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Public participation and Public Hearing at City Council By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – During the public participation portion of Thursday’s meeting, a resident of Broad Street using a sign language interpreter came forward to speak about second hand smoke. The resident, who preferred not to have his name in the paper, previously spoke in favor of the increased smoking ban on all city-owned properties. He said in his apartment building, people smoke in the doorway, and it drifts up into the windows. He said his landlord spoke to him about smoker’s rights when he spoke to him about it. The resident said this was disrespecting his rights, and asked whether if he is exposed to carcinogens and gets sick, he could sue. He also said the law keeping people so many feet from an entrance should be followed whether it’s a private building or a public building. Toledo Avenue resident Matthew Roman Wade M. Rivest during the also spoke to give a public hearing on “Senior Snoopers” Thursday. update, first thanking City Clerk Karen M. Fanion for the “fine, professional, election setup.” He said he hopes the incumbents and newly elected officials will do a good job. “We’ll be watching,” Roman said. A public hearing was also held on an application for a license submitted by J. Dog Junk Removal and Hauling at 30 Toledo Avenue by owner Wade M. Rivest. During his presentation, Rivest said that despite the name, he is not planning to turn his property into a junkyard. He said he will be part of a national franchise that is 100% veteran owned, which will be in the business of cleaning out houses, garages, etc. and taking items to a recycling plant and landfill, and others to be refurbished and sold. He said he is looking to service all the area sites, and to hire veterans. “So, are you saying you’re not going to store any junk on your property?” asked Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise. Rivest said any item to be refurbished will be stored in a storage shed. Surprise also asked whether his address would then be office space as a place of business, which Rivest said it would. At-large Councilor Dan Allie asked where the refurbishing would take place. Rivest said mostly at his storage area, or at a local shop that does similar work. He said he would hire a part-time employee to help with that part of the business. “I’m 100% for this veteran opportunity for business. I support it and will continue to support it,” said At-Large Councilor Cindy C. Harris. Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski asked what vehicle would be parked at his property, and Rivest answered that he would park a Ram 2500 diesel that would be his daily driver at his house. “As far as the trailers, either at my residence or on a friend’s private land,” Rivest said. He also said he was interested in asking an area business (T.J. Maxx) whether he could park his trailer there. Rivest said one goal of the franchise is to keep a
Mayor Brian Sullivan offers his “Communications from the Mayor” prior to a meeting of the Westfield City Council (WNG file photo)
Blandford Town Administrator Blandford Select Board chair Angeline Ellison. (WNG File Photo) Adam Dolby. (WNG File Photo)
Blandford Special Town Meeting to eliminate Town Administrator By AMY PORTER Correspondent BLANDFORD – A citizen’s petition submitted last month by Anthony J van Werkhooven with 99 signatures will force once again a vote to reduce the town administrator’s salary to $1.00, effectively eliminating the position. The position of Town Administrator is currently held by Angeline Ellison of Sturbridge. Ellison started on the job in September, 2016, at a part-time salary of $40,000. Her salary is in the FY18 budget for the same amount. Tony van Werkhooven. The warrant article reads: To see if the (WNG File Photo) town will vote to reduce the Town Administrator salary line to $1.00 by transferring the current balance in excess of $1.00 to Free Cash. An identical article, submitted by resident Don Carpenter was on the Annual Town Meeting warrant on May 1. After a spirited debate at that meeting, the town voted 72 to 30 to postpone the vote indefinitely. Van Werkhooven, a former member of the Finance Committee who resigned last fall, said he brought the petition forward because
Lengthy debate on Mayor’s 1.571 million budget reduction
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson, along with his wife, Lisa, were nominated for an award by the Department of Fire Services. Nominated for the Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal Award, Russ talked about how humbled he and his wife are for the nomination for such an award. “You’re always grateful for any kind of recognition,” said Anderson. “It’s really rewarding for the amount of people we’ve affected.” The Anderson’s are a part of the Western Massachusetts Safety and Fire Education Association. Other nominees for the award are also member of the association and come from a number of different fire departments and communities across Western Massachusetts.
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Beginning with a discussion in the Finance Committee at 5:30, and then continued during the City Council meeting itself, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan’s 14-line item reduction of $1.571 million was parsed and debated, and ultimately passed in totality. The reduction will take effect immediately, and is expected to lower the tax rate set in December. Both in the Finance Committee and in the City Council, At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty, joined by Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell had the most questions and concerns about the reductions. Some of the specific questions on the reductions asked in the Finance Committee could not be answered by Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr., who chairs the committee. He said that two weeks ago, all of the department heads were present to answer those At-large City questions when the meeting was cut short for a public hearing on the hospital Councilor David Flaherty zone, and the committee decided not to reconvene. “He (the Mayor) has said he doesn’t need these funds for this year. What we expect is even more reductions for next year,” Paul said at the Finance Committee meeting, adding, “We have a new baseline for spending. I don’t know why we’re beating ourselves up on this. It’s the result of a lot of hard work on our part.” Paul was referring to the work his committee did in June reviewing the budget line by line. He said they asked the Mayor to go back and look at the some of the items after the budget passed, which he did. Three items which Flaherty said he would vote against on the Council floor were the $200,000 reduction in highway construction, and the $1 million ($400,000 and $600,000) from two health care holidays. “People need the roads fixed. We should add the meals tax on top of this,” Flaherty said. Previously, he had said he would vote against using health care savings for anything other than the city’s OPEB (Other Post Employee Benefits) liability of health insurance for retirees. Paul then made a motion to approve moving the $1.5 million to the Council floor for discussion. O’Connell suggested moving it out of the committee with no recommendation. Paul responded that the City Council would then approve it by line item. He asked for a vote to bring the $1.571 million
See Nominated, Page 5
See Debate, Page 5
See Special Town Meeting, Page 5
Fire Chief Russ Anderson, wife nominated for award
See Public Hearing, Page 5
Downtown-area businesses get help from city By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Downtown-area businesses are getting some help from the city due to community development block grants. Several businesses in the city are getting the chance to utilize funds from community development block grants (CDBG) as part of the façade improvement program through the city’s Office of Community Development. The funds are being used for items such as signage, window replacement and other business improvements, according to the Director of Community Development, Peter Miller Jr. Miller said that a total of six businesses are utilizing or have utilized the funds this year. Miller said that these businesses include Santiago’s, The Good Table, Vivid Salon, Circuit Coffee, Skyline Trading Company and Optimum Health. “Most of these businesses are in a good position, they’re growing,” Miller said.
The funding comes with no charge for the businesses that utilize it, as long as the businesses create one full-time or equivalent job within three years, according to Miller. To be a full-time equivalent job, they must create 40 hours a week that can be worked. “This will help to revitalize downtown,” Lisa Pac, owner of Skyline Trading Company, said. Her business is receiving a new awning and sign for the storefront. Pac said that she hopes the revamped storefront will draw more attention to the store. “Hoping to be more noticeable to people,” she said. “Downtown is changing, people are keeping eyes open.” Miller said that two of the businesses utilized the funds in the summer, while the remaining four are either in the final steps of using the funds or are utilizing them currently. Other items that have been or are being purchased include central air conditioning, equipment and new windows for the front of a building.
The new Skyline Trading Company sign.
(Photo provided by
Lisa Pac)
Each project was between $2,000 to $8,000, with a total of about $38,000 of funding provided, Miller said. The city originally set aside $70,000 for this last year when the program started, and Miller said that these projects are from that pool. The remaining amount, according to Miller, will be reprogramed for use. Regarding the length of time, Miller said that the process is not easy but now that they have gone through it, it will be quicker the next time it is done.