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Ward 1 City Councilor Mary Ann Babinski responds to a question during Wednesday night’s final candidate forum for those unopposed candidates. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Mayor Brian Sullivan addresses the audience during Wednesday night’s final candidate forum for those unopposed candidates. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
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Ward 6 City Councilor William Onyski shares his thoughts during Wednesday night’s final candidate forum for those unopposed candidates. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Ward 2 City Councilor Ralph Figy speaks to the crowd during Wednesday night’s final candidate forum for those unopposed candidates. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Unopposed candidates in city election talk with residents during final forum By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Residents were able to get their chance to ask questions and hear the views of those running unopposed in this year’s city election during last night’s final candidate forum. Candidates were asked questions prepared for them by The Westfield News, as well as questions from the residents on hand and others. Candidates, as well as the host of the forum and owner of The Westfield News Patrick Berry, also gave their condolences during the forum in regards to the loss of former Mayor Michael O’Connell, who was also the husband of At-Large Councilor Cindy Harris. O’Connell died earlier in the day after an illness. Those running unopposed were Mayor Brian Sullivan, Ward One Councilor Mary Ann Babinski, Ward Two Councilor Ralph Figy and Ward Six Councilor Bill Onyski. The candidates were asked questions about their own wards, as well as issues within the city itself that concerned them and what they would be doing going forward. The format was different than previous forums this year, with a more open and informal session being provided. The first question was given to Babinski, who was asked about how she balances the large area that her
ward covers and that is available for larger industrial businesses to expand, while also giving residents the ability to live in a more remote section of the city. “It is a very difficult question to answer or even to solve because we have to have balance,” she said. Babinski said that the area was agricultural for many years, which has to be considered. In addition, she noted natural resources like the Barnes Aquifer that are in the area, which provides drinking water for the city and has had issues with contamination from perfluorinated compounds, that must also be protected. Babinski also said that a plan should be had in regards to developments. “We have to have a good plan, have to know we’re paying close attention to the kinds of businesses we bring in,” she said. “We have to be aware of it, may have to make the hard choices and realize there may be something we can’t do.” The next question was directed to Sullivan, who was asked about the Mayor’s briefings before City Council meetings in order to improve communications and whether it has been effective. Sullivan felt that it has been, both because it creates a dialogue between him and the council and because of the additional exposure it provides for people.
State and local fire officials remind residents about smoke alarm safety By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent GRANVILLE – As people are set to turn back their clocks on Sunday, Nov. 5, Massachusetts State Fire Marshall Peter J. Ostroskey wants to remind residents this week that they should also check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. “Smoke alarms give us the early warning we need in the event of a fire. Not only do you need smoke alarms, but you need to make sure they are working,” said Ostroskey in a press release that was published on Wednesday from the Department of Fire Services. According to Ostroskey, 17 people died in house fires in 2016 as a result of their residences having no working smoke alarm. Ostroskey added that smoke alarms last around 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms typically last five to seven years. Locally in Western Massachusetts, fire departments are trying to ensure that people in their community are testing their alarms and making sure that the batteries still work, despite some manufacturers saying that batteries last up to 10 years. “It’s definitely something that should be checked,” said Granville Fire Chief Matt Ripley. Like other departments in the area, Granville Fire recently partnered with the American Red Cross to host a smoke alarm program for residents in town. The American Red Cross provides free smoke alarms to residents that have an alarm that is 10 years or older, or have a home that was built before 1975. Ripley reported that they were able to replace old smoke alarms with new ones at five households.
“The biggest benefit is that it’s televised,” Sullivan said, noting that people have told him they appreciate the briefing. He also said that it has prompted people to go to subcommittee meetings. “A lot of people are for transparency in government and unfortunately government backed itself into the corner with that,” he said. However, with the briefing and other steps, Sullivan believes they have improved this in Westfield. “I do think it’s a benefit for the council, myself and the public,” he said. The third question on the evening was asked of Onyski. He was asked about balancing the needs of business expansion, like that of Boise Cascade, with neighbors’ concerns. “Boise Cascade, in my mind, is a great success story,” Onyski said. According to Onyski, the Union Street-based business wanted to expand their operations, which included lumber loading, to 24-hour status. This request brought concerns from neighbors about items such as noise and lighting, especially at night, and over a large land mass. Onyski said that he met with Boise Cascade and the neighbors and eventually had several walk-throughs of the property with the parties. From there, he said that they “hammered out a compromise,” which he believes ben-
efited both sides. “It is possible to get together and put together a solution and we did in that aspect,” he said. Up next, Figy was asked a question about his ward, Ward two, and the future of downtown that he is helping with. Figy admitted that to this point, downtown has not been a point of emphasis for him. “Downtown has not been one of my points of emphasis,” he said. He voiced concerns with the fact that the Business Improvement District was disbanded, and there was nothing to replace it. “Nothing was put in place, everyone made pie in the sky promises,” he said. However, he said that what has occurred downtown with Westfield on Weekends and events such as the Rag Shag Parade, the Pumpkinfest and small businesses opening up, has been good. Something that he wanted to see developed in the area though, was a 55-and-older assisted living facility. “I would love to see an assisted living 55-and-older facility built next to a medical building,” he said. He also said that he would like to see improved foot traffic, which could occur with more development. Figy was then asked a question from the public about apartments, especially in relation to college students.
