Public Speaks on St. Mary's Closing, Other Issues at City Council
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TONIGHT Clear Skies. Low of 12. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews “WSearchHEN for YOU The Westfield ARISE INNews THE Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews MORNING, THINK OF WHAT Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns A“T PRECIOUSIME IS THE PRIVILEGE ONLY WEATHER ITCRITIC IS TO WITHOUTBE ALIVE — TONIGHT TO BREATHEAMBITION, TO THINK.” , Partly Cloudy. TO SearchENJOYJOHN for, STEINBECK TheTO WestfieldLOVE.” News LowWestfield350.comWestfield350.org of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — MarCUS AURELIUS Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL.WEATHER 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 CRITIC75 cents WITHOUT VOL.TONIGHT 87 NO. 65 SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Bishop 86 NO. 151 Public speaksTUESDAY, JUNE on 27, 2017 St. Mary’s closing, 75 cents to meet other issues at City Council with By AMY PORTER and also on the Bishop’s commission to Correspondent study parochial education. Labrie said he WESTFIELD – The City Council meeting met with the Bishop a few days ago. “He began on Thursday with ten speakers during pub- agreed to review our plan. He said he St. Mary’s lic participation on various topics, with the would contemplate our plan and let us WESTFIELD – St. Mary’s majority addressing the closing of St. Mary’s know by the end of the week. One of the Parish School Board member Rich High School. things I discussed, is that St. Joseph’s (in Labrie met with Springfield Erin Carrier, president of the St. Mary’s Parish Pittsfield) had three years and $800,000 to Diocese Bishop Mitchell Rozanski School Board, started by listing many of the try to save their school. St. Mary’s was on Wednesday to discuss the abrupt prominent members of the Westfield community ANDREW given three weeks and no money,” Labrie announcement of the closing of St. who have graduating from St. Mary’s High SURPRISE said. Mary’s High School on Monday. School, including court judges, city councilors, a MATT At-large Councilor Brent B. Bean, II COLLINS Westfield Ward 3 During that meeting, Labrie police lieutenant, the city clerk, business man- City Councilor asked Labrie how the councilors could reviewed a number of potential ager, former city collector, members of the help. actions both the parish and the dio- School Committee current and former, members there in 1976, and since that day there has LaBrie said there is a team of lawyers cese could take that could prevent of clergy, and health providers. been a member of his family in the school, who are St. Mary’s graduates. He also said the closing. Some of those steps “St. Mary’s graduates are an integral part of including his three children who currently that the separation of church and state laws included a modified and improved the fabric of Westfield,” Carrier said, adding, attend. have relaxed, and public officials have marketing plan and a new transpor- “Today, we need your help. This past Monday, “St. Mary’s High School is now in its more leeway for an investigation than ever tation plan, both aimed at increas- Father Frank Lawlor announced St. Mary would darkest hour. We have about eight weeks left before, and asked for help from the city’s ing enrollment, and some type of close its doors.” before they decide to shut their doors. It Law Department. Carrier also pointed to the Diocesan policy means a great deal to its students, parents, “We’re not going to be able to spend See Bishop, Page 7 that favors one independent school, Pope Francis, alumni,” Collins said. He said students money. I would be an advocate to do fund- with over $1 million from parish donations given could go to Wesfield High School, where raising in any way that we can. I don’t see to that one school. She said during that same they could get a great academic education, or any other way to do this with public year, $219,000 was divided among 11 parish Westfield Technical, which is the vocational money,” said Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. schools. “For St. Mary’s alone, that was less than school around, “but they choose St. Mary’s.” Surprise, who said he also graduated from $33,000,” she said. Collins also talked about the lifelong con- a parochial school. Carrier continued, by saying St. Mary’s stu- nection of alumni that spans generations and “You may be surprised about using pub- dents deserve better treatment, and appealed to the world. He said St. Mary’s has always had lic funds,” Labrie said, explaining that they the City Council to support St. Mary’s. a good relationship with the city and the can be used