Southwick Rotary Donates Masks
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The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 $1.00 MONDAY,TUESDAY, DECEMBER JUNE 27, 2017 14, 2020 VOL. 75 cents 89 NO. 299 Tax shift HEALTH DIRECTOR remains SCOTUS unchanged rulings Tax rates decrease overall do not affect By AMY PORTER Staff Writer Southwick WESTFIELD — A public hearing on the tax shift — the percentages of the local tax levy borne by residential and commercial properties – drew only one churches public comment, from Michael Roundy of the Greater Westfield Chamber of By PETER CURRIER Commerce board of directors. Southwick Rotary Club members present facemasks to the Southwick Police Staff Writer Roundy, who also submitted a letter and Fire departments Dec. 11, 2020. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD SOUTHWICK — The Town of Southwick will con- from the Chamber, said Wesffield’s CIP NEWS) tinue to enforce existing state-issued COVID-19 restric- (commercial, industrial, personal) prop- tions on houses of worship in the wake of recent U.S. erty tax shift, which shifts a portion of the Supreme Court rulings on cases in New York and local property tax burden off of residen- California. tial taxpayers and onto commercial and Health Director Tammy Spencer said that places of industrial taxpayers, should be reduced in Southwick Rotary worship will be treated the same way as any other busi- order to relieve a portion of the tax bur- ness in Southwick in regards to Massachusetts COVID- den that local businesses face. 19 workplace standards. Roundy said with Westfield’s current In the Supreme Court’s two decisions on Nov. 25 and shift factor 1.66 the businesses have 29 Dec. 3, the court decided that religious institutions in percent of the tax burden, although the donates masks New York and California respectively were facing far value of the property owned by stricter COVID-19 restrictions than other secular institu- Westfield’s businesses constitutes just By HOPE E. TREMBLAY cy masks was made possible by Rotary tions in the state. The court argued that this is a violation 17% of all property values in Westfield. Editor District clubs located in Connecticut of the First Amendment. He said each 0.01 increment of the tax SOUTHWICK — The Southwick and Western Massachusetts. The proj- During the Board of Health meeting Dec. 3, board shift factor costs the average business Rotary Club delivered 800 masks to ect was launched by District Governor members questioned whether the rulings by the high approximately another $135, while sav- the Southwick Police and Fire depart- Ron Webb of Greenwich, Connecticut, court could affect their ability to enforce restrictions on ing the average homeowner only $12.50. ments Dec. 11. and successfully procured 800,000 religious gatherings as COVID-19 sees a significant Roundy also compared Westfield’s tax The high-efficiency facemasks were masks. An additional 200,000 masks surge in Southwick. shift of 1.66 to surrounding communities welcomed by the departments and will were donated by Rotarian Ted Rossi After speaking with the police department, Spencer of Holyoke at 1.60, Springfield at 1.58, be put to good use. and Rossi Family Foundation of East said that the restrictions could be enforced because the Chicopee, 1.58, Agawam, 1.55, and West “This definitely helps,” said Police Hampton, CT. The project was state guidelines for religious and non-religious gather- Springfield, 1.49, and urged councilors to Officer Ernest Malone, part of the launched as the Rotary Million Mask ings are the same. Such enforcement would not include reduce the tax shift. department’s medical team. “A lot of Challenge. Masks were made avail- police action, but would involve fines based on the sever- However, the discussion during the the time, we go to a call and we need to able to every Rotary District in New ity of the violation. Special City Council meeting that fol- give someone a mask, so this will help England. Southwick received 1,400 Those fines would include up to $500 for each person lowed did not go that way. At-large us a lot. [The Rotary] has really stepped masks and have requested more as they above the limit at a particular gathering and $300 for Councilor Cindy C. Harris introduced the up to donate and I appreciate it.” become available. people who do not wear a mask or face covering. first motion to amend the tax shift to Police Chief Kevin A. Bishop Last spring, Southwick Rotary Club “During the pandemic, municipalities have been 1.69, in favor of residents. agreed. also made a donation to Our encouraged to form agreements between their Public At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty said “I thank the Rotary Club for their Community Food Pantry in the amount Health and Police Departments. Southwick Police he did not think shifting more of the bur- continued