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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017
VOL. 86 NO. 111
Barnes aquifer protection suggestions discussed by city council committee
One contested seat at annual town election
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The city council’s natural resources committee officially received suggestions for zoning related to water protection from the Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee (BAPAC). The suggestions came in a letter addressed to committee chair and ward one councilor Mary Ann Babinski, and were discussed during last night’s natural resources subcommittee meeting. The suggested changes were previously discussed by both BAPAC and the committee tentatively. The letter suggested that changes be made specifically to Westfield’s Water Resource Protection District zoning ordinance, in an attempt to better protect the Barnes aquifer. “I would like to make the suggestion that we incorporate everything put in here,” Babinski said at the meeting. “That would give us the most protection.” The letter revolved around three specific changes to language within the applicability section, definitions and special permits and dimensional and coverage requirements within the ordinance. In addition, “broader thoughts” were discussed in the letter for the committee’s consideration, including points about airport land in the city. For changes to applicability in the ordinance, the letter suggested that “where a parcel is partially within the water resource district, the ordinance applies to the entire lot and remove the possibility of a special permit exemption, which weakens protections.” The committee made some positive comments about the suggestion, but with a large caveat. “If we don’t know how many parcels are affected by this it’s difficult to make a decision,” committee member and ward two councilor Ralph Figy said. “I need more information, it sounds good but I don’t want to hamstring something in the future.” Babinski agreed to look into what parcels may be affected by this possible change and agreed to discuss her findings at the next meeting. Regarding definitions within the ordinance, BAPAC suggested a “better definition for ‘Zone II’ to promote understanding about the nature of this zone.” From the city’s Water Resource Protection District zoning ordinance, zone II qualifies as:
Hilltown Collaborative members at a meeting last November to work on an economic development strategy for the hilltowns. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Rural Economic Development Coordinator sought for Gateway Hilltowns By AMY PORTER Correspondent CHESTER – The job is posted for a rural economic development coordinator to operate out of Chester, and serve that community along with the towns of Middlefield, Huntington, Montgomery, Russell and Blandford. The job posting is the result of a grant of just over $100,000 to the Hilltown Cooperative, the group that emerged from a Community Compact signed on by the six towns and the Baker/Polito administration one year ago. Facing an aging population, stagnant growth and rising taxes, the Hilltown Collaborative identified the need to plan for the future. They will be working to promote attractions, assets and growth in the hilltowns, and to encourage more families to move in and more economic investment, according to chair Andrew Myers following the announcement of the grant funding. The Hilltown Collaborative, which has representative members from each of the towns assigned by the individual select boards, retained the services of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to assist in recruitment of the position. PVPC has also been an active part of the Community Compact efforts, and is also helping to look at shared financial and IT services between the towns. The salary for the full-time, benefitted position is posted at $45,000 to $60,000, depending on experience, and is available online at www.mma.org in municipal job opportunities, under the listing of Rural Economic Development Coordinator, Pioneer Valley
“That recharge area of an aquifer which contributes water to a public drinking water well under the most severe pumping and recharge conditions that can be realistically anticipated; further defined under the Massachusetts Drinking Water regulations 310 CMR 22.00, and the delineation of which is approved by [Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection]. The letter cited the definition provide from the Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information’s “explanation of a Zone II,” which included the “area of an aquifer that contributes water to a well under the most severe pumping and recharge conditions that can be realistically anticipated.” Once again, due to the nature of the information, the committee agreed to allow Babinski to speak with the planning department regarding this suggestion. Regarding special permits and dimensional and coverage requirements, the letter made a suggestion to look at the currently allowed amount of impervious ground, which is ground that does not allow for water to seep through to groundwater systems, that is allowed within the district. One concern regarding impervious ground is that as stormwater runs off, there is a potential for hazardous See Barnes Aquifer, Page 3
