Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT
Few Clouds. Low of 52.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 124
75 cents
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017
City councilor suggests a moratorium on synthetic turf fields in the city By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Ward one city councilor Mary Ann Babinski is looking into the possibility of a moratorium on synthetic fields, particularly those that use scrap tire material, a.k.a. crumb rubber, on public and city-owned property. The moratorium comes as some residents, including Babinski, have voiced concerns over potential health effects that chemicals in the product could have, and would aim to give the city more time to gather information and research, which Babinski said has had mixed findings to this point. The motion was brought out of the natural resources committee of city council, which Babinski chairs, and she recently presented it to the Westfield city council to look into a WARD ONE CITY three-year moratorium. It was sent back to COUNCILOR MARY committee and further discussed during a ANN BABINSKI recent city council natural resources committee meeting. “Even though experts disagree, I would rather err on the side of caution until other studies are done because it’s an unnecessary risk until we have more facts,” Babinski said on the use of the product. “In the process of doing some investigation and addressing what is out there so far, we found some studies that said there was nothing to worry about, nothing significant, and there are some studies that show there are health concerns possible,” she added. Babinski added in an email, “In my opinion, if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are continuing their joint study into environmental and health concerns with recycled tire crumb, it would be a smart move to wait for definitive answers and pass this moratorium.” Babinski said that part of the concern comes as she works on strengthening ordinances for the water resource district zoning within the city. She is concerned that the potential for chemicals to leach off of the infill, such as the crumb rubber, into water systems could be one possible health risk. “We should consider whether or how we address it because we don’t want to put another contaminant into our aquifer,” she said. According to Babinski in an email regarding the motion, which was proposed in city council’s natural resources committee earlier this month, reads: “That the City of Westfield institute a 3 year moratorium, effective immediately, on the construction and/or installation of any synthetic turf (monofilament carpet with infill), any surface covering of poured or loose fill, and any fabricated surface material, including but not limited to athletic fields, playgrounds, mulch, and pavers made from scrap tire derived materials on any publicly owned and/or managed land, of any size, within City limits.” Babinski said that she is currently working with the city’s law department to try and craft the possible motion and resolution, which would still need to be voted on in natural resources committee and the city council as a whole. She also said that it would tentatively only apply to public land and the timing and other portions of it may be modified. Attempts by The Westfield News to get the law department’s comments on the matter have been unsuccessful to this point. Babinski said that Westfield would not be the first community in the state to have a moratorium on the product if successful. Last year, residents in Concord, Massachusetts, voted to approve a three-year moratorium on artificial turfs with crumb rubber infill on city-owned property. Previously, the city’s board of health decided to not take any action on crumb rubber use within the city during their May 17 meeting. During that meeting though, director of public health Joe Rouse said that the topic would “stay on our radar.”
Adjustment counselors host teen suicide prevention presentation Montgomery’s elected officials field questions from residents during the Annual Town Meeting Monday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Montgomery becomes third town to vote for Gateway budget By AMY PORTER Correspondent MONTGOMERY – At the Annual Town Meeting on Monday which was rescheduled from May 15 due to the lack of a quorum, Montgomery became the third town to vote in favor of the Gateway Regional School budget. Four towns are required to pass the school budget for FY18. To date, Blandford, Middlefield and Montgomery have voted for the budget, and Russell voted it down. Huntington and Chester are the two remaining towns to vote. Huntington’s Annual Town Meeting is on June 5, and Chester will hold its meeting on Saturday, June 10 beginning at 1 p.m. During the discussion in Montgomery, Gateway Regional superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson responded to a question from a resident as to whether the above minimum contribution to the town of $193,099 was an alterable figure. This year’s above minimum contribution for Montgomery increased by $40,910 over FY 17, but the increase was offset by a reduction in the minimum contribution set by the state to the town of $51,693, as well as a decrease in the non-foundation contribution, for a total decrease to the town of $17,106 for Gateway. Hopson responded to the question by saying that the above-minimum contribution is alterable, but if altered, the town would effec-
tively be rejecting the budget. He said at Russell’s meeting they amended the above-minimum contribution to a lower figure, and by doing that voted down the Gateway budget. Russell was facing a total increase to Gateway of $196,570, due to an increase in their percentage share of students from 26% to 30%. Montgomery’s percentage share of students at Gateway is 7.7%. Following the discussion, Montgomery voted for the above minimum contribution with no dissension, also passing the minimum and non-foundation contribution. When voting on the amount of $120,000 for Vocational Education Expenses, a question was asked as to how many vocational students are in the town, which there are currently two at Smith Vocational and four at Westfield Technical Academy. That article also passed with no dissension. In other business, the town voted to transfer $86,000 from Free Cash to purchase a new Highway Department Pick-up Truck; to transfer $32,000 from Free Cash for Recycling Expenses; and to transfer $50,000 from Free Cash into the Stabilization Fund, leaving several thousand in Free Cash for the end of the Fiscal Year. Town representatives explained that Free Cash cannot be touched until it is re-certified by the state, but the Stabilization Fund is money in the bank.
