RICHARD E. ONOFREY JR.
WESTFIELD – The City Council voted last night to take advantage of $2,254,205 in federal grant funding for projects related to Barnes Regional Airport.
The council also suspended its rules to take action to appropriate funds from the city’s stabilization account to secure the federal grants, an allocation process that typically requires two council sessions.
The Federal Aviation Administration grants include $892,800 for repair of taxiway A at the airport, which required a matching grant from the city of $24,800; $1,425,403 for the on-going noise mitigation acoustical treatment, which requires a matching local appropriation of $39,549; and $936,002 for noise mitigation for acquisitions, with a match appropriation of $26,000.
Ward 5 Councilor Richard E. Onofrey Jr., who serves as the chairman of the Finance Committee, urged councilors to support accepting the grants and approving the qualifying local appropriation during discussion of the six separate motions, three for the grants and three for each local appropriation.
Onofrey said the project “need to be done by August 31” and that the city is securing more than $2.5 million in federal and state funding, through the Massachusetts Aeronautic Commission of the state Department of Transportation, “with a small city share.”
The two noise mitigation grants are dealing with noise related to the presence of the F-15 fighters which were assigned to the Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing for the past five years. The F-15 replaced the A-10 fighters which are designed to be much quieter because of their ground-support tank-buster role which requires low-level flying.
The Air Force conducted a noise impact study before and during the transition to the F-15s which are a supersonic, air superiority platform, and which take off with the assistance of afterburners.
The noise impact study identified two zones of objectionable noise created by the fighters during take-off and landing operations. Those zones were based on the noise study data used to create the noise mitigation plan.
One zone, defining areas around the airport where noise was in the 70 decibel range, is identified as the acquisition zone where residents have the option or selling their homes which will be demolished, or have the option to have their homes treated for noise abatement. Those opting to sell their property will be given relocation assistance.
The second zone is the abatement zone based on readings of 65 dB. Homes in that area are not subject to acquisition, but do qualify for improvements, replacement of doors and windows and other improvements to reduce the noise level within the structure.
In other business, the council voted to approve the first reading of a request from Mayor Daniel M. Knapik to refinance existing bonds sold for school-related projects. Knapik, in written communication to the council, said the refinancing is intended “to achieve debt service savings” through lower interest rates now available.
At-large Council Brent B. Bean II asked if all city departments authorized to sell bonds, basically dedicated revenue generating departments such as the Westfield Gas & Electric and the Water Resource department which has both water and sewer revenue, are participating in the refinancing and was told that just the request for the school debt is included.
“I think the whole city needs to look at this,” Bean said.
To see video of the August 16 City Council meeting, click here.
