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Second public forum on Westfield water held
METAL FIRE PIT (WNG File photo)
Westfield fire pit ordinance amendment introduced By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—A draft ordinance amendment related to the use of fire pits has been presented by At-Large City Councilor Dan Allie. The draft, which Allie said was created with the assistance of the city’s law department over the summer and includes input from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), addresses the use of fire pits, chimeneas and outdoor fireplaces within the city. Allie said that input is now being sought on the draft, including from the Westfield Fire Department, but he wants to avoid excessive fines and over-regulation in the ordinance. “We have to be very careful in writing an ordinance protecting property but also over-regulation and excessive fines,” Allie said. According to Allie, the city created a previous ordinance in April 2016 that was passed by city council and signed by Mayor Brian Sullivan that exempted certain items like fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and chimeneas from the open burning regulations. However, MassDEP could not approve the measure due to how open burning is defined and because some of the items fall under open burning, according to Allie. He also said that fines for not following regulations could start at $1,000 currently, and increase in cost with each fine. According to Deputy Chief Pat Egloff of the Westfield Fire Department, open burning has regulations under Massachusetts General Law and Massachusetts Code of Regulations. Currently according to open burning regulations, if a resident wanted to open burn a permit must be acquired from their local fire department and may only burn from Jan. 15 to May 1, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Also, all burning must take place 75 feet from all buildings. “Only something with a chimney or flute is not open burning,” Allie said. See Fire Pit, Page 3
DAN ALLIE
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Questions of biomonitoring dominated Westfield’s second public forum on the city’s contaminated water yesterday. Officials from several agencies and local government were on hand to discuss the city’s water contamination in city hall yesterday, with a forum open for residents to ask questions about water and health concerns, which includes two city wells remaining offline. During the event, several residents asked questions about a version of blood testing, or biomonitoring, for the prevalence of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in residents, and agencies updated residents on where they are in their investigatory processes related to contamination. The two city wells were previously taken offline after they were found to have levels of PFCs above the lifetime advisory limit of 70 ppt (parts per trillion) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Each of those attending in an official capacity continue to assure residents that Westfield’s water from the active sources is safe for consuming. Those at the event to answer questions included members of Westfield municipal government, as well as Col. Jim Suhr from the Air National Guard at Barnes, Eva Tor from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Dr. Marc Nascarella, Director the Environmental Toxicology Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), among others. Air National Guard According to Suhr from the Air National Guard, they are currently in step two of their four-step investigatory process into the source of the water contamination, which has been indicated may have come from the use of firefighting foam at Barnes Air National Guard base. Suhr said this has included drilling 14 new soil borings since the city’s last meeting, with five such reaching the water table below. In addition, Suhr said that water samples from previously-existing wells were taken, as well as soil samples. Suhr also said that the samples are currently being analyzed by a contractor and the contractor has until February 2018 to do so. However, Suhr indicated that it could be
Kristen Mello stands at the podium during remarks to city, state and regional officials during the second public forum on water. sooner as they continue to try and move the pro- private wells to this point. Of those 57, three wells have been found above EPA’s lifetime cess along. “We have been on the phone with them every advisory limit and were all located on Sandy Hill Road. day,” he said. Tor said that carbon filers have been installed “As soon as we get the information we will into the homes with the elevated levels and have release it,” he added. Suhr also said that the base has been elevated been “very effective” in treating the water. Tor said that the process of investigation is to within the top three among federal bases that have had similar contamination issues. About continuing, with MassDEP anticipating to test 100 bases have been dealing with similar con- another 20 private wells for PFCs. All results can be found through Westfield’s water departcerns, according to Suhr. “We made our leadership aware that we are ment website. Department of Public Works completely unique,” Suhr said, indicating that According to Dave Billips, director of the this is due to the base being situated above Department of Public Works, the city is moving Barnes Aquifer. Suhr said that step three is remedial investiga- forward with the plans to construct a granular tion, which will include a feasibility study and a activated carbon filtration facility to treat the public hearing and vote to determine what is two affected wells, seven and eight, after it was identified as an effective treatment for PFC condone next, followed by clean-up in step four. tamination. MassDEP However, Billips indicated that there is not a According to Tor from MassDEP, this departdefined timeline for the completion of the projment is to investigate private wells. “MassDEP’s role in all of this is looking at ect at this time. Department of Public Health private wells,” Tor said. According to Dr. Nascarella, Director of the “Our investigation right now is related to Environmental Toxicology Program for DPH, health effects of drinking water,” she added. Tor said that they previously developed a See Westfield Water, Page 3 phased approach to the task and have tested 57
GEF announces project funding and Homecoming Weekend plans
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (left) and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. (WNG File Photo)
Southwick and Granville get boost towards recycling efforts By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK/GRANVILLE – On Sept. 21, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that they would be awarding more than $2.3 million in Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) grants to 238 municipalities and regional solid waste sites. The SMRP is through the Mass DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). Locally, Southwick and Granville received grant money to use towards this program, which will help communities increase their recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs. Southwick applied for this grant annually and was able to secure $5,400. According to DPW Director Randy Brown, the town has used the money in the past to purchase things like roll-off containers, recycling bins, and new signage at the town transfer station. Brown is always pleased to hear the announcement that the town is receiving grant money through this program. “We’ve been lucky to benefit from it every
year,” said Brown. “It helps off-set our capital expenses for equipment purchases.” Karl Stinehart, who is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Southwick, was also grateful for the $5,400 grant. “The town appreciates the Commonwealth’s commitment to aid in re-use and recycling for our community,” said Stinehart. Southwick has been involved with the SMRP as the town has had a solid waste handler’s permit in effect since July 13, which coincides with the SMRP. Similar to Southwick, Granville receives funds for recycling every year, and this time around they have been given $4,200. Granville Town Administrator Matt Streeter said that the town normally uses the money towards recycling bins and self-composting boxes. Streeter also acknowledged how happy the town is with the grant money. “We’re a green community, we take our recycling efforts seriously,” said Streeter. “We appreciate working with Mass DEP to continue our efforts and this money will go a long way to help the residents and businesses of Granville.”
By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – Gateway Regional’s grant writer and community relations coordinator, Wendy Long, took advantage of a light agenda in between joint budget discussions with member towns to catch the School Committee up on activities of the Gateway Education Foundation. The Gateway Education Foundation (GEF) is a not-for-profit organization that formed in 2012 to enhance the educational opportunities for students of the Gateway Regional School District. To date, 61 projects totaling $37,500 have been funded by the Foundation. Long said the GEF Board met on Monday night and approved eleven applications totaling $7,505, the most ever at a meeting. She said they were able to fund them all thanks in part to a $4,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts raised See GEF, Page 3
Jeff Penn performs at the Shipman Memorial Concert in 2016.