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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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Storm’s timing problematic By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Friday morning’s snow was largely a surprise when about three inches of fell in about an hour between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m., causing traffic snarls which caused delay and confusion, particularly for schoolchildren and their parents. Suzanne Scallion, the city’s superintendent of schools, said Friday afternoon that although in retrospect a school delay could have been useful, at her deadline to call for such a delay, the snow hadn’t even started to fall. She said that the forecast called for a trace of snow to as much as an inch and, by the time the snow belied the forecast, it was too late to stop the process. Scallion said that she has to make the call to delay the buses by 5:30 a.m. and pointed out that the city has a three-tier system so decisions have to be made sooner than in communities were all the school buses set out at the same time. “At 5:45 the word from the DPW and the police was that the trucks were out and there were a few slippery spots” she said, so “at that point it looked like we were good to go.” By the time the snow began to be a problem, she said, “I’m not going to call a delay when half of our kids are already in motion to the high school.” She said that the snow caused delays for the buses but said there the delays were largely due to traffic snarls which slowed the school buses but said that the last bus to arrive with elementary school children, who are in the last wave of school bus traffic, was only 20 minutes late. She said that most teachers got the school and only nine unexpected teacher absences were reported. She acknowledged that many teachers were delayed but attributed the late arrivals to traffic problems caused by the snow. See Snow, Page 3
A rider soars under the finish line during a practice run in the buildup to the final Motocross National Championship at MotoX 338 in Southwick in 2013. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
look on the bright side, even if there ain’t one.” — DASHIELL HAMMETT
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 008
“You got to
75 cents
Departmental consolidation may trigger review
In remembrance A group from the Patriot Guard Riders staged at the entrance of the FirtionAdams Funeral Home during the wake of Westfield firefighter Kevin Regan who was struck and killed by a van December 27 while crossing Route 28 in Yarmouth with his fiancee Lynda Cavanaugh while visiting their condo on Cape Cod. Regan’s funeral will be held this morning at 10 am at the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament on 127 Holyoke Road in Westfield. Regan will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery immediately following his Funeral Mass. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The consolidation of several city departments may be the spark that initiates a review of the City Charter which was established in 1920 when Westfield was incorporated as a city by the state Legislature. Charter & Rules Committee Chairwoman Mary O’Connell said review of the Charter document, which is nearly 100 years old, “is long overdue.” O’Connell, the Ward 4 councilor, said that the Charter & Rules has worked to review and change the City Council rules and to bring the Charter into compliance with federal and state laws where major changes MARY L. have occurred since 1920. O’CONNELL “The committee has taken a three prong approach,” O’Connell, who was reappointed to the chairmanship by Council President Brian Sullivan this week. “During 2012 and 2013 we completed the review of the City Council rules and made changes as the first prong of the review process.” “The committee also cleaned up the easy charter changes, the low hanging fruit so to speak, to bring the charter into compliance with state and federal (equal opportunity) laws,” O’Connell said earlier this week. See Review, Page 3
Westfield Fire Department Engine 2 was parked on the front lawn of the FirtionAdams Funeral Home during the wake of Westfield firefighter Kevin Regan. (Photo
that “there are two distinct types of grant applications,” those submitted by municipal agencies, such as the Historical Committee and Parks & Recreation Commission, and those submitted by private concerns. Porter said the municipal departments seeking CPA funding have to comply with all city and state laws, including bidding procedures and that various other city departments, such as the Building Department, ensure that the projects perform as planned. “City projects have to comply with (state procurement) bid laws and there is municipal oversight,” Porter said, “but the private projects are not subject to that level of oversight.”
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – City officials are reviewing bids submitted from four contractors to ensure the documents comply with bid specifications for construction of elements of the next Columbia Greenway element, which includes installation of a bridge over East Silver Street and a 25-foot-long underpass, linking the Hedges Avenue/ St. Dennis Street neighborhood with the Taylor Avenue/ Ashley Street neighborhood. City Purchaser Tammy Tefft said that four construction companies submitted bid packages for the Columbia Greenway work ranging from a low of $698,897 to a high of $781,663 and that she is currently vetting the bid documents. “I plan to complete verification (today) and hopefully by Monday we can make the (contract) award,” Tefft said Thursday. City Engineer Mark Cressotti said awarding the contract needs to be expedited because the contractor has to order the steel needed for the East Silver Street Bridge and complete construction of both the bridge and the underpass by June 30. Cressotti said the rail trail work is
See CPA, Page 3
See Columbia Greenway, Page 3
by Frederick Gore)
Board mulls grant policies, procedures By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Community Preservation Committee is considering the adoption of policies and procedures that would be required as part of its grant application review process. The committee members discussed options for more than an hour Thursday night without coming to a agreement as to the exact requirements it will seek from applicants seeking access to Community Preservation Act funding. The committee is seeking to establish policies to protect the investment of public funds in projects being considered or approved by the committee. Committee member William Porter said
Contractors vie for Columbia Greenway work
New motocross promoter for Southwick track By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Southwick Motocross is changing hands again. Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart met this week with new motocross promoter Keith Johnson and said Johnson has plans in place to race this year. “He will be meeting with the Board of Selectmen in early February. He is going to coordinate with other public officials, such as the police and fire chiefs, ahead of his meeting with selectmen,” said Stinehart. The American Legion Post 338 will still hold all licenses and permits related to motocross at their track, and the Legion will contract with Johnson and any other interested parties to run and promote motocross. Last year, after longtime Motocross 338 promoter Diane and Ralph Pirello retired, race enthusiasts Mike Grondahl, Travis Louks and Steve Yelin stepped up to take
over. Now, Stinehart said Johnson will promote motocross in Southwick. “I don’t know all the details but Mr. Johnson has raced on the track and has a lot of plans,” Stinehart said. “I believe Mr. Grondahl will still have some interest there.” Calls to Johnson were not returned for this article. According to KeithJohnsonMX. com, Johnson has been a professional motocross racer since 1988 and is an owner of the Keith Johnson MX Racing School in Middleboro. The site lists his career highlights, including being the 2009 Loretta Lynn’s national champion, winning both the junior 25 plus and 35 plus Vet classes, and the 2008 Loretta Lynn’s national champion winning both the junior 25 plus and 35 plus Vet classes. Keith also won all three titles at both Lake Whitney TX, and Oak Hill, TX. Johnson lives in Carver with his family.