City Council Defeats $13M Clean Water Bond
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TONIGHT Clear Skies. Low of 34. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield SearchEARLY for TheALL WestfieldOUR News TODAY IN WESTFIELD News “N Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews HISTORY: DISASTERS“TIME COME IS THEFROM ONLY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns A FEW FOOLS HAVING WEATHER 1666 First allotment CRITIC WITHOUT THE ‘COURAGE OF TONIGHT of land at Woronoke AMBITION.” (Westfield) THEIR CONVICTIONS.’” Partly Cloudy. Search for TheJOHN Westfield STEINBECK News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — COVENTRY PATMORE Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 CRITIC WITHOUT75 cents VOL.TONIGHT 87 NO. 64 FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.City 86 NO. 151 Council defeatsTUESDAY, $13M JUNE 27, 2017 clean water bond 75 cents all. Each different communi- “I HAVE A FEAR ty, the Air Force is going to Next steps unclear WHEN YOU RE treat them as a different com- ’ munity. I want to have the By AMY PORTER dation of the Finance faith that somewhere down Correspondent Committee made by members PLAYING WITH the line that we will,” she WESTFIELD – Following Emmershy and Surprise, with PUBLIC HEALTH added. a one-hour debate in a chair Allie the lone dissenter “This isn’t a laughing mat- Legislative & Ordinance-led in committee although he AND SAFETY .” ter. This isn’t something to meeting of the whole in City joined them for the City JOHN J. BELTRANDI fool around with. I don’t Council Chambers, Council vote. Eight counsel- Ciyy Council President want a temporary solution. Councilors Dan Allie, ors voted not to accept the Why wait – it could be a lot Matthew Emmershy, Dave negative recommendation, more costly down the road. Flaherty and Andrew K. meaning they supported I’m voting for this because I Surprise effectively killed the going forward to a second The $13 million bond was, want it to happen now, as $13 million water bond on the reading on the bond. in part, for two water filtra- soon as possible,” Babinski first reading during the City Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr. tion systems, one for Wells 1 added, urging the councilors Council meeting Thursday. was absent, and nine votes are and 2, and one for Wells 7 and who were unsure to vote for Their vote was to accept required to pass a bond 8, all of which serve the north the first reading on the bond, the 2-1 negative recommen- motion. side of town. The bids for the and take the three weeks until water filtration for 7 and 8 are the next meeting to get the out and due back by April 3. information they needed to go Mayor Brian P. Sullivan said forward. this week he can’t go forward “I’ve gone through this without the financing in every which way. The deci- place. sion is we’re going to pay for During the discussion in this now. I’m going to vote L&O, Ward 1 Councilor Mary for this bond,” Babinski con- Ward 1 City Councilor Mary Ann Babinski comments dur- Ann Babinski said she has cluded. ing the City Council meeting discussion on the $13M clean followed the water issues The temporary solution water bond (Photo by Amy Porter) very closely, ever since the Babinski referred to is a tem- first meeting was called in porary filtration system that on a concrete pad as big as million gallons a day in the 2016 when Wells 7 and 8, the Department of Public this room,” Cain said. summer. which are in her district, were Works is actively pursuing. “With a temporary treat- Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, shut down. Department of Public Works ment plant, you get a small who had been listening to the “The point I want to make Assistant Director Francis amount of water from a sin- debate, then came forward. here is, on the north side, Cain and DPW Systems gle well that can be installed “The biggest thing is we we’re limping along on one Engineer Heather Miller in a few months. A treatment have contaminated water. well, because three have been answered questions at the plant has multiple filters You were elected to make shut down and Well 1 isn’t in L&O meeting about the tem- designed for each well, and many tough decisions. great shape,” Babinski said. porary fix and whether it requires lead time,” said Having sat in these seats, “One of the glitches holding would be sufficient to take Miller. “The temporary solu- there were many tough votes. everybody up is whether the care of Well 2 until the Air tions we’re looking at are a Public health and safety Air Force is going to pay for Force process plays out. good first measure, but won’t should be your top priority. this. One of two things is “The problem is it’s a tem- meet our water demands for a We have one well on the going to happen here – we porary structure. It will be typical summer,” she added, north side limping along. DPW Systems Engineer Heather Miller listens to questions may get reimbursement or we very secure, but there are noting that Westfield uses on Once Wells 7 and 8 are posed by the Westfield City Council during their debate on may not. Every situation is security issues with a 40,000 average four million gallons the $13 million water bond (Photo by Amy Porter) different. One size doesn’t fit pound carbon filtration vessel a day in the winter, and nine See Clean Water, Page 3 Southwick Montgomery’s students Annual Penny Social returns Saturday By AMY PORTER succeeding Correspondent MONTGOMERY –The Montgomery Historical Society hosts its annual Penny Social on Saturday, March 17 at the Town Hall. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. to allow everyone time to purchase their with penny tickets, save their seats, browse the items displayed, and grab some refreshments (available for purchase throughout the evening) before the fun begins at 6:30 p.m. For those who have never attended a penny social, a card of 25 Project 351 tickets costs 25 cents. “Usually people buy $10 or $20 worth of By GREG FITZpaTRICK tickets,” said Laurie Flechsig, one of the event organizers. She Correspondent said when an item comes up for bid, which may include gift bas- SOUTHWICK – Two eighth graders at kets people have made up, small antiques, and other donated Southwick Regional School have been items, a can is passed around, and people put in a handful of working on affecting change in their tickets. The ticket is then drawn for that item, according to school and community. Flechsig. Earlier this school year, Ruby Francis Door prizes are also given out during the night for gift certifi- and Nora Reilly were selected to be a part cates and other items donated by area businesses. Raffle tickets of Project 351, which is a non-profit and for higher priced items are also for sale. youth-driven service organization. The This annual Historical Society fund-raiser helps support one or program was first launched by former more annual scholarships given to graduating Montgomery high Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick in school seniors. It also benefits other projects and causes in town. Townspeople have been generous with donations of items this 2011, and is now continued by Gov. year, organizers say, and the committee has been busy contacting Charlie Baker. Every town in the state is local businesses for contributions of door prizes and raffle items. required to have a student be selected for If anyone has an item to contribute to the event, call Laurie Project 351 to represent their community. Flechsig at 862-8095 to arrange for pickup, or bring to the Town According to Rachel Deery, who is the Hall between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday while the committee seventh and eighth grade guidance coun- is setting up. selor at Southwick Regional School, “It’s an enjoyable way to spend an evening and benefits a good eighth grade teachers make recommenda- Eighth grade students Nora Reilly and Ruby Francis were the students from cause,” Flechsig said. tions and then she selects which students, Southwick Regional School this year that were selected to be a part of Project based on certain qualities. Deery says that 351. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick) she looks for students with leadership qualities who are well-rounded, friendly, now focused on organizing their own donation box for clothes. and involved in the community. clothing drives. As part of Project 351, Deery is very happy to see what the The kick-off event for Project 351 took students have the chance to sign up to two eighth graders have accomplished place in Boston on January 31 at the John host a clothing drive in their respective while being a part of Project 351. F. Kennedy Library and Museum. community. This Sunday, March 18, “I think it was a good opportunity to Bringing the entire 2018 Project 351 class Reilly’s clothing drive will take place kind of get them started on doing a together, Gov. Baker spoke to the students at the regional school from 11 a.m. project like this,” said Deery. “They’ve and then a few service heroes were hon- until 1 p.m. The drive will be accept- both done such a great job, I’m so ored for their duty to their country. ing anything from baby sizes to adult.