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TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Cooler. Low of 54. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield Search for The Westfield News News EAR IS FORWARD “F . Westfield350.comTODAY IN WESTFIELDThe WestfieldNews HISTORY: Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns NO ON“TE IMEIS A ISF RAIDTHE ONLY WEATHER 1896: Little Park near OF YESTERDAYCRITIC WITHOUT.” TONIGHT Railroad Depot laid out AMBITION.” — ReNATA ADLER Partly Cloudy. by Town. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL. 87 NO. 154 FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 CRITIC75 CentsWITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Council 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 City Council 75 cents approves passes senior special tax tax deferments By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Legislative & Ordinance assessment Committee (LEO) recommended to the City Council By AMY PORTER Thursday following a 3-0 vote that the local option Correspondent for tax deferments for seniors (65 and older) be WESTFIELD – On a 3-0 recommendation adjusted to more realistic terms. Currently, the gross from the Legislative and Ordinance (L&O) household limit for deferring real estate taxes is sub-committee, the Special Tax Assessment $20,000, and the interest rate on deferments is 8%. (STA) agreement for Myer’s Information L&O recommended moving the limit to $30,000, and System, Inc. and Camia LLC gained approval lowering the interest rate to 6%. By the end of the at the City Council meeting Thursday evening This is one of several signs in the city that designates Westfield as a Tree City USA. meeting, however, due to a push by one councilor; the on a vote of 10 to 2. At-large Councilor Dave household limit to be eligible for the program was Flaherty was absent. At the L&O meeting, City Advancement raised to $55,000. Officer Joe Mitchell introduced Crist Myers, During the discussion on the original proposal by President and CEO of Myers Information Trees are catalyst for L&O, Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise asked Systems, who purchased the building at 110 whether the age is set by state law. Ward 2 Councilor Elm St. through Camia, LLC. He said the Ralph J. Figy, who chairs L&O, responded that the building was purchased for $375,000, and they state sets caps with 65 the minimum age, $56,000 plan to invest another $300,000 in interior ren- city’s ‘growth award’ maximum income limit and 0% the minimum inter- ovation. By LORI SZEPELAK est. “We didn’t want a drastic jump,” Figy said. Mitchell said the STA, which is real estate Correspondent Currently, only three households participate in the tax forgiveness as an incentive, will be 100% WESTFIELD-Since 2004, Westfield has been recognized as a Tree City program. the first year, and 75% in years 2 to 6. He said USA, and recently was also acknowledged for the first time by the Arbor Day Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski said there the STA will total l $39,380 of tax forgiveness, Foundation with a Tree City USA Growth Award. has been some confusion about the program. She said and the company will still pay $10,363 over six The Tree City USA Growth Award is awarded by the one resident asked if this program will replace other years in taxes based on current valuation. Arbor Day Foundation to recognize higher levels of tree abatements for seniors. Figy said it does not. Mitchell said that for a nominal investment, At-large Councilor Dan Allie also said that seniors Westfield would be getting 18-20 full-time care by participating Tree City USA communities. Also, the award highlights a community’s increased commit- can decide if they want to defer all of their taxes due, employees, who will be a part of the commu- or pay some and defer some. “You can split it up by nity. ment of resources for urban forestry as well as provides a forum to share ideas and successes across the country. agreement with the assessor,” Allie said. Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr. said he is in See Council, Page 3 The city applied for the Planning and Management cat- egory of the growth award because it hired a professional tree manager, accord- agreement with the program, but said the household ing to Francis Cain, assistant director, Westfield’s Department of Public Works limit is still too low. He said seniors with a higher (DPW). fixed income still have to make social security pay- One of the divisions of the DPW is Land and Natural Resources which ments to Medicare A&B and pay state taxes. “We includes tree management and care on a daily basis. Employees are also respon- have an opportunity to push it right to $55,000. We sible for the maintenance and repair of all city parks, including all school ath- need to push it right up to $55,000,” Paul said. letic fields. “Scott Hathaway, our deputy of Land and Natural Resources, and all of his See Tax Deferments, Page 8 hard work is the reason for us receiving this award,” said Cain. Westfield is one of more than 3,400 communities that have made the commit- ment to achieve the Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management – maintaining a tree board or department; having a community tree ordinance; spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day. The Tree City USA program, a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees, Crist Myers, President and CEO of Myers has been greening up cities and towns since 1976. Information Systems and City Advancement The Arbor Day Foundation encourages more communities to consider Officer Joe Mitchell at the Legislative & becoming a Tree City USA because trees “clean air and water, slow climate Ward Two Councilor Ordinance meeting Thursday. (Photo by Amy Ward 5 Councilor Ralph J. Figy Robert A. Paul, Sr. Porter) See Trees, Page 8 Fun Run to raise City Council moves on money for AED items at last meeting before summer break on school track By AMY PORTER By GREG FITZpaTRICK Correspondent Correspondent WESTFIELD – At the last City Council meeting SOUTHWICK – Members of the Health before summer break, councilors gave immediate Careers Club at the Southwick Regional consideration to new items, acted on several that School are hosting a 5K Fun Run/Walk on have been in committee for months, and tabled Saturday, July 14. The event will take place at others to the next meeting on August 16. the track on the grounds of the Southwick Passed for immediate consideration was a schol- Regional School. 7 Shepard Street arship of $10,000 funded by the state 911 program The 5k starts at 9 a.m., but there is also a 17 Green Avenuea 8 Lewis Street 48 Meadow Street to Public Safety lead dispatcher Christine fun-run walk beginning at 10 a.m. that is 1.3 Gustafson. Also receiving immediate consider- miles. Participants can register online at ation on a request by Personnel Action Committee RunSouthwick.com until July 14. Costs are chair Cindy C. Harris was the reappointment of $25 for the 5k and $15 for the fun-run/walk. City to auction four properties Amanda Goodheart Parks as a member of the The run is a fundraiser that the students in By AMY PORTER St., a 2,100 sq. ft. Colonial. Open hous- Historical Commission until June, 2021. the health career club have been working on Correspondent es will be held on Wednesday, July 11 since the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. WESTFIELD – The City of Westfield from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Wednesday, See Last Meeting, Page 8 All proceeds will go towards purchasing an is auctioning off four city-owned tax July 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and possession properties as is/where is. Also being auctioned are two vacant code-blue light system on the track. The auction, run by Sullivan & Sullivan lots: 8 Lewis Street, 7,405 sq. ft. lot, and The KEVS Foundation has agreed to donate Auctioneers, will be conducted at City 48 Meadow St., 1,306 sq. ft. lot. an AED to the project so all monies raised will Hall in City Council Chambers, Room Terms: $5,000 deposit by bank check, go towards the code blue light system. A non- 207, on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 1:00 balance due om 45 days. 5% buyer’s profit organization located in Western p.m. Registration will begin at 11:30 premium. Properties sold as is. Massachusetts, KEVS Foundation focuses on a.m. Inventory is subject to change. educating and helping prevent Sudden Cardiac On the auction block are two residen- For more information, visit the auc- Arrest. tial properties: 17 Green Avenue, a tioneer’s website at Sullivan- 1,300 sq. ft. Row House, and 7 Shepard Auctioneers.com or call 617-350-7700. Ward 3 Councilor At-Large Councilor See Fun Run, Page 8 Andrew K. Surprise Dan Allie PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Review: ‘Disgraced’ at Chester Theatre Company By MARK G. AUERBACH the tensions and tragedies of people trying to understand Correspondent each other’s point of view. Ayad Akhtar, the American novelist and playwright, may Juliana von Haubrich’s sets use every inch of the small be one of the most talked-about playwrights on today’s the- Chester Theatre, and James McNamara’s lighting is superb.

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