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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.comCity Council Preview: VOL.Mayor 86 NO. 151 and TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 May 3, 2018; Second 75 cents DPW Director reading of $13M water bond on agenda By AMY PORTER issue statement Correspondent WESTFIELD – The City Council agenda for Thursday is brief compared to recent agendas, with four items under on Westfield Communications from the Mayor, and only one new motion by city councilors. The main focal point of the meeting will be the second reading and final passage of the bond order for water wells, connector and water tank in the amount of $13 million. water concerns Passage of the bond will require nine votes from the WESTFIELD – Mayor Brian Sullivan and Department 13-member council, the number which the first reading received on April 5. Following the first vote, the council agreed of Public Works Director Dave Billips issued the following to push the second reading off until May 3, in order to give statement to address Westfield’s water concerns. councilors that still had questions sufficient time to study the Unfortunately, there is a great deal of confusion regard- Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan (WNG file photo) bond. ing the water situation currently facing the City of The Finance sub-committee still had questions, 27 to be Westfield and the efforts to address it. The goal of this exact, when they put together their agenda late last week for a article is to clear up some of the misconception surround- diately and removed well 2 from service out of caution. meeting tonight (May 2) at 6:30 p.m. in Room 201 at City Hall. ing this polarizing issue. What will be addressed here is the This left only Well 1 in operation with no redundancy and However, Council President John J. Beltrandi, III said on mechanical and process to achieve solutions to a problem that is where we remain presently. Tuesday that he has informed Finance sub-committee chair the City did not create, and how this administration is It is important to note that no source testing above the Dan Allie that the questions on the agenda are not valid, going to remain focused returning clean drinking water to advisory level was ever introduced into the system. because there was never a motion on the City Council floor to Northside of town. Residents were notified by the City in partnership with have them sent to the committee. Most are aware of the history but a brief synopsis is the Massachusetts Department of Environmental “I’m not 100% sure if we’re going to be able to proceed with offered to clear up some confusion. In 2013, the Protection (DEP) as to the status of the drinking water those questions, but we felt it was important to post them,” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified con- supply. The DEP is a regulatory agency that oversees Allie said, agreeing that they had not been submitted as sepa- taminants of concern, that being the family of perfluori- drinking water systems across Massachusetts. All test rate motions. “The questions themselves are the ones we nated carbons. The EPA issued a health advisory of 600 results are reported to them and they decide if a public wanted asked,” he added. parts per trillion (ppt) for two of these compounds. All notice should be published and the language in such On Tuesday, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and Public Works Westfield drinking water sources were under the advisory report is approved by them. At no time was any informa- Director David Billips submitted a statement to The Westfield levels. In late 2015, the Water Division of the Department tion withheld from the people of Westfield. News, discussing the water bond and the plan forward, and of Public Works (DPW) became aware that a new health Currently, the City has four sources of water on the answering many of the questions about other options that have affected Northside, Wells 1, 2, 7, and 8. The output of been raised by the Finance sub-committee. The Mayor and advisory was imminent. Out of an abundance of caution, Billips urged councilors to support the bond. and before said advisory was issued, the department ceased these Wells is as follows; When asked whether he knew how he would vote on the to use of Wells 7 & 8. Test results for these sources were Well #1- 2.00 million gallons per day (mgd) bond, Allie, who voted in favor of the first reading, said, “I’m substantially higher than levels in Wells 1 & 2. The DPW Well #2- 2.00 mgd still wavering.” proactively began addressing the issue by investigating all Well #7- 2.39 mgd Other items from the Mayor on the City Council agenda on alternatives, including carbon filtration on impacted wells. Well #8- 1.58 mgd Thursday include an appropriation of $400,000 from the In May of 2016, EPA did indeed update the advisory There have been several alternatives to those in the Stormwater Division undesignated account to the Stormwater with new levels of 70 ppt. In February 2018, the depart- bond proposal offered by individuals outside the depart- Construction account. These funds are needed for the stormwa- ment was notified the advisory was changing again to ment. Many have arisen in the past and the purpose of ter remediation ahead of the paving of North Road, according include five long chain compounds as opposed to the two to the Mayor’s office. originally identified. Again, the department reacted imme- See Water Concerns, Page 7 The Mayor is also submitting the reappointment of Karl Hupfer for the Police Commission for a term to expire in Feb., 2022, and of Jayne Mulligan for the Westfield Housing Authority through June, 2022. The final request from the Mayor’s office is for a waiver of the open container regulation on Park Square Green, and per- School committee mission to serve beer and wine for concerts on the Green, Women take sponsored by Westfield on Weekends and MusicFest for the following acts and dates: Motown Review on Thursday, June approves varsity 21; Heart Media/KIX Radio Concert on Thursday, July 19, and away culinary the Western Mass All-Star Jazz Band on Thursday, August 16. hockey program Under reports of city officers, Conservation Coordinator secrets for By GREG FITZpaTRICK Karen Leigh is requesting Council approval of a conservation Correspondent restriction at 0 Southampton Road, owned by Paul Dion. SOUTHWICK – At Tuesday night’s A public hearing will be held for a junk collector’s license for Russell Atwood, owner of Blue Umbrella Books, 3 Main meal planning meeting, the school committee unani- Street. By LORI SZEPELAK mously approved to allow both a junior Under reports from committees, the Finance sub-committee Correspondent varsity and varsity team for the will bring forward positive recommendations for CPA funds for WESTFIELD-When meal planning Southwick Regional School hockey the Wyben/West Farms Schoolhouse, following transfer of monthly at the Westfield Senior Center, program for the upcoming 2018-19 custody to the Historical Commission; and for reaffirmation of Joann Spear and Sandra Fisher take a school year. CPA funds for the Old Town Hall due to new ownership. unique approach – they are cooking Prior to the vote, Southwick Regional The Legislative & Ordinance (L&O) Committee, chaired by for “family.” School Athletic Director Frank Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy will bring forward a positive “It makes me happy to hear feed- Enjoying the pool at the Boys & Montagna joined the table at the school recommendation for a transfer of care, custody and manage- back about the dishes we make and it Girls Club, which reopened last committee and laid out all of the details ment of land, located off Owen District Road, from the Airport keeps me striving to learn more and to year thanks to a CDBG grant. that go with the hockey program. Commission to the Water Commission. The transfer of the land keep everyone’s belly’s happy and full, (Photo submitted) Montagna included that the estimated was never completed by the Airport Commission forty years with good wholesome food,” said cost to run the program would be ago, and the city is out of compliance by having private wells Spear. $27,000. This would consist of league on land under the FAA’s jurisdiction, according to Meghan Spear, kitchen manager, and Fisher, Boys and Girls fees, officials, coach stipends, police kitchen assistant, recently attended the for home games, supplies, and ice time. See Council, Page 3 Springfield Foodie Fest at the Eastern Club to expand After finishing his presentation, States Exposition in West Springfield Montagna informed the school commit- with a mission in mind – to learn new tee that kids who live in Southwick healthy ideas and recipes to share with kitchen with don’t want to play hockey elsewhere, the city’s seniors. they want to support where they live. “I think it’s important for everyone CDBG grant “They are looking to come and put to have professional development days that Southwick shirt on,” said By AMY PORTER throughout the year,” said Spear, add- Montagna.