Westfield City Council (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD—The city council will be meeting this Thursday, and among the items on the agenda is a public hearing for the proposed Medical Services District in the city.
City council will meet Thursday at 7 p.m., in the city council chambers at city hall on Court Street. Several items will come before city council, including a public hearing that residents can attend and comment at related to the Medical Services District being proposed for the city.
Unlike most city council meetings, this week’s will not feature a briefing from Mayor Brian Sullivan to start due to a scheduling conflict. However, there are still “Communications from the Mayor” that are coming from Sullivan.
Among the items is a grant submission of $14,460, which Sullivan said is from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to allow the city to purchase emergency supplies and equipment, as well as an all-purpose off-road vehicle that can be used by several departments in the city.
Sullivan is also expected to submit a resolution to authorize the creation of the “Turnpike Industrial Road Economic Opportunity Area,” according to the agenda, which is based on the area around 70 Turnpike Industrial Road. Sullivan said this could allow the area to qualify for state grants.
Then, Sullivan is expected to submit an order to amend a bond to allow money to be used for the Springfield Road traffic signal. According to Sullivan, the city council previously voted to put a cap of $400,000 on the money allowed to be spent, which is what the amendment entails.
There is also an order submitted to allow the city to take on a portion of land on Montgomery Road near Westfield High School, that has a pump station on it. Sullivan said that this is part of a larger sewer project in the area and was sent to city council by the Westfield School Committee.
Finally, a job description for the Chief Financial Officer and submission related to a basketball referee appointment within the city is on the “Communications” list.
Westfield City Clerk Karen M. Fanion
In “Reports from City Officers,” City Clerk Karen Fanion is submitting orders related to upcoming elections, which includes polling locations and the Ward Four preliminary election occurring Sept. 26.
In “Petitions, Remonstrances and Other Papers,” two businesses are looking for Junk Dealer’s licenses, which could allow for the sale of used items, and public hearings are scheduled for both.
Another public hearing is scheduled, this time for the proposed Medical Services District in the West Silver Street and Court Street areas around Baystate Noble Hospital. The proposal first came from Ward Two Councilor Ralph Figy and a public meeting was previously held at Noble.
That meeting drew concerns from residents, including questions about future developments at the hospital if the zoning were approved.
Then, a petition from the Westfield Planning Board is expected to be submitted to add a new section via zoning amendment to the zoning ordinance, related to lighting. According to City Council President Brent Bean, the amendment is due to changes in technology related to signage, which can include flashing and changing lights, as well as movement on the signs and increased brightness.
Bean said the ordinance within the city should be revamped to keep up with technology.
“We are going to have to start taking pieces of this and update it,” he said.
Then, the final item listed is a submission of a “Notice of Intent for Stephan and Susan Oleksak to Convert land” on Western Avenue into “Commercial/Industrial use for a large scale solar power field,” according to the agenda. The city has first right of refusal on the property.
In “Reports of Committees,” the Personnel Action Committee is following on the appointment of two Zoning Board of Appeals members, one a first alternate and the other a second alternate, that were previously nominated by Sullivan.
From Public Health and Safety Committee, Bean said that information gathered during a public meeting regarding Cowles Bridge, the bridge that Westfield Fire Department was requested to not use with apparatus that exceeded weight restrictions. The meeting included Sullivan, Sen. Don Humason, Rep. John Velis, Westfield Fire Chief Mary Regan and other city officials.
Westfield City Council President Brent B. Bean, II. (WNG File Photo)
Then, a review of the fire pit ordinance language is expected from the committee, as well.
The final item in this section is from Zoning, Planning and Development Committee, and is related to locations of clothing drop boxes and newspaper vending machines “throughout the Core district and East Main Street,” according to the agenda.
According to Bean, the council is working through this item, determining what can and cannot be done, with an ordinance possibly eventually being created.
In “Unfinished Business,” Bean said that all three items are final readings and votes of items voted on previously.
The first is to amend an ordinance related to the former bust stop on Elm Street that was changed to on-street parking.
The second is to amend an ordinance to allow the Community Development Director to also include “the duties of Parking Clerk,” which Bean said included updating the language on what the Community Development Director was doing.
The third is a zone ordinance on Main Street and Taylor Avenue to change “from Commercial A and Residential C to Business A,” which has been related to a proposal for a Dunkin’ Donuts in that area.
Bean said that the item was a zoning change only, and was not a review of the plans for the site.
“We are just cleaning it up, it’s a preexisting nonconforming use of the property,” Bean said.
The final item in “Unfinished Business” is a continued public hearing on a “contractor’s yard and trailer drop and office use and associated site improvements” on Servistar Industrial Way. The public hearing has been continued before but according to Bean, the project has not been heard by the city council yet.
In the final set of items, “Motions, Orders or Resolutions,” there are two items related to the city’s fire services.
The first item is a motion from Bean and Ward Five Councilor Robert Paul for a ribbon-cutting at the Little River Road fire station that was recently renovated. Related to that, Bean is expected to make a motion to hold fire commission meetings at the Little River Road location. Bean said that there are limited areas in city hall to hold meetings for the many commissions and boards in the city, and this would help alleviate that.
And the last item is expected to be a motion from At-Large Councilor David Flaherty to request a transfer of all of the “healthcare ‘premium holiday’ funds to the OPEB or Stabilization savings accounts in order to help reduce the $260+ million unfunded obligation,” according to the agenda.
According to Bean, the city’s long term health care account “is healthy,” so the city has the ability to move funds to two or three accounts.