Former Westfield Mayor Michael E. O’Connell dies By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Former Westfield Mayor and long-time attorney Michael E. O’Connell died following an extended illness on Wednesday morning. O’Connell, 73, served as Mayor of Westfield from January 1982 to June 1985. He is being remembered for his love of Westfield, his colorful stretch as a basketball coach at St. Mary’s, and a turbulent second term as Mayor that ended with his resignation six months early. His son John O’Connell, who lives in Worcester, said his father still enjoyed telling stories of the players he had Former Westfield Mayor coached and their families. Starting as an Michael O’Connell spoke on assistant basketball coach at Westfield behalf of homeowners during State, he became head coach at St. a discussion of the tax shift at Mary’s, where he said many people a special city council meeting came to the games just to watch his exu- in 2012. (WNG File Photo) berant coaching style. “He broke more than one clipboard, I can vouch for that,” John O’Connell said. Current Mayor Brian P. Sullivan said he first met Michael O’Connell when he participated in the summer basketball program during high school which O’Connell coached. He recalled him as “quite an athlete.” Years later, during the four years Sullivan spent in the Hampden County District Attorney’s office (2010 to 2014), he would see him once or twice a week when O’Connell served as an attorney for the public defender’s office at the Springfield District Court. He said O’Connell always had a story about the athletes they both knew from the summer basketball league. O’Connell became Mayor in January of 1982, after serving as City Assessor. At the time, he was still coaching at St. Mary’s. John O’Connell said there would often be front page stories in the then Westfield Evening News about Mayor O’Connell, and back page stories about Coach O’Connell. Retired Judge Phil Beattie, a close friend, first got to know O’Connell See O’Connell, Page 3
Figy said that there have been issues with students and the city has attempted to deal with it through the creation of an ordinance, but that has gotten some negative feedback from the courts. “We’ve got some issues, we’ve tried to deal with college kids, passed an ordinance for nuisance housing,” Figy said. “But the court’s not happy with that so we have to retool that.” A question from one of the residents about social media was then asked, which was put forth to all the candidates. The resident asked if social media, which has become “a buzz,” is “good or just noise.” “It’s the noise I love to hear, I think it’s a good thing,” Babinski said, adding that there is bad that comes with the good. “What we have to expect is there are people who have opinions and want to get involved with what’s going on,” she said. She said that she follows the conversations on social media and that it would be a mistake not to. Also, that the conversations there could lead to knowing about problems that are out in the city. “Someone said we need to have solutions,” Babinski said. “First you have to recognize the problems, have dialogue about it and find out if you See Candidates, Page 5
Local legislators involved in taxpayer commute investigation By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – On Tuesday afternoon, Boston’s FOX25 News published an investigative story about Massachusetts lawmakers. Lead by FOX25 investigative reporter Eric Rasmussen, he found that legislators in the commonwealth were charging taxpayer’s for their commute to the Boston State House. As lawmakers voted in favor of receiving a multi-million dollar raise and ending the per diem program, that meant that the legislators would no longer be able to keep their travel reimbursement, which went into effect on Jan. 4 this year. Lawmakers would receive anywhere from $10 to $100 a day, depending on the length of their commute. FOX25 discovered that there was more than $8,000 that legislators took from taxpayers and now the State Treasurer’s office is trying to take that money back. With this investigation including lawmakers across the state, it also affects legislators in this local area in Sen. Don Humason and Rep. Nick Boldyga. Humason, a Republican, noted that he voted against the pay raise and change in per diem’s, as Democrats pushed for the move. However, Humason said that it was made unclear to him as to when the change would go info effect this year and said that the Democrats changed the language at some point to have the law go into effect on Jan. 4. “I inadvertently applied for per diem’s that I was already being paid for,” said Humason. The Senator who covers 11 communities in Western Mass, also voiced his frustration about this investigation as he believed he was a constant advocate for people against the pay raise and change of the per diem. See Local Legislators, Page 3