for non-religious functions “Politicians expect and deserve the Bishop’s sup- Westfield Public Schools. “I am asking the offered by a religious institution. He said port. Stand with members of your community – City Council to support us in any way that his group will be looking for foundation, with students, families and alumni. An assault you can. Join in and support us in our efforts state and federal support. “We have asked on St. Mary’s is an assault on all of Westfield,” to keep St. Mary’s alive,” Collins said, ask- the Bishop to extend the life of St. Mary’s,” she said. ing city councilors to write a letter on their Labrie said. Former Athletic Director Matt Collins intro- behalf. Labrie also said the reports that only nine duced himself as a lifelong resident, and lifelong Rich Labrie spoke next, introducing him- Springfield Diocese Bishop member of St. Mary’s. He said he started school self as a member of the Parish School Board, See City Council, Page 7 Mitchell Rozanski (Photo courtesy Springfield Diocese) Public information session being held for personal watercraft on North Pond By GREG FITZPATRICK would allow watercraft users to go of meetings held by the Lake Correspondent through North Pond and reach Middle Management Committee, residents SOUTHWICK – A public informa- Pond where they could operate at a voicing their opinions during the public tional session regarding personal water- higher speed. comment section of Select Board meet- craft on North Pond will take place on Despite that idea, Moglin said that the ings, as well as a petition that was March 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Southwick purpose of the informational meeting is formed by a resident to make an attempt Town Hall. to allow residents to voice their to keep personal watercraft from being At a Select Board meeting in August thoughts, questions and concerns about used on North Pond. 2017, Chairman Doug Moglin proposed the matter. “The most dangerous thing on that that they form a town bylaw for per- “A lot of it is going to depend on the (Congamond) lake is someone that sonal watercraft use on North Pond. feedback we get at the meeting,” said doesn’t know how to operate the vessel Currently, the Select Board is in the Moglin. they are in,” said Chief Ricardi. process of forming a bylaw for the This entire situation stems back to With the fact that there is no bylaw upcoming annual town meeting in May. May 18, 2017 when Harbormaster and for personal watercraft on North Pond, It will require a majority vote from the Southwick Police Chief David Ricardi Moglin hopes that a town bylaw could registered voters in town. posted on the Southwick Police help enforce personal watercraft use Although nothing is set in stone yet, Department’s Facebook Page that there and give law enforcement a law to fol- Moglin said there has been an idea of had been a change made in the enforce- low. what the bylaw could entail. The board ment policy for personal watercraft use “Once we can get a bylaw on the has thought about allowing personal and they would be allowed on North books, then we have something the A public informational session will take place on March 27 watercraft onto North Pond at headway Pond. police can act upon,” said Moglin. “We about a proposed town bylaw for personal watercraft use on speed, which is six miles per hour. That Since then, there have been a number have to do something about it.” North Pond. (WNG File Photo) An obvious mistake COMMUNITY OUTREACH By CARL E. HARTDEGEN reports that Michael E. Smutko, Correspondent 41, of 22 St. James Circle, Reminder about Granville Police meeting WESTFIELD – Leaving your Springfield had arrived at the By GREG FITZPATRICK transparent with the rest of the town. heroin at home when heading to court “to take care of his active Correspondent “We’re just trying to say ‘hey what’s important to you, court might seem like an obvious warrants” and was taken to the GRANVILLE – On Tuesday, the Granville Police what do you want in a police department,’” said precaution but apparently a lockup. There, an inventory Department will be holding a public informational meet- Flebotte. “I just wanted to create a venue where people Springfield man was not thinking search of his possessions revealed ing at 6 p.m. at the Granville Town Hall. The police held could voice their opinion without criticism.” ahead Feb. 21 when he went to “a small plastic bag containing a their first ever public meeting last December. The December meeting discussed new programs and Westfield District Court to deal white powder” which he identi- The meetings were created to give the residents of tactics that the department has been implementing and with active warrants there.