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WEATHER TONIGHT Mostly cloudy. Low of 58.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— Jakob Burckhardt
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 83 NO.136
“Neither in the life of the individual nor in that of mankind is it desirable to know the future.”
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
Deedy: Carnival, fireworks to go on By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – If Joe Deedy gets his way, the carnival – and fireworks – will go on. Deedy, a selectman, Rotarian and owner of Moolicious Ice Cream, told the Parks and Recreation Commission last night that he has a plan to keep the town’s summer traditions going. The carnival, normally organized by the Southwick Fireman’s Association, was canceled this year and the fireworks budget was cut to $1,800. Deedy admitted to the commission last night that he was the driving force behind the cuts, but he had a way to make it JOSEPH happen. J. DEEDY. Parks and Rec. Chairman Kelly Magni said late last month he was determined to have the fireworks, but he wasn’t sure how or where since the school campus was not available. After a story broke in The Westfield News about the situation, residents, business owners and the Southwick Police Association have come forward with donations for fireworks. Deedy took that a step further and approached a carnival company to run a three-day event July 25-27. He told the commission that he hoped the fireworks could take place July 25, a family-friendly band could perform in the Southwick Recreation Center July 26, and the Rotary’s Grillin Daze was already set for July 27. Having the carnival on the grounds of the Recreation Center would be an added attraction. “I went to the Rec. Center today, and it’s small, but they could have some rides,” Deedy
75 cents
Mary L. O’Connell
JIM MULVENNA
CHRISTOPHER KEEFE
BPW cancels executive session
If Joe Deedy gets his way, the carnival – and fireworks – will go on. Deedy, a selectman, Rotarian and owner of Moolicious Ice Cream, told the Parks and Recreation Commission last night that he has a plan to keep the town’s summer traditions going. (File photo by Frederick Gore) said. Deedy said while the carnival he’s working on would not be as large as in past years, it would continue the 60-plusyear tradition. “We’re gonna have a carnival this year,” said a determined Deedy. Deedy said he spoke to Southwick Police Chief David Ricardi for an esti-
mate of how much it would cost to have police at the event. “He said it was in the range of $1,400$1,800,” said Deedy. “I reached out to the fire chief because in year’s past they had a line item that covered police for the carnival and parade, so I asked if they See Fireworks, Page 3
See Predator, Page 3
Councilors question Siemens contract
Salon, were out of power. “We were told to expect the power to be out all day,” said Susan Manolakis, owner of Balance Salon yesterday morning. Fire Chief Richard Anderson said luckily, power was restored shortly after 11 a.m. “I believe there was just one bad circuit and once that was disconnected, everything came back on,” Anderson said. Manolakis was at the front of the salon waiting for her first customer See Priftib Way, Page 3
See Contract, Page 3
A trailer unit became tangled in power-lines after a reported brake failure at the Prifti Motors garage on Prifti Way in Southwick Tuesday morning. The unit reportedly rolled into a utility pole snapping it in two pieces which caused a power outage to a small strip mall where the Balance Hair Salon and Subway businesses are located. No injuries were reported. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Prifti Way closed, power out at plaza By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – A minor accident on Prifti Way knocked out power to the immediate area yesterday. A Prifti Motors truck carrying a trailer experienced brake failure, according to Southwick Police Sgt. Kirk Sanders. “The trailer came off and hit a pole and knocked out power,” said Sanders. Prifti Way, formerly Bonnie View Street, runs off College Highway in between Prifti Motors and the shopping plaza next door. All businesses there, including Subway and Balance
See BPW, Page 3
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Finance Committee and several other City Council members attending the budget review meeting last night questioned a $326,167 line item in the proposed 2015 fiscal year budget of the Purchasing Department. TAMMY TEFFT Purchasing Director Tammy Tefft said that money is the first year of a five-year contract with Siemens, the energy consultant which recently completed a $23 million upgrade to the energy systems in school and municipal buildings. “We’ve spent all of this money, and that $23 million doesn’t include the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s funding for schools, but we’re still not maintaining all of the stuff,” Tefft said. “There are 1,500 pieces of major equipment in 23 facilities under energy management.” Tefft said there is no commitment with Siemens for years two through five. “All of that is contingent upon funding,” Tefft said. Finance Committee member and Ward 5 Councilor Robert Paul Sr., questioned how the city could proceed with the maintenance contract without advertising that work for competitive bids. Tefft said that much of the energy efficiency control systems are proprietary to Siemens, but that it has been an issue within her own department. “We’re still going back and forth on those years two through 5,” Tefft said. “I want to see the cost go down, but as the age of the equipment increases, the cost of maintenance will go up. “We have not been able to fund maintenance,” Tefft said, noting that many departments “are reactive, not proactive and contact a vendor only when there is a problem.”
Sexual predator held on bail By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A transient man who had been living at a Southampton Road trailer park is being held on bail after his arrest for failing to register as a sex offender. The man came to the attention of city police May 21 when detectives were asked to assist workers from the Department of Children and Families as they took custody of three children, aged 10, 11, and 12, living with their mother, Wanda Martin, in a trailer at 868 Southampton Road. Det. Roxanne Bradley reports that the trailer was unfurnished and in disarray. Two cats apparently lived in the trailer, she said, and said that the litter box was overfilled. The resident’s dog had apparently been allowed outside to answer nature’s call, she said. She said that there was electricity in the trailer but no running water and no furniture. Bradley said that the only things resembling furniture in the trailer were a stove and a refrigerator and the stove wasn’t working. She said “I couldn’t tell you what was in there (the refrigerator) because it looked like they were using it as a trash can” and said there was very little food anywhere in the trailer. The children had been using the bathroom facilities at two nearby restaurants, Bradley was told, and said that she confirmed the claim with one of the restaurant owners. She said that owner she spoke with said that the children had indeed used his restaurant and said that he thought they had looked hungry.
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Board of Public Works cancelled a posted executive session prior to the 7 p.m. meeting last night. The posted purposed of that executive session was to conduct a “discussion regarding complaints or charges brought against a department employee. Intent to return to open session in order to vote on any, all or none of the above.” The City Council’s Finance Committee Monday evening reviewed the Department of Public Works 2015 fiscal year budget as proposed by Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, a difficult process because that budget is spread across a half dozen, or more, line items. The review process was further complicated by the absence of DPW Superintendent Jim Mulvenna who has prepared that budget for the past decade. Finance Chairman Christopher Keefe’s first question to the officials presenting the budget, Deputy Superintendent Casey Berube, Community Development Director Peter J. Miller Jr., and City Engineer Mark Cressotti, was why was Mulvenna not present to present those details.