City Council President John J. Beltrandi, III. (WNG File photo)
WESTFIELD – The City Council will meet on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. in City Council chambers. On the agenda will be the first reading for the $13 million bond for the water filtration project, which received a positive recommendation from the Legislative and Ordinance sub-committee at Tuesday’s meeting.
Requests from Mayor Brian P. Sullivan include immediate consideration of a gift for $6,179.60 to the Westfield Police Department’s Domestic Violence Gift account from the Crippled Old Busted Bikers (C.O.B.B.) of River Valley.
The Mayor is also submitting two resolutions, one for an intermunicipal agreement between Westfield, West Springfield and Holyoke for a Carbon Credit Consulting Service Agreement. City Council president John J. Beltrandi, III said the agreement has to do with Westfield’s trees, which count as carbon credits for the Green Communities Act.
The other resolution is an intermunicipal agreement to allow Westfield’s electrical inspector to perform inspections for the town of Southwick.
The Mayor is also submitting the reappointments of Grace Sullivan as a member of the Board of Assessors and Kathleen Deviny as a member of the Historical Commission.
City Clerk Karen J. Fanion is submitting a series of annual license renewals for more than twenty retail establishments; two of which have failed to submit renewals, including Rosewood and Fresh Look Interiors.
Under Petitions and Remonstrances, Planning Board member John Bowen is submitting a disclosure as a non-elected municipal employee relative to a financial interest.
At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty will also present the City Charter and Rules related to the roles of various committees with regards to bonds.
City Planner Jay Vinskey is submitting an advisory opinion from the Planning Board recommending that no changes be made to the abutter notification ordinance. Vinskey said that the proposed changes increasing the area of abutters to be notified were considered “too onerous” by the Planning Board. The Zoning, Planning and Development committee will also be reporting on the motion to strengthen the abutter notification ordinance.
Other reports from committees will include a positive recommendation from the Finance Committee for an appropriation of $724,920 from Free Cash to complete the work on the interior of Hangar 2 at Barnes Airport for use as a classroom by Aviation Maintenance Technology at Westfield Technical Academy.
L&O is also bringing back approval for the Superintendent of Schools to submit statements of interest to the Massachusetts Building Authority for funding of an addition and renovations to Franklin Avenue Elementary School and for the funding of an addition and renovations to Westfield Technical Academy.
Under new motions, Councilors Brent B. Bean, II and Figy are proposing the creation of an ordinance regulating sidewalk cafes.
Councilors Flaherty and Dan Allie are requesting annual OPEB contributions equivalent to 2.5% of gross payroll to be included in the annual budget by department, to refer to the Finance sub-committee.
Councilors Flaherty and Allie are also requesting investigations of options to fully fund OPEB within 30 years, to refer to Long Range Finance, Treasurer and Healthcare Trust.
Another motion by Allie is for a resolution to the Mayor requesting a bond for $7.5 million for four water tanks, the connector to the Springfield water system, the completion of a permanent filtration system for Wells 7 and 8, and a temporary filtration system for Well 2, to refer to the mayor.
A motion by Councilors Andrew K. Surprise, Matthew Emmershy, Allie and Flaherty is for a resolution related to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of the Federal Government, to refer to the mayor and to the Law Department.
Councilors Emmershy, Allie and Surprise also have a motion to review water production costs, and to make recommendations, to refer to Finance.
