Huntington Holds Town Forum in Advance of Annual Town Meeting
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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Huntington 86 NO. 151 holds TownTUESDAY, Forum JUNE 27, 2017 in 75 cents advance of Annual Town Meeting By AMY PORTER was saved because somebody driving by Correspondent saw smoke. Renauld said the request is HUNTINGTON – The Huntington for half of the estimate, with the other Board of Selectmen held a town forum half to come from the Stanton Fund. Wednesday in Stanton Hall to inform $25,000 is also being requested from residents about the 23 articles to be Free Cash to put into a newly created voted on at the Annual Town Meeting on Capital Equipment Stabilization Fund. June 4. McVeigh explained that the town is fall- Chair Edward Renauld began the ing behind on capital equipment pur- meeting by noting that only the chases, and in a few years will need a Selectmen would be presenting the arti- Huntington residents attend town new pumper truck for the Fire cles, as there is currently no Finance forum in Stanton Hall on Wednesday. Department at an estimated cost of Committee operating in town. The $300,000. McVeigh said investment Huntington Selectmen Edward Renauld, Darlene McVeigh Finance Committee disbanded after the budget, which has a $75,679 deficit, to over the next few years will reduce the and Karon Hathaway at town forum. former chair, Darlene McVeigh and defray the FY19 tax rate and stay below amount the town will need to borrow for member Karon Hathaway were elected Prop. 2.5. that purchase. assessment, which could be reduced by $45,000 if the alterna- as selectmen last year. Renauld said the Other items being requested from Free If the Free Cash requests are approved, tive assessment being proposed for Gateway Regional passes Finance Committee serves as a check to Cash include a transfer of $12,000 into the remaining Free Cash will be all six towns. Also included is an increase of $83,000 in voca- the Board of Selectmen, and encouraged the Other Post-Employment Benefits $275,535, which Renauld said is below tional tuition. McVeigh said both Smith Vocational and any of the two dozen residents in atten- (OPEB) Liability Trust Fund for retiree the state recommended amount. He said Westfield Technical Academy increased their tuition, and also dance to consider volunteering. health insurance. $30,000 is requested to the Stabilization Account has a balance increased the number of students accepted into the schools, Renauld said the numbers in the bud- transfer for work needed at the transfer of $1,017,000, which the town has no from about 45% of applicants to 90%. get being presented were preliminary, station, which needs a new concrete pad plans to use this year. Renauld said it is important to pass Article 8, the alternative but “pretty solid,” according to McVeigh. and new trash compactor in order to be The total town operating budget for assessment for the Gateway Regional School District, which He said the town would be spending a in compliance with Mass Department of FY19 is $5,217,945, an increase of will not only reduce the town’s assessment this year, but also lot of its Free Cash this year, in part Environmental Protection. $260,000 over FY18. Renauld said the stabilize assessments over the next five years and allow for because a Proposition 2.5 override failed $7,500 is requested for a fire alarm increase in the town’s operational bud- planning. to pass at the last town election. Certified system for Stanton Hall and Town Hall get is only $32,000, or 2%. McVeigh explained that the district and towns jointly came Free Cash for the town is $450,035, that connects to the fire station. Last An overall increase of $185,355 in up with the plan through facilitated discussions. Averaging the according to Renauld. Of that, $100,000 year, Stanton Hall had a fire which the education includes an increase of is being requested to balance the FY18 current alarm did not transmit out, and $112,960 in the town’s above-minimum See Town Meeting, Page 3 Mass. State Senate Car thief sentenced establishes new By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Correspondent WESTFIELD – A Chester man originally source of fiscal aid accused of carjacking pleaded guilty to a charge of larceny of a motor vehicle Friday for rural school and was sentenced to the time he has been held in custody pending trial. In an incident detailed in the March 22, districts in FY19 2018, edition of The Westfield News, Roy M. Reidy Jr., 54, of 697 Skyline Trail, Chester, was charged with carjacking, lar- State Budget ROY M. REIDY JR. BOSTON – State Senator Adam G. Hinds (D- ceny of a motor vehicle and larceny of Pittsfield) announces that the Massachusetts property valued at more than $250. Senate today adopted his amendment, #318, to Two victims had reported on March 16 that a man had tricked and the Fiscal Year 2019 state budget establishing Theatre students perform at Westfield State University’s intimidated them into exiting their car and then drove off in it. They Rural School Aid and funding it with $1.5 mil- Pathways to Excellence fundraising event, held May 11 at the said that several hundred dollars in cash, two cell phones and other lion dollars. Catherine Dower Performing and Fine Arts Center. (Photo cour- valuable property had been in the car when it was stolen. “Rural schools face tesy WSU) Reidy had been identified as the suspect after officers investigating significant and unique the complaint had been able to locate a vehicle he had apparently been fiscal challenges due to living in. population decline, den- Westfield State University’s State Police were asked to check Reidy’s Chester address and a sity and ability to pay,” trooper found him sleeping in the stolen car parked in his driveway. A said Hinds. “This pro- variety of property belonging to the victims was recovered in the car. posal is a direct response Pathways to Excellence On March 19, 2018, he was arraigned on the three charges and was to local and regional held in lieu of $500 cash bail. officials throughout my raises a record $203,000 He was held until his trial Friday, May 18, when he pleaded guilty district who confront WESTFIELD — The fifth annual Pathways to Excellence to the larceny of a motor vehicle charge and was sentenced to the time those difficulties. If we he had been in custody. do not do something to fundraiser for Westfield State University and the Westfield State help these school dis- Foundation, held earlier this month, raised $203,000 to support Neither the carjacking nor the larceny of property charge was pros- tricts financially, students. ecuted. Massachusetts is at risk “This year’s event was our most successful yet,” said Dr. Erica of providing unequal Sen. Adam G. Hinds Broman, executive director of the Foundation and Westfield education opportunities (D-Pittsfield) State University vice president of Institutional Advancement. for children who live in “This will allow us to make the state university internship incen- rural areas. That cannot be allowed to happen.” tive match for this year and to add additional student scholar- Last year in the FY18 state budget Hinds, who ships to our endowment.” Bush traps man represents 52 communities across four counties Westfield State University President Ramon Torrecilha, Ph.D., By CARL E. HARTDEGEN in western Mass. and serves as Senate co-chair of thanked the attendees for their loyal support of the annual fund- Correspondent the Legislative Rural Caucus, secured a reporting raising event. “Your gifts support the worthwhile cause of public WESTFIELD – A city man found naked in a parking lot said he mandate directing the state Department of higher education and they are directly invested into student suc- had been trapped by a bush. Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to City police received a 12:53 a.m. call from a Franklin Street resi- conduct a feasibility study relative to establishing cess,” he said. Attendees were entertained and engaged by student presenta- dent who said that he returned home to find a naked man in the park- a formula for aid to be distributed to rural school ing lot of his apartment complex. districts. That report, filed by DESE in January tions and performances. More than 150 students and faculty participate, including musical groups such as the University’s Officer Jared Rowe reports he arrived at the complex to find a 2018 found that rural districts across the completely naked man sitting on the apartment steps who appeared Commonwealth face unique challenges that Chamber Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, and Faculty Jazz impact their ability to deliver quality services to Ensemble; selections from the Theatre Arts Program’s spring to be under the influence of drugs. their students. After the report was released production of “Urinetown,” and three original 10-minute theatre The man told Rowe that “he was trapped in a bush and had to Hinds convened a forum for municipal and performances.