson, senior planner for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission who wrote the grant. Johnson said they have not yet received official notice of the grants or the contract, but is judging by the amount to say that all program requests will be funded. One of the larger infrastructure projects in the grant ($466,565) is for sidewalks and curbing on both sides of Main Street and on Old Westfield Street in Russell, which follows the Memorial Day parade route from the Gazebo, past the cemetery and out to Route 20. The engineering study grant of $51,000 in Chester will be for Prospect Street and Soifalo Road, to look at redoing those two roads.
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Michele Kenney of the Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center, teaching a GED class funded by CDBG grants. (Photo
Susan LeBarron, Hilltown Family Center coordinator, playing with Elayna Dowd of Middlefield and Noah Monfette of Huntington. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (left) and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) The housing rehabilitation assistance grant of $222,400 will be open to residents of all four towns, and is expected to rehabilitate 8 units. Johnson said the program provides a no interest loan to lowto-moderate income eligible residents on a first-come, first-served basis. She said typical repairs can include fixing code violations, See Block Grant, Page 7
Paper Mill Road detour continues By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Those who have been inconvenienced by the detour on Paper Mill Road down Christopher Drive recently, you have about a month before it’s over. According to Mark Cressotti, city engineer for Westfield, the deep sewer work being done for the Joseph Avenue Sewer Improvement Project has diverted traffic down Christopher Drive from Paper Mill Road. He admitted that the detour has been inconvenient and could last as long as four more weeks, but said that Paper Mill Road will be done after this detour. “There’s no other way around, it’s not a convenient detour,” Cressotti said. See Detour, Page 7
A portion of Little River Road that is without pavement due to sewer improvement efforts.