WESTFIELD – After a six week break, City Council members came back together Thursday, ready to ask questions and move some items forward and others to committee.
John Oleksak spoke at a public hearing at City Council for a zoning change on his property on Airport Industrial Road. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The Council voted unanimously for a STEP (Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program) grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Westfield Police Department in the amount of $6,764, to be added to a previous grant award of $9,534.
A second request from the Mayor for immediate consideration of an appropriation of $1,219 from the Personnel, Full-time Hourly to Payroll, Full-time Hourly was paused when At-large Councilor Brent B. Bean, III challenged Council members on passing items through on immediate consideration.
“I thought we were trying to get away from immediate consideration. I can appreciate the grants. I’m not in favor of moving this money around. I’m just trying to get back to what we’ve been arguing about,” Bean said. A motion was made to move the appropriation to the Finance committee, which passed without dissent.
The next items, also for immediate consideration were the acceptance of two grants from the Federal Aviation Administration, with partial state matches to Barnes Airport; one for $35,193 for an update to the noise exposure map, and one for $162,720 for the design phase for airport drainage improvement.
Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski, who is the airport liaison, pointed out that the city matches for the grants were in the budget, and that the request for immediate consideration was due to a time limit on the grant.
“We need to talk about this stuff more. I’m going to say okay, but this is a problem,” said Bean, adding, “I’m just regurgitating what many councilors have said for the past 5, 10, 15 years.”
At-large Councilor Matthew Emmershy admitted that he had previously been critical of the airport. “Earlier today, I emailed the Airport Manager, Eric Billowitz, and he confirmed for me that the Airport Commisson has voted landing fee increases,” Emmershy said, saying they expect to bring in $100,000 more in annual revenue. “I’ve been critical of the Airport during budget time, but since they’re taking steps to become more budget neutral, I’ll support this,” he said.
Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr. suggested asking the Airport Committee to make a presentation to the City Council about their vision for the Airport. Onyski said the idea was discussed at a recent meeting. “They are more than willing to do that, and I’ll talk to them,” Onyski said.
Paul said it’s important for the Council to understand the airport, which he called “one of the assets that differentiates us.” Ward 2 Council Ralph J. Figy asked the Onyski to write them a formal invitation to make the presentation. Onyski said it wasn’t necessary, but he agreed.
The request by Eversource for approval of easements for the Atwater station at the end of Oakdale and on Twiss St. was referred to the Legislative & Ordinance Committee and the Law Department. Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski said the easements are part of a reliability project by the utility company, who wants to put in a switching station that will abut the properties of homeowners at the end of Oakdale. She said negotiations with the neighbors are ongoing. Paul asked if L&O would mind if he followed up with the engineers at Westfield Gas & Electric to ensure that the details have been worked out with the Municipal Light Plant (MLP).
Also referred to L&O and Law were an agreement with the city and MassDOT relative to the Western Ave. project, an amendment to the ordinance for the towing and storage of motor vehicles, and a resolution authorizing a funding agreement with the Westfield Redevelopment Authority to further the Elm Street Urban Renewal Project.
The Commission for Citizens with Disabilities had several items before the Council. An $8,000 grant to purchase accessible playground equipment, was referred to L&O and the Law Department.
Personnel Action Committee Chair Cindy C. Harris also asked for immediate consideration to reappoint Carissa Lisee, Andrea M. Pianka and Madeline Nicoletti to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities.
“The Commission works hard to make Westfield inclusive for all,” Harris said. She said Lissee, who is the city’s Building Inspector is appointed by the city to the Commission, and Pianka and Nicoletti are representatives with disabilities from the community. The appointments were approved unanimously.
Also approved unanimously for immediate consideration was the reappointment of Barry H. Plumley for the Flood Commission. Harris said due to all of the recent flooding, it is of “vital importance” to have it fully staffed. “Our four commissioners take their roles very seriously,” Harris said.
Babinski and At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty echoed her sentiments. Babinski added that the Flood Commission needs more members, if anyone is interested in joining them. “This is a very vital part of what this city needs to do,” she said, adding there are dams and levees under the city’s control that need repairs. “We should all be very thankful to have them,” Flaherty added.
City Clerk Karen Fanion submitted an order for designating the polling elections and calling for the State Primary for Sept. 4. In passing the orders, Bean said there will be no changes to the polling locations.
Fanion also submitted the resignation of Ward 5 Municipal Light Board member Thomas Flaherty effective Aug. 6, 2018.
Dave Flaherty said he believed the position would have to be filled in a joint meeting with G&E. Council President John J. Beltrandi, III said the new MLB chair, Ray Rivera will determine when and how he will put the position out. Flaherty asked if someone in Ward 5 has an interest in serving on the commission, whether they should contact Rivera.
Councilor Paul, who is liaison to G&E, said Rivera would work it out with Beltrandi, and the process would be published and released through the City Clerk. He also said the Board’s first focus will be to fill the position of general manager due to the impending retirement of Dan Howard in November, which he announced earlier in the summer. Paul said the job description has been posted in six different publications, and the MLB will be taking applications over the next 45 days. “Dan is leaving in November. That’s the number one priority here,” Paul said. The councilors also agreed that whoever serves on the board must be experienced and qualified. “I would ask you all as people to come forward, to consider the fact that this network of G&E and internet are the city’s heart. It has to work,” Paul said.
A public hearing on a request by John Oleksak to amend the zoning map at 798 Industrial Park Road from Business B to Industrial A, brought no challenges or questions from the public, and previous approval by the Planning Board. Babinski noted that the property is on water conservation land, and would have to be approved by the Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee (BAPAC). Oleksak said he has previously built a building on the property, and had been before BAPAC.
Onyski noted that the property is adjacent to Industrial A land. Paul asked whether Oleksak had met with the Airport Commission. He said he has not, and his property is some distance from the airport. Onyski agreed that it is private property and had nothing to do with the airport; however, Paul asked whether it might in future plans. The zoning change was referred to Zoning, Planning and Development.
