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JOHN STEINBECK PLowolice of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com commissionVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Cressotti 75 cents preview: 2/11/19 reappointed By PETER CURRIER Correspondent WESTFIELD- The Westfield Police Commission will meet Monday evening at 6 p.m. for a as City regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Among the agenda items are the appointments of five new reserve officers, with six candi- dates being considered. Those Engineer being considered are Nicholas Albert, Sean Kelly, Nathan By AMY PORTER Kantor, Nicholas Liberto, Lily Correspondent Ulinici, and Ronald Spafford. A view of Congamond Lake at the North Pond boat ramp off of Point Grove WESTFIELD – City Engineer Next to Spafford’s name on the Road. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) Mark Cressotti was reappointed to his agenda is a note that the com- position until Feb. 2022 by a vote of mission will enter executive 12-1 in the City Council Thursday, session to discuss his back- after nearly every councilor weighed ground check. Concerns for ice fishing in on a discussion of downtown The police department has improvement projects, state bids and recently been hit with a string budget shortfalls. of absences that has left the Personnel Action Committee chair on Congamond Lake Cindy C. Harris brought the nomina- department with a depleted By GREG FITZpaTRICK three consecutive days of 46 degrees, overtime budget while they are tion forward with a 3-0 recommenda- Correspondent 58 degrees, and 62 degrees. tion from her committee. She said struggling to fill shifts. The five SOUTHWICK – The wide range Although Friday was expected to new reserve officers will give Cressotti has been City Engineer since MARK of temperatures that have been occur- be 50 degrees, the next four days are September of 1989, and listed his CRESSOTTI the department more options as ring lately in the Pioneer Valley has forecast to all be under 40 degrees, they improve the situation. qualifications and professional mem- Westfield made town officials unsettled about including 29 degrees on Tuesday. berships. She also said he regularly city engineer The first item on the agenda people ice fishing or skating on The extreme fluctuation of tem- under old business is a discus- attends sub-committee and council Congamond Lake. peratures is a concern for town offi- meetings, welcomes councilors’ comments, and has the best sion about the deadline for indi- Just a few days ago, someone cials. viduals to submit resumes and interest of the city and its residents in mind. reported to the Southwick Police “The problem is we haven’t had a Harris said each coun- letters of intent to fill the soon Department that the ice on Middle continuing cold,” said Lake to be vacant Chief’s position. cilor had been given a Pond was thin. Management Committee Chairman “This is a gentleman copy of the Annual The deadline will be the begin- According to Weather.com., the Dick Grannells. ning of the meeting. Current who has worked over Engineering Report for temperature in Southwick on January Grannells pointed out the wet spots 2018 (posted at www. Chief John Camerota is set to 21 was 4 degrees and on January 24 that he’s noticed lately on Congamond 30 years for our city, retire in June. cityofwestfield.org under the temperature skyrocketed to 53 Lake. day in and day out. the Engineering The commission will also degrees. After days of 19 degrees and “You see white and then you see discuss the resignations of offi- Department). 32 degrees on February 1 and This is not just a day Harris also cited the cer Jeffrey Vigneault and February 2, it was followed up by See Ice Concerns, Page 7 Timothy Fanion. Both officers job. His only concern support of Department of were given a 15 day leave of is Westfield.” Public Works Director absence to attend the 30-day David Billips, who called State Police academy. They Cressotti an “exceptional were given just 15 days due to – CINDY HARRIS engineer and employee,” the previously mentioned staff- City Councilor and “a man of integrity”; ing crisis. The Wick 338 discusses and of Joe Giffune, presi- Commissioner Karl Hupfer dent of the Friends of the said on multiple occasions that upcoming motocross schedule Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, who said he’d be “hard- he believes that if they made it pressed to find someone as important to the community as Mr. past 15 days then they would By GREG FITZpaTRICK Cressotti.” likely complete the academy Correspondent Harris also reported that At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty and join the state police. Had SOUTHWICK – Rick Johnson, man- did not share the same views, and gave the PAC a list of criti- they dropped out before that ager of The Wick 338, met with the Select cisms, among them that Cressotti doesn’t accept councilors’ period was up, the commission- Board this week to discuss the upcoming input, has repeated problems with his budget, and outsources ers said they would be wel- race schedule for the 2019 season. nearly everything. comed back to the Westfield Due to other racing organizations hav- Harris said that Cressotti explained to the committee that he Police department. Their resig- ing earlier races, The Wick 338 will begin reports to the mayor, and attempts to do the very best he can nations from the Westfield their season with their first race on March when the city is constantly going in different directions. Harris Police department would indi- 31 at the motocross track in Southwick. said that Cressotti is a lifelong Westfield resident, and the city cate that they will be joining the The next race will take place on April 7, could not find a more committed individual. state police. with both races a part of the NESC (New Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise, who was the sole The commission and the England Sports Committee). “no” vote to Cressotti’s reappointment, said it was not a ques- tion of his integrity, but more about the long-term maintenance Chief will also give an update FELD Entertainment, who hosts the The Wick 338 Manager Rick Johnson on the status of the School national Supercross series, which is the discussed the upcoming race schedule See City Engineer, Page 7 Resource Officers that are typi- premier indoor motocross racing organi- with the Select Board this week. (Photo by cally stationed in the schools zation for the world’s top riders, is seek- Greg Fitzpatrick) ing to extend their racing season for 12 See Commission, Page 7 additional weeks beyond the current May factories, like Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, 4 end. The Supercross series attracts and Suzuki, the primary supporters of thousands of people at the many large Supercross and motocross, turned down arenas and stadiums that host the events FELD Entertainment’s request to extend and that request for a lengthened season their season. could have a potentially negative effect Since the factories denied the request, on the Wick 338 race schedule, including FELD Entertainment has started a cam- their national race in Southwick which paign to convince supporters and people will take place on June 29. that they’re the grassroots organization. “It would virtually wipe away the Noting that he’s never felt he’s had to The City of Westfield police national championships, which would publicly promote that The Wick 338 and headquarters located on take away the Southwick Nationals,” said motocross as grassroots organizations, Washington Street. (WNG file Johnson. CINDY C. HARRIS ANDREW K. SURPRISE photo) Despite that, Johnson did say that the See The Wick 338, Page 7 At-large Councilor Ward 3 Councilor Latest Westfield 350 lecture showcases Westfield River Watershed Association By PETER CURRIER the Westfield River speak about his work testing for time when it’s my turn.” Correspondent Watershed Association. Bill the Westfield River water as Conz said he would possibly do an WESTFIELD- The Westfield 350th Rose, WRWA President, will well as the WRWA intern- overview of the organization and its celebration lecture series continues be discussing his work as a ship program. The program activities. He may also speak about the Wednesday evening at 6:30 with a talk fly fisherman in the area, takes environmental and land forms of the area near the river titled, “Watershed Wanderings according to Brian Conz. chemical science as well as basin in the Western part of the city. Through Time and Space: Westfield Rose will discuss his out- regional planning students to He said the area is an example of post- River Watershed Association, 65 years reach work and his annual fly assist with water testing and glacial physical geography. Each of of service.” The lecture will take place fishing clinic in Huntington. data gathering about the cit- the lecturers will touch upon the his- at the Dever Auditorium in Parenzo Mark Damon, WRWA secretary, ies rivers. tory of the organization itself, which hall at the Westfield State University will speak about his experience run- “I’m still trying to figure out how I was founded in 1952.