support of the Southwick of $700 in support of the Kid’s Bag Department has agreed to be an agent for the Southwick den onto businesses was a good idea, Police Department,” said Bishop. “We Program, an essential need to bridge BOH, but all enforcement action is handled by the Board given how businesses are struggling, and will use these for our officers as well as the gap of children being home from of Health,” said Spencer. amended the motion back to 1.66. anyone in need in the community if School. This was a result of a special She said that an officer was sent to Southwick Baptist “In this COVID environment, this is a there is a shortage.” fund created by the local district to Church on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the request of a board mem- really tough decision. Normally, I would Members of the Southwick Fire distribute funds as needed as a result of ber to do a compliance check. The officer apparently be very pro-business. Surrounding com- Department could not attend the dona- COVID pandemic and the high demand found that mask-wearing was not nearly as widespread in munities have a better tax rate that sup- tion presentation because personnel for food. the church as it should have been. However, she believes that happened because the church was operating under an ports businesses, which keeps taxes were responding to medical call. Parent said the Club will continue to old guidance that she had previously sent them saying strong. However, because of COVID, As the COVID-19 pandemic contin- innovate, care for those affected, and that mask wearing was only required if social distancing everyone is suffering. I’m inclined to ues to create uncertainty and as colder help where possible to eradicate this was not possible. keep it where it was last year, or have a days arrive with the flu season, Rotary global virus. Newer guidance from November dictates that people shift that is slightly helping businesses,” President Mike Parent said that the Rotary Southwick are “People of in gatherings must both wear masks and socially dis- said At-large Councilor Nicholas J. Club wanted to do its part and donated Action” who share a passion for com- tance. In addition, because Southwick individually Morganelli Jr. high efficiency facemasks to the munity service and friendship working moved to Phase 3, Step 1 of Gov. Charlie D. Baker’s Flaherty said the shift factor changes Southwick Police and Fire together as volunteers under the motto reopening plan, places of worship as well as other non- year to year, adding that both rates will Departments, Council on Aging, and of “Service above Self.” Currently, secular entities will have their gathering capacity reduced go down, and both will give the city more the Food Pantry. Essential organiza- members meet remotely. For informa- from 50 percent to 40 percent. This guidance will go into room in the levy capacity. “I would sup- tions and frontline workers will also tion, visit southwickrotary.org, effect statewide on Sunday, Dec. 13. port staying right where we are at 1.66,” receive masks as long as the supply Southwick Rotary’s Facebook page, or “I will be working with all of the places of worship in lasts. contact Parent at 413-626-4700, or town to get them up to date with the newest guidelines,” See Taxes, Page 3 The donation of these high efficien- [email protected]. said Spencer. Cheer team raises funds for uniforms as restrictions tighten By AMY PORTER wrote. Staff Writer On Nov. 20, the team was given the all WESTFIELD — The Westfield clear to practice by the state guidelines of Technical Academy Cheer Team restart- the Executive Office of Energy and ed last year, when, according to member Environmental Affairs (EOEEA). “The Paige Bixby, “a group of very determined email we had been waiting for, for so girls got together to form our new cheer long finally popped up. ‘Hi WTA stu- team. The idea of a new cheer team dents! The cheerleading team was just spread rapidly through the halls of approved to start practice!’ Very thankful Westfield Technical Academy, filling that even through the pandemic, our many people with excitement and the amazing administrators made it so we urge to sign up! For our first year back at could participate in our favorite activity, it with a brand new cheer team, 20 excel- we got to work,” she said. lent girls were what made our team a The team set up a digital fundraiser on family.” “Snap! Raise” to raise money for new After countless practices, the team uniforms, shoes for students who couldn’t realized that the uniforms left over from afford them, and new mats to help them the previous cheer team weren’t “going become “the team we know we can be.” to cut it,” as Bixby put it, and they decid- The fundraiser, which may be found by ed to raise their own money for cheer going to www.snap-raise.com/v2/fund- t-shirts for the season.