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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Life is a solitary cell whose walls are mirrors.” — Eugene O’Neill
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 83 NO. 243
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
Lawmakers to hold public hearing on state’s Ebola response By Peter Francis Staff Writer BOSTON — A legislative panel is trying to determine if Massachusetts is ready to deal with Ebola. The Legislature’s Public Health Committee has scheduled an oversight hearing today to review response plans by the state should any cases be reported in Massachusetts. State Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez of Boston and Sen. John Keenan of Quincy co-chair the committee. They’ve invited several experts to testify at the 10 a.m. hearing, including Dr. Michael VanRooyen of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health, and UMass Memorial Medical Center President Patrick Muldoon. Gov. Deval Patrick has tried to reassure the public, See Ebola, Page 3
Grant to improve city fire headquarters By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The city’s fire headquarters will be protected by a sprinkler system and an up-to-date alarm system after the City Council accepts a $61,200 grant offered by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Fire Chief Mary Regan said that the City Council’s Finance Committee will present the Assistance to Firefighters grant her department applied for at their meeting tonight and, when the grant is accepted, requests for proposals will be circulated to businesses which can perform the work to increase safety at fire headquarters. Mary Regan Regan said that a sprinkler Fire Chief system “probably wasn’t required by code” when the Broad Street headquarters building was built in 1972 and said “our alarm system is antiquated and I want to bring it up to code.” She pointed out that the first floor of the two level See Grant, Page 5
75 cents
Steam rises from the roadway as contractors from Lane Construction resurface a street last month in Westfield. Contractors hope to restart the paving this Saturday. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
High-priority paving projects progress By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – While there is still time remaining until the asphalt plants shut down for the winter and effectively end thsi year’s paving season, it appears that the city of Westfield will not be able to accomplish all of the roadwork it set out to do this summer. Rain this past weekend also put a damper on paving efforts, according to city engineering officials. “With rain, you don’t want to pave when the roadways are wet because it won’t last,” said Heather Miller, utility engineer for the city of Westfield. “So the City Hall parking lot and Court Street were on tap and got postponed.” “Court Street has been milled and right now they are working to raise structures and prepare it for paving,” said Miller. “West Silver Street is another one that is in progress and getting ready to be paved this year.” Roads listed by Miller as projects that have been completed include Springdale, Shaker, City View and Old Montgomery roads, along with High Street. She added that the streets included in the city’s Gaslight District project – such as Central and School streets – are slated to be completed this year, as well. One question on the minds of many is just how much the work is costing city taxpayers. “The funding mechanisms for these streets are kind of all over the place,” Miller said. “Some are coming from the additional pothole money this year, there’s some that’s coming from regular Chapter 90 reimbursements, some from the city…”
According to City Engineer Mark Cressotti, paving hasn’t been any different than previous seasons. “We generally spend about $1 million a year,” said Cressotti. “I think we spent probably $1.5 million this year in total with Chapter 90 and pothole money. I’m not sure any municipal monies have been spent.” Cressotti added that Chapter 90 funding only goes toward approved public roadways. “If we were going to do something that the state didn’t recognize as a public way or we didn’t get approved in a timely way, we would have had to use our own dollars,” he said. Cressotti added that 4.2 miles of city roads have been paved this year and that 2.5 miles are lined up for next year, numbers that are in line with past years. “I think the only thing we’re putting off till next year is a section of Little River Road that the Mayor feels is too far gone to let go until reconstruction,” Cressotti said. “As long as the temperature reaches 40 degrees and is rising during the day, technically pavement can be laid down,” said Miller. “But as it gets colder, your window to pave grows shorter during the day. Asphalt plants will start closing down (as it gets colder) and once they close down and temps get too cold, you can’t pave anymore.” “We did Shaker, City View and Springdale roads on pothole money, which is about $180,000,” said Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik. “These projects that we’re into now, there is a lot of See Paving, Page 3
