tONiGHt: Chance of t-storms. Low of 67. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “THE TRUE SIGN Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME ISOF THE IN ONLYTELLIGENCE WEATHER CRITICIS NO WITHOUTT KNOWLEDGE TONIGHT BUTAMBITION IMAGINA.” TION. “ Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com —Search ALbert for The e WestfieldiNsteiN News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL. 86 NO. 151 Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns WEATHER TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL. 88 NO. 185 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 75 Cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Flaherty files 75 cents OML complaint Andrew Donald F. Michael A. Kristen L. seeking ‘clarity’ Mullen Humason Jr. McCabe Mello By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – On June 19, At-large Councilor David Flaherty filed an Open Meeting Law (OML) Four candidates complaint with the Office of the Attorney General Frosty Robbins, who is cur- against the City Council and the finance subcommittee rently fostering 14 pregnant regarding the subcommittee meeting held on June 18; cats and kittens, with Adoption coordinator the first with department heads for the fiscal year 2020 return papers “Riley,” who was just Allen Hall with “Louie.” budget review. dropped off that morning by Hall, who also does fund- In the complaint, Flaherty said the Southampton Police raising and photography that public participation was not Department. “Looks like I for WHCP, has adopted on the agenda, and during the for mayor have one more,” she said. eight cats himself. (Photo meeting subcommittee members By HOPE E. TREMBLAY (Photo by Amy Porter) by Amy Porter) discussed the department opera- Correspondent tions and various budget con- WESTFIELD – The city will have a preliminary election cerns with department heads. unless two candidates for mayor withdraw by the Aug. 22 Flaherty alleges the violation deadline. occurred when City Council The deadline to return nomination papers was Tuesday. Most Kitten season members, who were represented DAVID have already been certified, but City Clerk Karen Fanion said by more than a quorum (seven) in FLAHERTY they have until Aug. 20 to certify signatures. the meeting including the three At-large City Donald F. Humason Jr., Michael A. McCabe, Kristen L. subcommittee members, were Councilor Mello and Andrew Mullen all returned papers for the office of allowed to engage in discussion mayor. All but Mello’s have been certified. has arrived with the department head, subcommittee members, Two of the six City Council ward seats are unchallenged — and among themselves. Incumbent Mary Ann Babinski in wWard 1 and political new- Westfield Homeless Cat Project “In many cases, questions were asked by non-com- comer Bridget Matthews-Kane for the Ward 3 seat. mittee members, and in some cases, opinions or adjec- Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy is being challenged by Juan has kittens and cats available tives (that implied an opinion) were use(d) in the lead- F. Navarette. Both candidates’ papers were certified. Signatures up to the question or the question itself,” Flaherty were certified for Michael Burns, Ward 4 incumbent, and his for adoption right ‘meow’ wrote in the complaint. opponent, Mary L. O’Connell. Current At-large Councilor He also stated that accurate detailed minutes of the John J. Beltrandi III is challenging Ward 5 incumbent Leslie D. By AMY PORTER various discussions were not taken by subcommittee Lefebvre. Both candidates’ papers were certified. Signatures Correspondent members. were also certified for incumbent Ward 6 Councilor William J. WESTFIELD – Denise Sinico, founder and director of Flaherty wrote that in his opinion, the proceedings Onyski and his opponent, Jeffrey A. Neece. the Westfield Homeless Cat Project (WHCP) at 1125 East violated the Open Meeting Law and went against the There are 13 candidates for seven at-large council seats. Mountain Road has announced that kitten season has advice of the city’s Law Department. Incumbents Cindy C. Harris, Brent B. Bean II, Dan Allie, Dave arrived. The advice was given by City Solicitor Susan C. Flaherty, Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr. and Matt Emmershy “While August might be considered the `dog days of Phillips in the form of a memo on June 4 to Brent B. returned papers and were certified. Current Ward 3 Councilor summer,’ it is officially `kitten season’ here at WHCP. We Bean, II, chairman of the finance subcommittee, in Andrew K. Surprise also returned papers for an at-large seat, are filled to the brim with adult cats and kittens,” Sinico response to his questions regarding permissible par- which were certified. The incumbents are being challenged by said. ticipation by City Council members attending subcom- Rudy F. Musterait, Dan Moriarty, Kristen L. Mello, James