By STATE SENATOR DON HUMASON Thank you to the Westfield News for allowing me to write a guest column this week. I used to write one every week for the Saturday edition of the paper when I was Westfield’s State Representative but since becoming a state senator in 2013 I find I don’t have the time each week that I used to have to write a column. I now have the honor, privilege, and responsibility to represent Westfield and 10 other communities including Agawam, Southwick, Granville, Tolland, Russell,
Montgomery, Easthampton, Southampton, Holyoke and Chicopee. I find I’m in Boston more than I had to be when I was in the House of Representatives. I spend a lot of time attending meetings and events in the communities I serve. And, of course, as a member of the Minority Party in the Senate I serve on many different joint and standing legislative committees including Senate Ways & Means, Senate Rules, Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, Public See State Budget, Page 3
Memorial Day Ceremony-Circle of Honor Canceled
Note: In observance of Memorial Day, The Westfield News will not publish
Monday, May 29. Massachusetts State Senator Humason
“Carbon pricing is a way of building it in, where our economics can take into account the cost of fossil fuel use,” he said. According to Meiklejohn, Rucinski received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Rochester and “has worked for 30 years in the high-tech industry,” and currently works as a “software project manager at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington.” He also works with Citizens’ Climate Lobby “to put a firm and predictable price on carbon dioxide,” according to a press release.
The Westfield News Radio Show Thursday Line-Up 6am-8am
This Thursday... 6am-8am: 6am-8am: BOB McKEAN
Karen Fanion
Executive Director Stanley Park
Mark Boardman & Jennifer Gruzska Westfield City Clerk Westfield Rotary Club
DR. GARY RUCINSKI
Download WSKB from your Tune In Radio App or watch on Comcast Cable CH. 15
RADIO FOR THE WESTFIELD MASSES
Grassroots organization holding talk on climate change coordinator for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, another grassroots organization. The talk will occur June 3, at 6:30 p.m., at the First Congregational Church on Broad Street in Westfield. According to John Meiklejohn, one of the group’s founders, the talk is a way to help address an issue that is in the current political arena, but hopefully in a nonpartisan way. “It’s exciting to me and to our group, who want to address the key social and economic issues in a nonpartisan way,” he said. Meiklejohn said carbon pricing would help to factor in climate change’s costs to society.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Regional High School hosted a teen suicide prevention presentation on Monday night in the auditorium of the regional high school. The presentation was hosted by Stephanie Lecrenski and Shannon Dion, who are both adjustment counselors at the school. While the event was open to the general public the crowd consisted of 12 parents in attendance. However, according to Dion, the small attendance was a benefit. “It was small and intimate and I think it was a comfortable setting,” said Dion. The adjustment counselors spoke to the attendees about prevention, identifying risk factors, and explaining the difference between identifying the risk factors and self-harm. Southwick Regional High School. (WNG File Photo) The Behavioral Health Network crisis team from the Westfield Carson Center, was also present to talk about the programming they offer and what it would look like if someone was evaluated. Dion felt that the parents were engaged with the discussion. “They were all very appreciative,” said Dion. “There were a lot of real questions.” Lecrenski and Dion have had prior knowledge with this topic as they both went to a SOS (Signs of Suicide) program training this year. SOS is an independent program that offers its skills for schools of different age groups to adopt. Dion also mentioned that the topic of suicide prevention has been gradually extended from one group to the next. They have already addressed the topic to the school district staff, now to the parents, and the hope in the near future is to bring it to the students.
WESTFIELD – The Memorial Day Ceremony-Circle of Honor originally scheduled for May 29, 2017 at 10:00 am at the Veterans’ Memorial within Stanley Park has been canceled.
Debating the Senate Budget
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—A grassroots organization has scheduled an educational talk on carbon pricing, in an attempt to address climate change in a nonpartisan way, according to one of its founders. Voices Rising Together (VRT), a Granville-based greater Westfield grass-roots organization, has scheduled the talk titled, “Carbon Pricing: Developing a Non-Partisan Approach to Address Climate Change via Free Market,” with a presentation from Dr. Gary Rucinski, Massachusetts state
“It is the weakness and danger of republics, that the vices as well as virtues of the people are represented in their legislation.” — HELEN MARIA HUNT JACKSON