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NO. 151 10 TUESDAY,FRIDAY, JANUARY JUNE 27,12, 20182017 7575 cents Cents Southwick DPW addressing pipeline issues on College Hwy By GREG FITZpaTRICK At the last annual town meeting, Correspondent Brown brought forth a warrant article SOUTHWICK – On Wednesday to the voting residents, which was afternoon, a water break occurred passed by the town, involving a near Ray’s Farm on College Highway. College Hwy water main project. According to DPW Director Randy Worth approximately $3.2 million, it Brown, water in that area was shut off will consist of a new pipeline being for about two hours and was repaired installed on College Hwy with the and restored after 3:30 p.m. DPW money for the project coming from workers found the location of the town appropriated funds. Design leak, took the pipeline out of service efforts for that project are currently and put a repair clamp on the pipe- underway. Huntington School Committee members Aaron Welch and line. Brown mentioned that the warran- Melissa Nazzaro and Lyndsey Papillon of Russell listen to town “There was a crack in the pipe ties on pipelines suggest that they can officials during joint budget session. (Photo by Amy Porter) which caused the issue,” said Brown. last anywhere from 50 to 100 years. This isn’t the first water break Although Brown isn’t sure exactly recently in Southwick. Brown noted how old the current pipeline is on that another occurred earlier this win- College Hwy, he believes it’s been Gateway continues ter on College Hwy on the same pipe- there at least since the 1940’s. line that broke on Wednesday in a Southwick DPW Director Randy Brown added that the pipeline on different location. Brown. (WNG File Photo) College Hwy is a critical line and While Brown did say that the cold needs to be upgraded.“It serves as our joint budget weather can always be a legitimate the exact cause is to the pipelines main back up supply with Springfield threat to pipelines, regardless of what breaking, it’s been an issue on College water and sewer,” said Brown. discussions Hwy. By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Regional School Committee Water line break on presented an FY19 line item budget to representatives of the member towns at a joint budget session on Wednesday. Gateway Superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson said it was a “vast change Shaker Road disrupts travel in the way we do business.” By DAN DESROCHERS thing at all.” He said over the course of the last couple of months, the admin- Correspondent Cain said that the leak was isolated istration had sat down together to prioritize needs not included in WESTFIELD—A portion of Shaker fairly quickly and the road was the budget and discuss them with the towns. “We don’t anticipate Road was closed for several hours reopened after a few hours. He added everyone will be happy with a $700,000 increase to the budget,” Thursday afternoon following a water that there would be a plan put in place he said. line break in the area. Friday regarding repairs. Hopson then laid out the top prioritized needs, according to his According to Assistant Director of According to Cain, the section of team. He said at the top of the list was moving pupil services the Department of Public Works (DPW) pipe is over three years old, and is director Kurt Garivaltis to full-time. Garivaltis, who is in charge Fran Cain, the break occurred in an redundantly looped pipe. He said that of the special education program for the district is only working exposed pipe that hangs along the side this means that the pipe could be left 205 days, Hopson said. “There is a lot more he could do. One of of the bridge that spans Great Brook off and it would not have an apprecia- MARS (Mass. Assoc. of Retired Superintendents) recommenda- just east of where Canal Dr. intersects ble effect. tions was to move the administration to full time, but when dis- with Shaker Rd. prompting Westfield “It’s really more of our system’s cussed, we all agreed Kurt should go full time,” he added. Police to close off Shaker Road, from operation and redundancy,” Cain said. MARS consultants are currently facilitating long-term joint Glenwood Drive to Canal Drive. He added that the pipe was previ- planning sessions with the district and town representatives. “No one should be without water. ously off for several years. Hopson said some of the other prioritized items in the FY19 Some people may notice a momentary Cain said that there is no cause yet as budget were a part-time curriculum director; a full-time