Old Dominion Granted Special Permit

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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017Old Dominion 75 cents granted special permit By AMY PORTER Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The City Council voted 9-3 on Thursday to issue a special permit to Old Dominion Freight Lines for a truck terminal on Medeiros Way, after receiving a positive recommendation from the Zoning, Planning JOHN J. MARY ANN and Development subcommittee. BELTRANDI, BABINSKI Voting against the special permit, III Ward 1 were Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann At-Large City Councilor Babinski, Ward 6 Councilor William Councilor Onyski, and At-large Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli, Jr.. Nine votes Morganelli, who voted for the air World Series Championship were required for passage. quality system in committee. “It Fargo (ND) celebrates a victory over Greenville (NC) in the Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old World Series Prior to the vote, the Council wouldn’t hurt to have another air qual- at Bullens Field Thursday night. See complete game coverage in today’s Sports Section. (Photo by reviewed and voted on five special ity (monitor). I’m going to vote against Marc St.Onge) conditions that ZPD had added to their this,” he said. recommendation. Two were approved, “We are worried on the north side and three were eliminated. about the truck pollution,” Babinski The first two, proposed in commit- said. She said there are a lot of resi- tee by At-large Councilor Matthew dences and schools in the area. She Emmershy involved driveway design said that an air quality monitor at the and barriers that would direct the school would be a good idea, and Southwick police, fire out for blood trucks both exiting and entering the could be put in a community benefits facility to and from Southampton agreement. By HOPE E. TREMBLAY advantage of having more employees; there are Road, and away from the direction of “You’re not going to stop trucks. I Assistant Managing Editor about 50 fire personnel to the police department’s Root Road. He said that ODFL had the just don’t think it’s fair to task this SOUTHWICK – The rivalry between the 27. exit already in its design, and were company with it,” Beltrandi said. Southwick Police and Fire departments has taken a Bishop said, despite the numbers being stacked agreeable to the entrance design bar- “People keep coming to Council turn, and the chiefs are out for blood. against them this is the police department’s year. rier. saying air monitors. I haven’t seen Fire Chief Russ Anderson and Police Chief Kevin “The fire chief has given us a two-person advan- Babinski asked what happens if them at the Board of Health saying air A. Bishop are continuing the friendly competition tage,” Bishop said, laughing. they don’t abide by the rule. Emmershy monitors,” Emmershy said. between the town’s safety departments with the Anderson said the fire department is all-in, espe- said since the Council can’t legally Morganelli said there are air moni- annual Police vs. Fire Blood Drive. cially since his staff works with Baystate on a daily restrict the routes, they can restrict toring stations in Springfield and The drive, which takes place now through Sept. basis. through design and make it prohibi- Feeding Hills, but none in Westfield. 11, benefits the region through the Baystate Medical Bishop joked that it shouldn’t come into play and tive. He agreed that it wasn’t fair to put it Center blood donation center in Springfield. the police will prevail. The conditions were approved by on this company. “But as a body, we Amy Osgood, blood donor recruiter for Baystate, “It’s a fun competition, but it is a serious matter the majority of the council, with should look for a grant,” he said. said since 2015, the rivalry has brought in 96 units that helps save lives,” said Bishop. The fifth condition to cap truck trips Babinski voting no to both, and of blood, saving as many as 200 lives in Western Osgood said donors can save time by filling out for ODFL at 60, before requiring a Surprise voting no on a design barrier Massachusetts. the Pre-Donation Questionnaire on their phone or return to the City Council, was also to trucks entering the facility as he did Throughout the drive, anyone can donate blood at computer prior to going out to the Bloodmobile. She voted down. The company said their in committee, due to concern about Baystate and designate Team Police or Team Fire as said if you choose to complete your questionnaire average truck trips would be 26.1 per access to emergency vehicles. the “recipient.” On Sept. 11, a blood mobile will be this way (before going out on the bus) please note day. Voted down by the Council was the at the Southwick safety complex on Depot Street that it can only be done on the same day as your “We haven’t imposed this on anyone 3-0 recommendation from ZPD, also from 3-8 p.m. Osgood suggested signing up for a donation. Donors can answer the questionnaire on else,” Beltrandi said. proposed by Emmershy, that the sewer donation time for anyone planning to donate in the Bloodmobile via their iPads. “What you don’t get is people have hookup for the company be extended Southwick that day. Anderson said he was confident the fire crew been promised time and time again no to Medeiros Way. “People can walk in, but preference will be given would come through once again. more trucks on the north side,” “I’m opposed to this. They’ve to those with an assigned time,” she said. “Friends “Last year was close, though,” he said, recalling Babinski said. She said while the per- already made arrangements to go the and family can donate, but they do have to pick a that the police collected 16 units and the fire depart- mit process was going on with ODFL, other way,” said At-large Councilor side.” ment collected 17 units. three more trucking companies have John J. Beltrandi, III. He said ease- The fire department has won the competition ——— come in or expanded, the latest being ments have been granted, and White since 2015 and keeps the coveted trophy at the sta- Hope E. Tremblay can be reached at Brockway Transport, which received a Oak School will be compensated for tion. Bishop said the department has the unfair [email protected]. special permit from the Planning the easement. Board in July. Beltrandi said there was no mention “These people deserve to have their of this in the original plan, and it is an considerations taken seriously,” additional expense to the company, Babinski said. which is already spending “a lot of “If people were promised this, and money.” you really want to stop all the trucks, “We have sewer easements every- where is the moratorium on all trucks? where,” he said. It hasn’t happened,” Emmershy said. Onyski said he had served on the He said stonewalling Old Dominion Planning Board for many years, and wouldn’t change anything. the item belonged on the site plan. “The vehicles are already here,” said “This shouldn’t be put in here now,” Surprise. he said. Before the final vote, Babinski said Also voted down was the special that doing a cost analysis of new busi- condition proposed by Surprise to nesses and their impact on infrastruc- have ODFL install an air monitoring ture and on quality of life, putting in a system on site, which received a 2-1 truck moratorium, an air monitors, and vote in ZPD. Emmershy said he was holding a roundtable on what people the dissenting vote, asking how the want to have happen in the city were Council could hold them accountable all good ideas, most of which came up for air quality, and saying that their during the three public hearings on the trucks would actually help to clean the ODFL project. air. “If anything good comes out of this, “I agree with Councilor Emmershy. I hope these things happen,” Babinski They have the cleanest trucks in the said before the vote for the special country. This is an expensive reach, permit passed, 9 to 3. and unfair to require one company to ——— Amy Porter can be reached at amy- Southwick Fore Chief Russ Anderson, at left, plays tug of war with Police Chief Kevin A. Bihop with do this,” Beltrandi said. “I was on the fence with this,” said [email protected]. the Police vs. Fire blood drive trophy. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay) PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Peacock captured after month-long search By PETER CURRIER Staff Writer WESTFIELD- A month-long hunt ended on Wednesday when Animal Control was able to capture the elusive peacock that had been missing in the city.

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