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WEATHER TONIGHT
Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
Mostly Cloudy, Cold. Low of 20.
www.thewestfieldnews.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 053
“He
who never leaves his country is full of prejudices.” — CARLO GOLDONI
75 cents
Five more firefighters quit in Worthington By FRAN RYAN Contributing Writer Daily Hampshire Gazette WORTHINGTON — Tempers flared at last night’s Select Board meeting as residents and firefighters expressed anger about how and why an investigation of the Worthington Firefighters Association is being pursued. Members of the Fire Department became aware of the investigation last week, leading to the resignation of Fire Chief Richard Granger and Assistant Fire Chief Rick Scott. Firefighter Mike Frazier yesterday described the investigation as a lack of trust and the “last straw” in a long line of acrimonious interactions between the Select Board and the Fire Department. Since last week, five more firefighters have quit the department. They include emergency medical technician Ginger Scott, Granger’s two sons, Cameron and Taylor Granger, and his father, Gary Granger. Frazier resigned during the Select Board meeting Tuesday. The investigation began in April 2014 when Select Board Chairman Christopher Powell — who said he was acting as a resident — contacted the state attorney general’s office regarding questions on the disposition of
government surplus equipment acquired by the Firefighters Association, a private nonprofit that raises money and support for the Fire Department. The Select Board had already been discussing the status of the Firefighters Association as a private nonprofit, and its failure to file tax forms required for nonprofit status since 2009. This resulted in questions about who was overseeing the purchase, use and disposal of the government surplus equipment and where the dividing line was between a private group and a town department. Select Board members Evan Johnson and Richard Wagner said Tuesday they had wanted to pursue the issue “in house” with the Firefighters Association and the Fire Department. “This happened while we were in the middle of an internal investigation. We came in one night and found out Chris had done this,” Johnson said, referring to Powell’s contacting the attorney general’s office. “This is not how I would have wanted this to go.” Powell, however, said his fellow Select Board members were not moving quickly See Firefighters, Page 3
The front doors are in place and the windows are installed as contractors keep pace with the schedule to construct the city’s new senior center. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Senior Center on schedule By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer WESTFIELD – P3 Inc., the Norwell-based planning firm handling the nuts and bolts of the new Westfield Senior Center on Noble Street, released a progress report this week highlighting the project’s completed steps, along with the next phases in the project and some of the minor snags hit thus far. According to the report, the installation of aluminum storefront doors and PVC beadboard in the building’s eves has been completed, while numerous other installations will be completed by the end of the month.
Exterior siding has been installed on 80 percent of the building, while 70 percent of the building’s rough ductwork has also been completed. “The entry and doorway areas need to be completed,” said Daniel Pallotta, project manager for P3, Inc. yesterday. “It’s been a rough month, weather-wise, but we’re right about on schedule. We don’t have any delays that are concerning the project team at this point in time.” The installation of the closed-cell spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof decking has started and Work continues apace on the city’s new senior center as contractors overcome the weather-related issues which have See Senior Center, Page 3 arisen this winter. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Boldyga, Humason named to Ways and Means Committee
(PHOTO COURTESY FIRENEWS.ORG)
BOSTON- Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) has reappointed Senator Don Humason (R-2nd Hampden & Hampshire District) to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, where Humason will serve for his second consecutive term. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is responsible for considering all matters relating to the finances of the Commonwealth and related matters that may be referred to the Committee.
Tarr also appointed Humason to the following Senate Standing Committees: – Senate Committee on BondingCapital Expenditures and State Assets (Ranking Republican member): Considers all matters concerning state lands, state buildings, the review of all legislation providing for the giving, loaning or pledging of the credit of the Commonwealth. The committee shall be responsible for evaluating such legislation and determining the appropriateness
Conditions set for intersection project By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission closed its public hearing on the North Elm Street/Notre Dame Street improvement project last night and set a number of conditions, including a $30,000 performance bond, related to stormwater collection and treatment. City Engineer Mark Cressotti said the city plans to advertise the $4 million project in March and award the
contract in April with construction, expected to span two construction seasons, to begin as soon as the weather allows. “We’ll advertise the project on March 11 and there is a pre-bid conference for interested contractors set for March 20 with the bid opening slated for April 3,” Cressotti said this morning. “The contract will be awarded in early April after the purchasing department reviews and certifies that the bids
meet the specification of the contract. The project contract will be awarded by the Board of Public Works.” “This project will address the final congestion issue along the (Route 10 and 202) traffic corridor,” Cressotti said. The project focus is to create dedicated left-turn lanes both north and south on North Elm Street which requires widening of the paved surface, installation of new draining, replacing the pres-
An illustrated drawing of the redesigned intersection at North Elm and Notre Dame streets. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
ent structures with deep-sump basins to allow sediments to drop out of stormwater as it is collected and before it is discharged into the Westfield River. The project will also address chronic flooding in the intersection of North Elm and Notre Dame streets by plugging the present drainage from that intersection into Powder Brook. That connection allows water from the brook to backflow into the intersection when the water level of the brook rises over the drainage outfall. The upper section of Notre Dame Street will also be widened to create a greater turning radius for school buses and heavy commercial vehicles. New sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic-control signals will also be installed to improve pedestrian safety. The Conservation Commission issues its permit with conditions to address the construction and maintenance of a rain garden where stormwater from a new parking lot will be collected and sediment removed by the vegetation. It will be constructed on the south side of Notre Dame Street and will replace the present parking areas around the Mestek facility being See Intersection, Page 3
of enacting new legislation containing increased bond authorizations for the Commonwealth. – Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs: Identifies federal funding opportunities for the Commonwealth. Additionally, Humason was appointed to serve on the following Joint Committees: See Committee, Page 3
Grant funds available for small businesses WESTFIELD – The City of Westfield’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program will launch its sixth round of the successful Best Retail Practices grant program in the coming weeks. Interested small business owners must attend a two-hour workshop presented by Christine Moynihan, an expert retail consultant from Retail Visioning, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The workshop presentation, provided free of charge, is scheduled for Thursday, March 12th from 8am-10am at J F Management LLP located at 124 Elm Street (the former Jester’s Café). During this presentation, the expert from Retail Visioning will share her knowledge and insight on everything from design to marketing and operations. At the workshop, those small businesses See Grant Funds, Page 3