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Planning Commission. The new coordinator will also have the benefit of starting with an economic development plan put together by Elan Planning/Design/ Landscape Architecture over the past year, thanks to a $40,000 grant from MassDevelopment. Elan met with stakeholders and town officials throughout the past year, as well as holding open houses and touring the area. Their plan, which focuses on the assets and opportunities in the region, is expected to be finalized over the summer. While the position is paid for by grant funding the first year, the plan is for all six towns to share the cost of continuing the position in the ensuing years. “I think it’s important even for small communities to have somebody spearheading economic development issues,” said Joe Mitchell, city advancement officer for Westfield. “The reason being, I have site selectors calling this office very regularly, and they have an interest in a certain parcel or in the city of Westfield.” Mitchell acknowledged that he doesn’t get them all across the finish line. “But if there isn’t a resource where they can direct the inquiries, you’re going to get zero percent across the finish line,” Mitchell said. Myers said at the announcement of the grant that they hope to have someone in place by July 1. The deadline posted on the job description is May 22. “It should be exciting. Things are starting to happen. The real gratification will be when we see new growth coming and the economy starting to turn a bit,” Myers said.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – On Tuesday, the Annual Town Election was held in the Southwick Town Hall Auditorium. However, despite being an election, there were very few choices registered voters had on the ballot and a mere 266 (3.94%) of the registered 6,749 voters cast a ballot. Of the 13 boards or committees with seats to fill on the ballot, there ended up being just one contest with multiple candidates and that was on the district school committee which had three people running to fill two seats. Jeffrey Houle, who was running for re-election was up against Jessica Boldyga, a Republican candidate and Chelsea Berry who ran a write-in campaign. Houle and Boldyga secured enough votes to take those seats on the school committee. The lack of contested seats was something that some residents were concerned about. “It’s very sad,” said Southwick resident Karen Reidl. “We have good people.” Another voter on their way out of the town hall felt that with a lot of young families in town and people living busy lives, the strong desire to run in the election is absent. “People are busy,” said a resident who wished to stay anonymous. “There’s just a lack of interest.” One man casting his ballot, who also requested anonymity, thinks there is interest from individuals in the community but not enough desire to put their name in the ballot. “I find it hard to believe that there isn’t anyone trying to contest any of these spots,” he said. A few of the notable town positions whose incumbents ran unopposed were, Russ Fox (Select Board), Alan Hoyt (Assessor), Bobbie Jo Thibault (Assessor), Luther Hosmer (Water Commission), and James Putnam II (Moderator). Republican candidate Michelle Ackerman was the only non-incumbent candidate to fill the vacant seat for a five-year term on the Planning Board.
Granville firefighters attend training By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent GRANVILLE – Members of the Granville Fire Department attended a two-day Rural Water Supply class this past weekend hosted by the Massachusetts Fire Academy at the Southampton Fire Department. On Saturday the course was spent in the classroom and on Sunday the participants were able to do hands-on activities. The Rural Water Supply class helped improve the Granville Fire Department’s efficiency for setting up a tanker shuttle when a fire occurs in town. The town of Granville doesn’t have any fire hydrants which means firefighters rely on the tanker shuttles. According to Granville firefighter Josh Rutola, they See Training, Page 3
After helping To Save A Man’s Life, Ruth Bushey of Westfield Set Her Sights on a Career in Nursing WESTFIELD – While growing up, Ruth DiLorenzo Bushey, MS, RN, IP of Baystate Noble Hospital, was inspired by a role model who greatly influenced her decision to pursue a career in nursing. That role model was actually a nursing supervisor at Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, who would share her nursing stories with Bushey and engage her in conversation about the profession, furthering her interest in caring for others. “When I was about eight years old, Marjorie Mancuso was married to my cousin, Frank. I grew up in her company
and admired her as one of the most admirable, well-spoken, intelligent, accomplished and strong woman I had ever known. It remains true today. Marjorie is retired now, but I still meet many people in the Baystate Health family who remember working with her and who also admired her professionalism. She raised two brilliant sons, one of whom also entered health care as a physician,” said Bushey. In addition to her relative’s influence, a few weeks after completing a class in CPR in high school, there was a defining moment in Bushey’s life as she wit-
nessed a man collapsing outside of her church. “I was able to put my newfound skills to the test, and it was after that experience, helping to save that man’s life – who I later learned did survive – that I knew a profession in health care was right for me,” recalled Bushey. “My original dream was to go to medical school, but I could never have put my parents in a position to pay for such an expensive education, but I could afford to pay for my own education in See Nursing, Page 3