Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT Clear and cold. Low of 16
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 83 NO. 25
— Will Durant
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014
75 cents
Funding diversion impacts bike trail
Board allows zoning relief By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Zoning Board of Appeals found sufficient facts to warrant approval of a special permit and variance for a property owner who wants to use a section of his building for residential use. Michael Tierney owns the building at 16 North Elm Street where his insurance business is located. That building is located on the northwest edge of the Commercial Office Retail Enterprise (CORE) District. Tierney and his attorney, Brad Moir, appeared before the ZBA to seek the special permit and variance from the CORE District zoning which prohibits residential units on the ground floor of business buildings in that zone. The CORE District code, Section 3-100.5, Special Regulations for Residential Uses states in paragraph 1 that “Within any building containing both residential and non-residential uses, no floor area within one story of the street level shall be used for residential purposes (adopted 12/6/2012).” Moir argued that it is the very character of the building which creates the hardship to justify the board to approve a variance and special permit granting an exception. Tierney’s building is a single floor by its original design as the city’s train depot. That design is iconic in its utilitarian design and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Moir also argued that there is no viable retail use for the section of the building Tierney was to convert to a residential use for his son’s family. Moir said that because of the topography of North Elm Street as it passes underneath the railroad line, the Depot building is not visible. “This is an unique building in shape and location. Is there anything the
A sign in the door of the Westfield School of Music warns that the premises are under video surveillance but a thief broke in anyway only to be caught by the owner as he walked away with eight guitars. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Owner nabs thief By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The owner of an Elm Street business captured a burglar Saturday who had broken into his business and was making off with an armful of guitars. City police responded to a 7:47 p.m. report of a burglary and arrived to find a man detaining a thief who had broken into his father’s business, Westfield School of Music on the corner of Elm and Meadow streets. Det. Sgt. Stephen K. Dickinson was among the officers who responded to the crime and explained that the owner arrived at the scene of the crime before police because he had not alerted police when his alarm company reported an intrusion. Dickinson said that the man has set up his alarm so that, when triggered, the alarm company does not immediately call police but the system first sends the owner a text message and relays 30 seconds of video from the scene. Dickinson said that, because there had been a recent false alarm at the music studio, the man was reluctant to ask for a police response when
he did not see anything amiss on the video displayed but instead called his son, who was in the area of the studio, and did not see any problem. Dickinson said, when the younger man returned home, he and his father decided to go back out and check the studio. When they saw footprints in the recent dusting of snow on the steps of the studio the pair stopped for a closer look, Dickinson reports. Dickinson said that when the men looked through the glass door they could see a man inside and, before they were seen, they ducked out of the way and called police. The owner then went around to the rear of the building and arrived in time to see a man walking away while carrying eight guitars. The owner said that, when he yelled at the man, the suspect dropped the guitars and started walking back to him while attempting to tell him a story to explain why he was carrying the guitars. When his son joined him, the owner left him See Owner, Page 3
See Zoning Relief, Page 3
Conditions set for power line project
Southwick fire chief accredited By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Southwick Fire Chief Richard Anderson was granted accreditation from the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission this month. The honor is a declaration of Anderson’s training, education and certifications and recognizes that he has demonstrated the required fire service experience. Anderson submitted proof of training and certifications to the Commission for review. “This validates my experience and knowledge of fire service,” Anderson said. “It goes to all of the training you’ve had, and for me it’s 37 years.” The Massachusetts Fire Service Commission is a gubernatorial appointed board that has established a
“History repeats itself in the large because human nature changes with geological leisureliness.”
process for uniform credentialing for fire chiefs. “The program establishes requirements based on education, training and experience in areas relevant to serving as fire chief,” said Everett Fire Chief David Butler, who serves as chairman of the commission. “It establishes benchmarks for training in fire and emergency service management so that chiefs may be better prepared to serve their department and their community.” Anderson said he believes only about one-third of the Commonwealth’s fire chiefs are accredited. He said the accreditation validates his nearly four decades of firefighting. “The program was developed after extensive research outlining those skills important to today’s fire chief. The process provides an equal
RICHARD ANDERSON opportunity for the volunteer, call or full-time fire chief to meet the minimum criteria for achieving fire chief accreditation,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan. Anderson said he is proud of his training and experience and the continuous training of all of Southwick’s firefighters. “I am dedicated to providing the highest level of service to this community and
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission set conditions for a Westfield Gas & Electric Department project to erect a new section of power lines along the edge of Root Road and next to the Brick Yard ponds Tuesday night. The utility requested approval to erect as many as 15 new 55-foot-tall wooden poles to support a new overhead distribution system between Medeiros Way (formerly Summit Locke Road) and the main trunk on North Road. Francis Case of the WG&E said the department is establishing the new link to improve service by creating a loop in the distribution grid so that if power service is interrupted in one area, the department can continue to provide service. Case said that the base of the three poles installed in the Brick Yard Ponds resource area will be fitted with a synthetic socks to prevent “migration of chemicals” used to protect the wooden pole into the nearby wetlands. Case said that the exact number of poles has yet to be determined depending on the length of the wire span between poles which are buried seven feet into the soil and how that soil supports the weight of the wires carried by the poles.
See Fire Chief, Page 3
See Power Line Project, Page 3
PERFORMING AT YOUR BEST SOMETIMES HURTS “The individualized treatment plan, high-tech equipment, and most advanced treatment methods are why I choose the expert staff at Baystate Rehabilitation Care.” –Tim Daggett Stop horsing around. Call 413-794-9755 today for your rehabilitation needs. baystatehealth.org/rehab
AGAWAM • EAST LONGMEADOW • GREENFIELD SOUTH HADLEY • SPRINGFIELD • WARE
136838-12/13 ME
Jim Maloney, Physical Therapist and Tim Daggett, Olympic Gold Medalist
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A shift in funding priority for the Transportation Improvement Project (TIP) may drain funding and could delay construction of the Columbia Greenway rail trail. A pending amendment in the TIP budget would commit a substantial amount of federal funding under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program to the Union Station Redevelopment Project in Springfield. The use of un-programmed Tip Funding for the Union Station project over the next three years means that approved projects, such as the Columbia Greenway, will have no access to contingency funding, or ability to “pump up” the appropriation of local projects with those uncommitted funds. The current TIP commitment to the bike trail is $2.2 million, while the current engineering estimate to rehabilitate the former railroad bridge over the Westfield River is $2.8 million. The project can proceed under the $2.2 million or be delayed for three years until un-programmed funding becomes available. The Friends of the Columbia Greenway are issuing a call to arms of local citizens to ensure that the north phase of the rail trail construction is funded. That phase will transform the former railroad bridge into the northern section of the Columbia Greenway, linking the bike trail to Women’s Temperance Park on the north bank of the Westfield River. The Friends are asking residents to go to their website and download a letter to Richard A. Davey, Secretary of Transportation, seeking full funding for the bridge conversion project. The letter states: ”CMAQ funds should be prioritized to cover the full phase estimate, unforeseen factors, and cost increases of this important project, before beginning new regional project “ and expresses concern that that “the Union Station Renovation amount adversely impacts the Columbia Greenway North by removing any allowance for variation. “The Columbia Greenway project has been queued for many years and current users are limited by the wait for future phases. This project meets several objectives including: providing transportation mode shift; supporting healthy lifestyles; contributing to downtown revitalization; strengthening regional connections; serving emergency response; and investing in environmental justice areas. Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said that there are two sides of the TIP funding issue, that the delay in construction while frustrating, but may also be beneficial. See Trail Funding, Page 3