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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Next to the slanderer, we detest the bearer of the slander to our ears.” — MARY CATHERWOOD
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FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017
VOL. 86 NO. 136
Police seek public assistance finding suspect By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The Westfield Police Department is seeking assistance in their search for a suspect in an incident that occurred on Springfield Road April 15. The Westfield Detective Bureau posted photos of the alleged suspect in an incident where they reportedly “broke into the building and stole about $400 cash from the Family Medicine office,” according to the post. Paula Ceglowski is Westfield Schools Director of Human Resources (WNG file photo)
WPS’ Administrator of Special Services Dr. Adam Garand (left) with School Committee member Bill Duval. (WNG file photo)
See Suspect, Page 3
New direction for Special Education supervision in Westfield Public Schools By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – At Monday’s School Committee meeting, human services director Paula Ceglowski asked the committee to approve a job description for the new position of “special services program supervisor.” The new position will replace the current “special education supervisor” positions in the schools. Ceglowski explained to the School Committee that after one year on the job as administrator of special services, Dr.
Adam Garand is noticing that in order to move the district forward, he needs a different type of supervisor, one who can design, evaluate and provide oversight of programs. “Dr. Garand has a lot of great ideas. He needs people to monitor,” Ceglowski said. She said the new supervisors will also be looking at new programs. “Rather than a school owning a supervisor, they will be all over the district. They will be tied to programs,” added See New Direction, Page 3
Possible drowning leads to recovery operation on Congamond Lake By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Police Department received a 911 call at approximately 2:39 p.m. on Thursday afternoon from a woman who reported that her friend was swimming from a boat on Middle Pond of Congamond Lake, and dove underneath the water and didn’t resurface above water. Immediately, Southwick Police and Fire arrived to Middle Pond, right on the shoreline on Babb’s Beach in West Suffield. The Southwick Diving Team began to conduct a rescue operation in order to find the swimmer. The diving team, along with the police and fire departments, worked for a little less than an hour on the rescue operation, before switching to a recovery operation. Authorities seem to believe that the individual may have
drowned. The Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Environmental Police are assisting in the recovery operation as it will continue on Friday. Sgt. Rhett Bannish made an announcement on Thursday night that was sent to all Southwick residents, informing them that due to the drowning, Middle Pond will be closed on Friday for all recreational activities. The closing of Middle Pond on Friday is to ensure the safety and security of the first responders who will be continuing the recovery operation. However, both states boat launches will remain open so boaters can have access to North and South Ponds. More updates will be given once more information unfolds with the recovery operation.
2 charged with breaking into ATMs in 3 states SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Authorities have arrested two men they say were responsible for a yearlong string of break-ins at automated bank teller machines in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. The Hampden district attorney says Jaime Garcia and Marquan Moriarty, both 22 and both of Springfield,
Massachusetts, were arrested Thursday as police executed search warrants in Springfield and Ludlow. District Attorney Anthony Gulluni says the searches yielded a handgun, various tools used in burglaries, and cutting torches. Moriarty faces charges including breaking and entering to commit a fel-
ony, malicious damage of more than $250, arson and possession of burglary tools. Garcia is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of burglary tools and arson. It was not clear if the men had attorneys.
Church Street location getting closer to demolition By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The demolition of the old Romani’s Bowling Alley is moving forward, with bids officially being opened yesterday. According to Joe Mitchell, city advancement coordinator for Westfield, a total of six bids were opened for the project. The long-term goal of the Church Street location is to further improve downtown parking with the addition of a parking garage, as well as a mixed-use building. The site also figures into the city’s plans to help assuage parking issues in the short-term, as well. “The numbers were close to what we expected,” Mitchell said. “The city’s purchasing agent is now reviewing the criteria for them.” Mitchell said that he was happy with the six total bids, which were out of 15 who showed initial interest and eight See Demolition, Page 3
School district seeking approval from one more town for capital improvement plan By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – During last week’s school committee meeting, a motion was made to approve the FY18 capital improvement plan. Approving the plan means that the school committee is allowed to take on debt, which the committee needs the approval of all three towns in the school district. While Southwick and Tolland voted in favor of approving the plan at their respective annual town meetings recently, Granville did not approve the plan at their annual town meeting on May 8. The school district has submitted a letter to all three towns, informing them that the town officials can decide to hold a vote. Under Ch. 71 Section 16 D of Massachusetts General law, the school committee is given the authority to borrow so they can come back with another plan, which is to vote and approve the previous capital improvement plan they have had in place. All three towns have the option to hold a special town meeting in order to take a vote, or if 60 days go by and there is no action taken by Southwick, Tolland, or Granville, the capital improvement plan would go through anyways.
Superintendent Jen Willard and the rest of the school committee will be waiting to find out the results of Granville’s special town meeting on June 19. (WNG File Photo) According to Superintendent Jen Willard, the Town of Southwick has confirmed that there will be no action taken, but there hasn’t been any response from Tolland yet. However, the Town of Granville will be
holding a special town meeting on June 19 for the vote on the capital improvement plan. If Granville residents decide to once again vote down the plan, the school committee will have to create another vote. The school committee also has several other options, including to return back with another vote, amend the capital, reduce the amount of the borrowing, leave the vote the way it is, or hold a district-wide election. Willard told the Westfield News that the capital improvement plan hasn’t changed since Granville last voted it down at their annual town meeting on May 8 and Granville town officials don’t expect a different outcome from the special town meeting vote. “I’m not really sure what they (school district) expect the outcome to be,” said Select Board Chairman David Ripley. With the FY18 capital improvement plan budget set for $600,000, Ripley said that Granville isn’t pleased with the amount this year. From fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2017, the capital improvement plan has been $350,000. “It doesn’t sit well with the town,” said Ripley. In this year’s plan, the school district is using the $600,000 for an ADA (American
with Disabilities Act) accessible playground, a paving project, and new technology. Also, $200,000 of the money is going towards purchasing mid-size buses that will be used for Granville students to get from Granville to the Southwick campus every day. “There’s a need to replace vehicles as they age out,” said school district business manager Stephen Presnal. “Our intent in FY18 is that we would purchase mid-size vehicles which are a little better suited for our transportation needs in Granville.” Back in 2011, before the school district regionalized with Granville, the district was pursuing a school building project from the MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority). The original reason for the school building project was to create an expansion of Woodland School, as it was becoming overcrowded. With talks of reconfiguring schools in the district, the decision was made to use the school building project to make Southwick Regional High School expand from grades nine through twelve, to grades seven through twelve. In the fiscal year 2012, the district authorized to borrow $600,000, but only issued See School District, Page 3