secretary loss of pressure or a little bit of sedi- to why the pipe had burst, though the Photo shows water spurting into split between multiple schools, a literacy consultant and/or coach ment may have gotten stirred up, but cold weather may have contributed. the air on Shaker Rd. in Westfield (targeting literacy is a main goal of the district); and the purchase really shouldn’t be any other issues,” Police noted that a detour can be Thursday afternoon January 11, of a new van to transport students to programs, which results in Cain said Thursday afternoon. “The accessed by utilizing Pontoosic Road. 2018 due to a waterline break. transportation savings for the district. typical customer shouldn’t notice any- (Photo submitted) “Literacy has so many components to it; we over the years have dabbled in so many programs. It’s not cohesive. (We have) a lot See Gateway Budget, Page 3 Urban Renewal Project City continues to update, January 2018 By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent examine Opioid lawsuit WESTFIELD — Environmental clean-up is among the By DAN DESROCHERS items currently happening in the Elm Street Urban Renewal Correspondent Project. WESTFIELD—A City Council subcommittee has voted to The city and the Westfield allow the city’s law department to handle matters related to any Redevelopment Authority (WRA) are possible lawsuits from the city regarding opioids. in the process of conducting “environ- The Legislative and Ordinance Committee (L&O) voted on mental work” including water and soil Elm Street Urban Renewal (WNG file photo) the matter during their meeting Thursday, recommending it testing, as well as waiting for word on Alley was demolished. Mitchell said that the tank previ- unanimously to City Council. The matter was originally a possible grant from the state, as part ously held petroleum product. brought forward by previous At-Large Councilor Steve of the city’s downtown-area project. “When we removed it we could see that the tank had Dondley, who made a motion when still on the council to In addition, there is real estate activity failed previously,” he said. explore the possibility of seeking damages from pharmaceuti- in the area, according to City Since then, testing has occurred on both groundwater cal companies related to the opioid crisis. Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell. and soil in the area, to check for contamination. City Advancement The environmental work being “Groundwater results came back very favorable,” See Lawsuit, Page 8 Officer Joe Mitchell done in the area is related to an under- Mitchell (WNG file photo) ground storage tank that was found after the former Romani’s Bowling See Urban Renewal, Page 3 Village Enterprise Center in Chester holds grand opening By AMY PORTER Westfield Correspondent CHESTER – The Village Enterprise Center at 26 Main Street Firefighter- held a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Thursday. The center, which houses the Historic Route 20 Association, Jacob’s Ladder Paramedic Business Association (JLBA) and a classroom site for the Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center (SHAEC), will also Morrissey serve as a Welcome Center for Chester and the entire Southern Hilltowns region. sworn in State Senator Adam G. Hinds (D-Pittsfield) attended the offi- Westfield Firefighter- cial ribbon-cutting at 6 p.m. and presented a congratulatory cer- Paramedic Kyle Morrissey is tificate from the Commonwealth, as Bryan Farr of the Historic sworn in during a Tuesday Route 20 Association and Michele Kenney, president of the JLBA ceremony. From left to right: Deputy Chief Andy Hart, and director of SHAEC cut the ribbon. Morrissey, City Clerk Karen The Center will be open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fanion, Westfield Fire for scheduled classes in the evening. Besides serving as a location Commissioner Albert for SHAEC, Hilltown Economic Development Director Jeanne Masciadrelli. (Picture submitted by Masciadrelli) See Village Enterprise Center, Page 8 PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS 1669 1770 1775 1775 1792 1783 1741 1780 1810 WESTFIELD SOUTHWICK HUNTINGTON GRANVILLE RUSSELL CHESTER BLANDFORD MONTGOMERY TOLLAND AROUND TOWN Submit your Around Town News to [email protected] CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PREVENTION Dan Kane Singers present ‘Have a Heart’ Westfield G&E asks: are you protected TO BENEFIT “OUR HOUSE” WESTFIELD, Massachusetts – January 10, 2018 “Our House’ is dedicated to the care and education of homeless students in our community.