TONIGHT Clear Skies. Colder. Low of 14. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews “ANYSearch FRONT for TheAL WestfieldATTACK ONNews Westfield350.com The Westfield IGNORANCE IS BOUND TO FAIL TODAY IN WESTFIELD HISTORY: News 1785 “A great Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns BECAUSE“T IMETHE ISM ATHESSES ONLY ARE WEATHER many pigeons, ALWAYS READY TOCRITIC DEFEND WITHOUT THEIR TONIGHT some people MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSIONAMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. caught 500 dozen” — THEIR IGNORJOHN STEINBECKANCE.” Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews — HENDRIK WILLEM VAN LOON Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL.87 NO. 288 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2018 CRITIC75 CentsWITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Flaherty 86 NO. 151 retakes TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents Ward 5 light board seat By PETER CURRIER Correspondent WESTFIELD- The Westfield City Council and Municipal Light Board gathered Thursday in the City Council chambers to vote on a new representative for the Second grade students from Paper Mill were invited to lead City Advancement officer Joe MItchell presents the pro- Ward 5 seat on the light board. the Pledge of Allegiance at City Council Thursday. (Photo posal on special permit granting authority to the City Before the meeting began, by Amy Porter) Council. (Photo by Amy Porter) each member of the board and council drew a random number to determine the order in which each person would vote. There were three City Council addresses special people under consideration to fill the seat that had been vacant since Tom Flaherty resigned earlier this year. The candidates were Brian permit granting authority Richards, Joel Lund, and Tom Flaherty, who By AMY PORTER be under it, but beginning in 1989 until Tom Flaherty, who put his resigned from the Correspondent 2005, several categories were trans- name in the running to retake Municipal Light Board WESTFIELD – In a repeat of the two ferred under the granting authority of his old seat in October. earlier this year, retook and a half hour public hearing at the the City Council. He said the reason for “When you come to the his seat as Ward 5 Planning Board on Tuesday on special changing it back would be to offer con- commission, there are no real Commissioner. (Photo by permit granting authority, the City sistency. He said the Planning Board requirements,” said Ward 3 Peter Currier) Council’s hearing was by necessity makes decisions on the merits of each light board commissioner repetitive in other ways, with many of proposal. He also said the reason he is Jane Wensley, “in this case we the speakers explaining to a new audi- there, is to lower taxes by bringing in have three people with really good requirements.” ence their positions on why certain business. Wensley nominated Brian Richards, who had previously commercial permits should or should Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise not be transferred to the Planning Board commented that in some communities, See Flaherty, Page 3 from the City Council. The motion was such as Chicopee, all special permits are ultimately transferred to the Zoning, handled by the City Council. Surprise Planning and Development sub-com- said he didn’t want the responsibility, mittee. but at the same time, “they can’t get rid At-large Councilor Brent B. Bean, II Former Councilor William Chiva of you (Planning Board), they can get Stolen vehicle once again introduced the motion from shed some light on why some special rid of us.” the Ad-hoc Business Development permits had moved under the City “What I see is a larger issue,” said committee, of which he is a member. He Council. (Photo by Amy Porter) At-large Councilor Matthew Emmershy. stopped on Barnes said that the Planning Board hears fifty He said there are issues with the city’s plus special permit requests a year, and strengths and weaknesses in the area. current zoning laws; which, in his view the City Council does them twice a year. Mitchell said strengths identified were need a wholesale review. “Is this trying He reiterated that all changes are not the city’s proximity to the rail and high- to fix a band aid on a trauma wound, or airport taxiway residential, but commercial; and the way, and its municipal light plant. should we really be looking at zoning,” By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Weaknesses were the tax rate, ELA and Correspondent idea came from a study by Northeastern he said. University on the pace of permitting in math proficiency out of high school, Mitchell called it a “fair question.” WESTFIELD – A woman apprehended driving a stolen and permitting. airport vehicle on a taxiway at Barnes Municipal Airport the city. He said he would love to have a com- City Advancement office Joe Mitchell Mitchell said when you need a special prehensive review of zoning. has been ordered to be evaluated for her fitness to stand permit from the City Council it takes trial. said in the economic development part Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski of his job, he takes calls from business- more time, and creates some uncertain- agreed, saying zoning in the city has Westfield Police Officer Jason Williams reports in a ty, which he said would be eased by court document that he and other officers responded to es interested in Westfield. He said in the become a patchwork. “There are things reactive part of this job, he does what he putting special permits under one body. we lost track of,” she said, saying she the airport on August 19 after Air National Guard secu- He said when the Business Development rity personnel had found a 19-year old Westfield woman can to advance a project. In the proac- hopes out of these discussions a com- tive part, he tries to remove impedi- committee first looked at it, an early mittee can be formed which includes on a restricted taxiway. draft included some residential permits, Williams reports that the woman said that she exited a ments to business development. members of the City Council, the He said in the summer of 2017, he but they settled on business zones only. Planning board and residents. “Residents back door of the civil airport terminal building and He said the City Council moved the gained access to the airport grounds. William writes that won a $5,000 grant for an economic need to be a part of it,” she said. development self-assessment tool. He motion forward to the Planning Board At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty the door to the normally secure area is equipped with a in its Nov. 18 meeting. lock to restrict access which “was not working properly brought together city councilors, busi- focused on the word “special” permit. ness owners, and representatives from Mitchell ran down each business zon- He said to him, it means rare. “They’re that night.” ing category, saying the majority of Once within the fenced area surrounding the airport, Westfield State University, the ANG not by right for good reason,” he said. 104th Fighter Wing and the Chamber of special permits in each are under the Planning Board. He said they used to all See Stolen Vehicle, Page 5 Commerce on a committee to identify See City Council, Page 7 Food pantry receiving Sub-Committee Fines to start Salvation Army additional funding votes on solar for docks still holds annual Angel Tree event from past grant on Congamond By GREG FITZpaTRICK tax agreement By PETER CURRIER Correspondent By PETER CURRIER By GREG FITZpaTRICK Correspondent Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Our Community Correspondent WESTFIELD- The Salvation Army is Food Pantry will be receiving additional WESTFIELD- The City Council SOUTHWICK – Town officials are holding its annual Angel Tree program still seeking to have some dock own- funding from the Community Development Legislative and Ordinance Sub-Committee throughout Westfield to give toys to chil- Block Grant (CDBG) Program that met Thursday evening to discuss and vote on ers on Congamond Lake remove their docks from the water as the deadline dren whose families experience financial Southwick received in August of 2016. an agreement with Green Street Power to remove them was December 1. insecurity. In 2016, the Baker-Polito Administration Partners and Terawatt Westfield LLC. According to Dick Grannells, The Angel Tree program has been held awarded $28 million in community develop- The agreement with the two companies Chairman of the Lake Management by the Salvation Army for at least 30 ment block grants to 57 cities and towns in would authorize a payment in lieu of taxes in Committee, the majority of the docks years. People may go to certain locations Massachusetts. Southwick and Granville regard to personnel property tax. The agree- were removed from the water by the in Westfield where Christmas trees will be were awarded a combined grant of $900,000. ment is in relation to the solar panel farm that deadline but there are still some decorated with angel tags containing the The grant included funds for rehabilitation of was recently opened on Southampton Road. docks remaining. information for a child in need. nine units of housing, reconstructing Veterans City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell “We’ve got to get to those other One can take an ornament with them Street, and the Our Community Food Pantry was present to explain many of the details of stragglers,” said Grannells. and go shop for toys for each child. Trees receiving a vehicle to run a mobile pantry. the agreement. Mitchell first noted how will be set up at the Westfield Athenaeum, According to Erica Johnson, a Principal See Docks, Page 5 See Solar, Page 5 See Angel Tree Event, Page 8 See Food Pantry, Page 2 DECEMBER EVENTS with Whip City Fiber WE HAVE A WORKSHOP AT WESTFIELD SENIOR CENTER TOO! 45 Noble Street, Creativity Room WORKSHOPS AT AMELIA PARK ICE ARENA Tuesday, December 11 HAPPY Saturday, December 8 | 9-10:30 AM Tuesday, December 11 | 5-6:30 PM 1:00-2:30 PM HOLIDAYS! WHIP CITY FIBER DROP-IN CENTERS Open 8:00 am-5:00 pm | Monday-Friday www.whipcityfiber.com WG+E Operations Center, 40 Turnpike Industrial Rd.