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Judge Orders Expedited Release of Grand Jury Minutes in Fanion Trial The Westfield News Search 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 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 016 Judge orders expedited release of grand jury minutes in Fanion trial By PETER CURRIER ecutors representing the She added that the prosecu- Fanion was arrested in Fanion’s indictment and bail Staff Writer Commonwealth be ordered to tors plan to comply with the November. hearing, Sandstrom said that SPRINGFIELD — Another comply with rule 14, which request to give the grand jury Judge Callan said that he Fanion’s story detailing the pre-trial hearing took place concerns pre-trial discovery. minutes, but that they are would give an order for the moments before and after his Jan. 16 in Hampden County Much of the case against written by private third-party minutes to be expedited and wife’s death was inconsistent. Superior Court for retired Fanion relies on expert testi- company Philben and “put on top of the pile.” She said that Fanion had been Westfield police det. Brian mony and some out of state Associates. Sandstrom said Brown noted that he does having an affair and wanted Fanion, 55, who is accused of witnesses. that the minutes include not yet know what experts he to leave his wife, but did not BRIAN FANION killing his wife, Amy Fanion, Assistant District Attorney approximately two days of needs for the defense because want to risk losing part of his 51, in May 2018 and staging Mary Sandstrom said that testimony. She said that there he has been unable to read the police pension in a divorce. suicide. Fanion maintained it as a suicide. some expert testimony has has been a delay in providing opinions given in the grand She added that text mes- his innocence and entered a Fanion was absent from the not yet been provided as they the minutes as Philben and jury minutes. sages, his internet search his- plea of not guilty. hearing, but attorney Jeffrey prefer to have the experts Associates has a lengthy Fanion’s arrest in tory, and the angle at which Fanion’s next pre-trial hear- Brown was there in his stead. come and give their testimo- backlog of other cases they November came after a State Amy Fanion had been shot ing is scheduled for Feb. 5, Brown requested to Judge ny in person rather than sub- need to transcribe and release Police investigation that last- from indicate that foul play however he is not expected to Michael Callan that the pros- mitting written reports. going back to September. ed more than a year. During had occurred rather than a be present. City Council approves amended lease for Boys & Girls Club By AMY PORTER Department. Parks said the is due Jan. 22. Boys and Staff Writer School Committee previously Parks said the Club is one Girls Club WESTFIELD — During approved the amended lease, of eight finalists for a total of CEO Bill public participation at the Jan. which adds another 100 feet. $4 million in grant funds, and Parks presents 16 City Council meeting, Parks said immediate con- applied for the maximum expansion William Parks, chief execu- sideration was needed because grant amount. He said the plans to the tive officer of the Boys and the Boys and Girls Club is a total Club expansion will cost Westfield Girls Club of Greater finalist in a $1 million capital $2.5 million. School Westfield, asked the council- grant from the state’s Early “If we don’t get this, we Committee in ors to support immediate con- Education and Out of School won’t get to submit the pro- the fall. (Photo sideration of a resolution Time (EEOST) grant pro- posal,” Parks said. by Amy Porter) amending the lease of city- gram, for an expansion that During the meeting, Ward 6 owned land by the Club. would add 80 licensed after Councilor William Onyski The vote was unanimous in school slots, 20 before and presented the motion on the favor of the resolution. after preschool slots and a resolution, which passed The Club leases the land it Performing Arts Center. He unanimously with no further sits on from the School said the next grant application discussion. City seeks new airport manager By PETER CURRIER three years, to pursue a new expects Assistant Airport According to the listing, the Staff Writer opportunity. He did not say Manager Jeffrey Lovejoy to be qualifications for the position WESTFIELD — Barnes where he would be going next. the interim airport manager are: A Bachelor’s Degree in Regional Airport will soon The job posting on the city while a permanent candidate Aviation Management, need a new airport manager as website is required to be open is sought. Engineering, Business Eric Billowitz, who currently for 30 days, during which time “It has just been an amazing Administration and/or a relat- holds the post, will be leaving applications will be accepted. experience. I think, in working ed field. A minimum of five his post on Tuesday. The city personnel department together with the Airport (5) years related aviation A job posting was made on will then narrow down the Commission and the city, we managerial experience at a the City of Westfield website applicants to a short list of top have been able to do some public use airport and five (5) Jan. 17 for a new manager. candidates from which the really good things and I hope years supervisory experience. Billowitz said on Friday that new airport manager will be those efforts continue to help Knowledgeable in municipal he is moving on from the posi- chosen. the airport prosper,” said government is desired but not Eric Billowitz, Barnes Regional Airport manager. tion, which he has held for Billowitz said that he Billowitz. mandatory. CORE forum focuses on substance abuse By AMY PORTER said that she and other speak- ing and we’re excited to Staff Writer ers presented a lot of data review those responses,” WESTFIELD – The about substance use in the city, Cotugno said. Westfield Senior Center host- schools, and region-wide. Westfield Schools ed a well-attended forum of Humason said participants Superintendent Stefan the Coalition on Outreach, were asked if anyone present Czaporowski, a member of Recovery and Education had been personally involved CORE, agreed. (CORE) Jan. 16. or knew of someone with sub- “The forum was an excel- CORE Coordinator Kathi stance abuse issues. lent opportunity to bring com- Cotugno said over 70 commu- “Nearly every hand went munity stakeholders together nity members attended, includ- up,” Humason said, adding to focus on issues we all share ing residents, business owners, that the problem reaches every and to begin developing addi- health care providers, educa- demographic. tional strategies toward solu- tors, city officials, Hampden Following the speakers, tions aimed at combating the County District Attorney roundtable discussions were reasons behind substance Anthony Gulluni and state hosted regarding community abuse,” Czaporowski said. Rep. John C. Velis. needs on substance use for “We want to make sure we Gail Gramarosa of the youth and adults in the city. hold the focus and keep this Collaborative Educational Cotugno said they will com- going. The problem isn’t Service in Northampton facili- pile the responses and then going away,” Humason said, tated the event. look at their strengths and gaps adding that the city needs to “It was really interesting,” in services for the Westfield continue to look at ways to said Westfield Mayor Donald community. reduce the stigma of substance F. Humason Jr., who wel- “Once we have this com- abuse, and connect people to comed people to the forum pleted we will look at pro- services. and recognized former Mayor gramming we can provide to “I’m going to continue Brian P. Sullivan, who was the community, apply for working with Kathi and mem- also present, for starting the grants regarding substance use bers of CORE, schools, and coalition in Westfield. education for our youth, grow public safety departments to Humason also credited our outreach programming make sure we continue to face Cotugno for getting different and build our coalition. There this issue head on. We’re not groups working on the issue of were good discussions hap- doing it alone, and that’s Former Mayor Brian P. Sullivan is among the attendees of the CORE presentation at substance abuse together. He pening at the tables this morn- good,” Humason said. the Westfield Senior Center Jan. 16, 2020. (Photo by Tina Gorman) PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Storage tanks, Cowles bridge signage discussed by City Council By AMY PORTER Council passed immediate The posted weight Staff Writer acceptance of a grant of limit on Cowles WESTFIELD – The City $12,000 from the Executive Bridge. A resident Council Jan. 16 had a public Office of Public Safety and complained to the hearing on an application by Security to the Westfield City Council Jan. the Massachusetts Police Department to support 16, 2020 that Department of Transportation traffic enforcement. trucks are ignor- (MassDOT) to continue gaso- During public participa- ing the signs. line and diesel storage at the tion, South Maple Street resi- (2017 File Photo) Mass Turnpike State Police dent Andrew Miller expressed Barracks in Westfield. his concern about the disre- MassDOT representatives gard truck drivers have for said the storage amount was the signs at Cowles Bridge, less than written on the per- which is under construction.
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