TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Low of 19. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “WORDS ARE, OF Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIMECOURSE IS THE ,ONLY THE MOST WEATHER POCRITICWERFUL WITHOUT DRUG USED TONIGHT AMBITIONBY MANKIND.” .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com —Search Rudya for TheRD WestfieldKIPLING 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.88 NO. 15 FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019 CRITIC75 Cents WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com StormwaterVOL. 86 NO. 151 fee increaseTUESDAY, plan JUNE 27, 2017modified 75 cents By AMY PORTER stormwater fee would increase from the current This plan uses $301,000 in stormwater undes- Correspondent $20 annually to $30 for the remainder of this ignated funds in FY20 and FY21, and provides WESTFIELD – The discussions on the fiscal year, retroactive to Jan. 1, and for FY20, revenue for three new personnel to be hired in stormwater fee increase continued Thursday and then increase to $40 in FY21, beginning in FY20 to ensure that the DPW has the workforce evening, first in the Finance sub-committee, July, 2020. to get the work done, and to bring as much in- where it received a 2-1 recommendation; then The amended plan lifts the commercial cap of house as possible. 2019 Finance committee, Dan Allie, in the Council, where it was referred to $640, but lowers the rate from 4.5 cents to 1.4 “Some of these projects would be signifi- Brent Bean, chair, and John Beltrandi. Legislative & Ordinance for a resolution. cents per square foot, which Allie said is more cantly affected by grant money,” Allie said, (Photo by Amy Porter) In Finance, new chairman Brent B. Bean, II, fair and equitable for small to medium-sized adding, “We’re trying to put a plan in place; deferred to the previous chairman, At-large businesses, who would see their annual fee go then, the Mayor could decide what to do.” He said the stormwater system is in a similar Councilor Dan Allie to present an amended down. said the new plan generates the needed revenue, place to where the roads were, just fixing plan. Allie said the new plan would generate Under the old rate, a small business with and is more fair and equitable, especially for problems. “Where it’s gone is system additional fees with less of an impact on resi- 15,000 sq. ft. paid the same amount as the larg- small businesses. operations and maintenance,” Billips dents and businesses by using undesignated est business in town. In the new plan, the fee for Finance committee member John J. Beltrandi, said. funds in the Department of Public Work’s a businesses of 15,000 sq. Ft. would drop from III asked whether the committee has determined Beltrandi suggested that it will be stormwater account. He said the revenue is $640 to $199 per year. where the money already in stormwater fees for important to look at the job descriptions needed to fund an 18-item capital plan that will The new plan sets the cap on businesses from the last nine years has gone. created for the new employees, to ensure meet state permit regulations. 80,000 to 150,000 sq. ft. to $1280 per year, and DPW Director David Billips said most of it is Allie said in the amended plan, the residential over 150,000 sq. ft. to $2100 per year. for system maintenance, and repair work. He See Stormwater Fee, Page 3 St. Mary’s Open Space Committee set to make reviews survey responses, announcement discusses master plan about the By GREG FITZpaTRICK Besides discussing the master plan, the Correspondent committee also went over the responses future of the SOUTHWICK – The Open Space they have been receiving from the surveys Committee met Thursday night at the they sent out in November to all home- town hall to continue their progress updat- owners in town. The survey featured 11 high school ing the town open space and recreation questions about various recreational plan for 2019. opportunities. By PETER CURRIER The open space plan consists of a large Open Space and Recreation Committee Correspondent outline that goes through all of the differ- Chairman Dennis Clark reported that they WESTFIELD- Representatives ent phases of the town that could affect received 400 survey responses thus far of from St. Mary’s High School and open space, which includes looking at the the approximately 2,000 that were sent St. Mary’s Parish will make an town’s utilities, roads, infrastructure, and out. The main points expressed by resi- announcement Tuesday evening at so forth. Town Planner Alan Slessler was dents included having residential housing 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium present at Thursday’s meeting to offer the be single homes, have specialty shopping regarding the future of the school. committee his advice on what to include for businesses, offer a new multipurpose The announcement comes at the in the document. center and social area for teenagers, as end of a one-year period in which “It gives the town a guidance,” said well as improving the water quality pro- the Catholic high school was Slessler. tection areas in town. Clark then suggest- allowed to remain open. The school Slessler added that the master plan is ed that the committee add a blurb in the received a $300,000 grant from the optional for the Open Space and Recreation updated plan that acknowledges that Diocese of Springfield in order to Committee and is estimated to cost any- Southwick is a recreational community. supplement the low enrollment where from $115,000 to $130,000 as the With Slessler and Planning Board mem- rates. One requirement for the town would have to hire a consultant to ber Marcus Phelps in attendance for the school to remain open was that at create the master plan. Slessler added that meeting, Clark informed them that he’d least 20 students enroll in the the master plan would contain an abun- like to meet with the Planning Board at an Freshman Fall of 2018 class. The dance of information and would take a upcoming meeting to discuss the open minimum would increase to 30 in year or longer to complete. space and recreation plan. future years. Next week’s announcement will Members of be about whether or not the school the Open will remain open now that the one- Space year period is almost up. Committee are “We’ve done a lot of the leg- seen looking work,” said Father Matthew over what to Alcombright of St. Mary’s Parish, focus on with “now we’re ready to say if we will the 2019 plan close or remain open.” during All members of the public will be Fr. Matt Alcombright, the soon-to-be Pastor of St. Thursday allowed to attend the announcement Mary’s Parish in Westfield, is seen at the rectory of night’s meet- on Tuesday. Mary Mother of Hope in Springfield. (WNG file ing. (Photo by photo) Greg Fitzpatrick) Andi Desanto, FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES a resident of Tolland, is coordinating a running series in the spring Registration now open for at Whalley Park. (Photo from Andi Desanto) Healthy Kids Running Series By GREG FITZpaTRICK girl with the most points in their age how to run the event. Correspondent division are given a trophy. In early January, Desanto informed SOUTHWICK – Registration Founded in 2009 by Pattison Sports the Westfield News that she sees the opened on January 15 for parents to Group in Pennsylvania, the Healthy Healthy Running Series as a great sign up their children for the Healthy Kids Running Series is a nationwide opportunity for children of all ages. Kids Running Series at Whalley Park. program that allows children aged “You can’t beat that distance for The first event will take place on two-years-old to 14-years-old to adopt these kids that aren’t active all the April 28 from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 a healthy and active lifestyle. The time, it’s just a fun event for them to p.m., followed by races on May 5, Healthy Kids Running Series is a five- do with their friends,” said Desanto. May 12, May 19, and May 26, all week program in the spring and fall Desanto is also looking for busi- beginning at 3:30 p.m. The cost to that takes place every Sunday for two nesses to become a sponsor for the sign up for all five races is $35 and hours. events. On the Southwick page of the registration is taking place on the reg- In an effort to bring the running Healthy Kids Running Series website, istration page of the Healthy Kids series to the Southwick area, Tolland it indicates that there are three differ- Running Series web site. resident Andi Desanto has signed up ent options for sponsors and can sign The running series consists of a to be a Community Coordinator for up by clicking on the registration 50-yard dash, 75-yard dash, quarter- the Healthy Kids Running Series, who page. mile run, half-mile run, and one-mile will be the lead organizer for the For more information or for any run. Kids are able to compete each event. Desanto attended a conference questions about the Healthy Running week and can earn points based on in January in King of Prussia, Penn.