R. WHCP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) cat rescue based in mittee meetings. This topic has been a subject of Adams, Richard K. Sullivan Jr. and Matthew T. VanHeynigen. Westfield, approved and registered with the Massachusetts debate and confusion in the City Council for the past Because Mello returned papers for two elected positions, she Department of Agriculture. Sinico said all of their cats are several years. must withdraw from one by Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. rescues that have been abandoned, abused, surrendered, or In the memo, addressed to Bean and copied to City There are four certified candidates for three School just simply left to die. WHCP is a no-kill rescue and does Council President Ralph J. Figy and City Clerk Karen Committee seats including incumbents Ramon Diaz Jr., Bo not discriminate against age or illness. Fanion, Phillips wrote: “Recently, with the new prac- Sullivan and Diane M. Mayhew. Also running is former mem- The cats and kittens at the rescue are up for adoption. tice of permitting public participation at subcommittee ber Jeffrey L. Gosselin. Ward 1 Municipal Light Board member Kevin M. Kelleher See Kitten Season, Page 3 See OML Complaint, Page 3 Sr. is being challenged by Luis Morales. Ward 3 MLB member Dawn M. Renaudette is opposed by Robert F. Brogle and MLB Ward 6 member Robert C. Sacco is being challenged by Jason J. Bean. Incumbent MLB members Ray Rivera, Ward 2, Francis L. Liptak, Ward 4 and Thomas P. Flaherty, Sr., Ward 5, are all unopposed. Kathleen A. Knapik is the only candidate for the Athenaeum Legislation to ban declawing cats in committee Trustee six-year term. By AMY PORTER member Linda B. Rosenthal, co-spon- ing Denver, Los Angeles, and San The general election is Nov. 5. Correspondent sor of that state’s successful legislation, Francisco have enacted anti-declawing BOSTON — On July 22, the same cat declawing, also known as onychec- laws. State legislatures in California, day that New York became the first tomy, is the permanent, surgical remov- New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode state in the nation to ban declawing cats al of most of the last bone, and the Island and West Virginia are consider- unless medically necessary, in Boston a tendons, nerves and ligaments on the ing similar measures. The procedure is public hearing for similar legislation paws of a cat. Declawing often results also banned in England and in much of YMCA to host was held by the Joint Committee on in intense and chronic lifetime pain for the European Union. Consumer Protection and Professional the cat and also causes unwanted In Massachusetts, Bill S.169 “An Act Licensure, and referred to the commit- behavioral issues, such as aggression, prohibiting inhumane feline declaw- Livestrong Program tee for further study. refusal to use the litter box, depression, ing” states that no person shall perform, According to the announcement of biting and/or spraying. for cancer survivors enactment by New York assembly Nine cities across the country, includ- See Declawing Cats Ban, Page 3 By PETER CURRIER Correspondent WESTFIELD — The Livestrong Foundation and the Westfield YMCA are partnering up once again to host an exer- Stonybrook Treatment Center notes first anniversary cise class tailored to cancer patients and survivors beginning SPRINGFIELD – The event noting the first year anniversary of the in September. Stonybrook Stabilization and Treatment Center (Section 35 program) The 12-week program begins Sept. 9 and will be on on Aug. 5 featured both statistics and stories of success of the addiction Mondays and Wednesdays each week from 3:30 to 5 p.m. treatment center. throughout the duration of the program. Westfield YMCA Several speakers alluded to legal controversies that could remove the CEO Andrea Allard said that this will be the 11th session since right of a person coming before a judge to ask to be committed to a they began holding them three years ago. treatment program for alcohol or drug addiction. “We have people do it who are still undergoing treatment Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno emphasized there is no contro- and people who have been cancer-free for 10 years,” said Sue versy to him. He urged the many legislators present to “keep fighting Gaetz, one of the instructors for the program. for the funding.” Allard and Gaetz said that they typically have 8 to 10 people Other elected officials present included Chicopee Mayor Richard doing the program in a single session, with a maximum atten- Kos, Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan as well as state Sens. James Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi speaks at dance of about 12 to 15 survivors. Welch and Eric Lesser and state Reps. Jose Tosado, Bud William the one-year anniversary of the department’s Stonybrook Stabilization and Treatment Center. See Livestrong, Page 2 See Treatment Center, Page 5 (Photo by G.