Gorman: PVTA impeding senior center access By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Council on Aging Executive Director Tina Gorman reported that Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses are frequently occupying the three loading spaces on Main Street in front of the Senior Center, spaces where seniors are dropped off and picked up by relatives or the PVTA senior shuttle van. “If no one is in the drop off spaces, the buses are using those three spaces, sometimes for up to 15 minutes before they start their route again,” Gorman said. “I understand why they are doing it,” Gorman said. “If they park where they’re supposed to park, in front of Rocky’s, the buses block a TINA (westbound) travel lane. GORMAN “I can’t have seniors with mobility problems walking up and down the sidewalk looking for their ride or the PVTA shuttle van,” she said. Gorman said the problem started several weeks ago and has escalated even though she contacted Josh Rickman, the PVTA Manager of See PVTA, Page 5
A Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus stop is proposed to be located between the Westfield Athenaeum and United Bank on Elm Street in Westfield. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
Residents apply for Southwick library board
Jim Middleton, a computer technician for the Town of Southwick, upgrades a group of computers that are used at the Southwick Public Library for interfacing with Central Western Mass Automated Resource Sharing ( C/W MARS ) in July. C/W MARS is a network of computers that will connect the Southwick Library with computers in libraries located in western and central Mass. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Four residents stepped forward to fill a vacant seat on the Library Board of Trustees. Trustee Chris Grabowski resigned last month when his new career demands prevented him from fulfilling his duties on the board. Last week, the Board of Selectmen interviewed the four candidates in open session. Each applicant was asked the same series of questions, including their knowledge of how the board works, whether or not they use the library, and what ideas they would bring to the board. The applicants uncluded Tammy Ciak Bissaillon, Frank T. Larson, Carolyn E. Mills and Anne Murray. Ciak-Bissaillon said she is a frequent library user. “I’m there just about every day,” she said. “I attend many programs.” Ciak-Bissaillon was previously a library trustee for four years and said she would love to contribute to the
board once again. She said she sees the library as “a place that needs to be open to everyone in the community” and said she would bring with her ideas to include more residents. Larson said he believes the board has a number of roles, including ensuring that the library has adequate funding and meets the needs of patrons. “We need to find out what people want,” said Larson. Larson serves on the town’s agriculture committee and brings many years of non-profit experience to the table. He has a career working with credit unions and was a trainer for the American Red Cross and Westover Job Corps. Larson said he is an avid reader who wants to bring more relevent programs and services to residents. Mills is a frequent visitor at the Southwick Public Library who said she “heartily believes in libraries.” See Board, Page 5
Smith appointed Soldiers’ Home Trustee By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Daniel J. Smith has been appointed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick to serve four-years as a member of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Board of trustees. “I appreciate your willingness to serve the Commonwealth in the capacity,” Patrick said in his letter of appointment. “Your experience and sound judgment will contribute substantially to the Commission. Congratulations on your appointment. I wish you great success as we move forward.” Smith, who grew up in the Elmwood section of Holyoke not far from the Soldiers’ Home, served in one of the US Army’s distinguished units, the 3rd Infantry whose members guard the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Smith, during his tenure from 1957 to 1960, served on the unit’s Honor Guard assigned to Arlington National Cemetery. Smith was a teacher for 23 years in the Westfield School Department, including 17 years as a math teacher at the Westfield Middle School (now the South
Middle School) before taking an appointment as the executive director of the Westfield Housing Authority where he served for 15 years before retiring. Smith has served on a number of boards and commissions, including the Municipal Light Board where he served as chairman, the Westfield YMCA Board of Directors, a past-president of the Sarah Gillett Elderly Services, a trustee of the Shurtleff Children’s’ Services, Past President of the Westfield American Red Cross Chapter and the city’s Board of Registrars. Smith is also a life member of several organizations including the Knights of Columbus, the Sons or Erin, the Westfield Elks Lodge (1481) and the National Education Association. “I think it’s good to have a veteran to take care of other veterans who need some help,” Smith said following the swearing in ceremony presided by Richard K. Sullivan Sr., and Kelly Cavanaugh Kelly. “I’d like to thank Gov. Patrick for the honor and for his commitment to give quality care to veterans,” Smith said.
Westfield Commissioner to Qualify Public Officers Dick Sullivan, second from left, reads an oath of office to Daniel J. Smith, center, who became the newest Holyoke Soldiers’ Home board of trustee, during a brief ceremony in the City Council Chamber at Westfield City Hall yesterday. Joining the ceremony are, left-right, Kelly Cavanaugh Kelly, Springfield commissioner to qualify public officers, Consuello Smith, spouse, and Sean Smith, son. Smith was appointed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick. (Photo by Frederick Gore)