2019 Finance committee, Dan Allie, Brent Bean, chair, and John Beltrandi. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Finance committee voted 3-0 Thursday to recommend a transfer of $442,850 from the Department of Public Works Water division undesignated funds account for purchase of services, Health Insurance benefits, supplies and gasoline accounts in the Water division. The undesignated account has $790,000 in it, leaving a balance of approximately $350,000 after the transfers.
DPW Director David Billips said many of the expenditures on the list either were not addressed or had been cut at budget time.
The requested transfer of $327,850 for purchase of services included freeze-dried bed trap replacement at the water treatment plant for the reservoir ($100,000); a tracer study of customers at the Sackett plant ($10,000); removal of asbestos insulating pipes over the bridge on Shaker Road ($15,000); garage doors and locks that have to be replaced; SKADA updates ($15,000); increased costs from Eversource for the water treatment plant because the turbine wasn’t running; another $15,000 to pay for off duty salaries; and higher costs from Westfield Gas & Electric for heating the temporary treatment facility at Well 2.
Billips said another $39,000 will pay for Geosphere costs to measure flow and seepage at the reservoir from area brooks, and $26,000 for an expert Geosphere assessment on Cabot Road for the feasibility of another well for the city. Other costs in the purchase of services would pay for water testing.
Billips said $100,000 to the Health Insurance benefits account would cover the $96,000 that was cut at budget time. $10,000 is for needed supplies, and $5,000 for gasoline. He said the gasoline account comes up short every year.
DPW also requested a transfer $100,000 from the Stormwater division undesignated funds account to the Stormwater division construction account for the Western Ave. project. Billips said the contractor grossly underestimated the costs of the stormwater work on that project. He said while Western Ave. is a state project, the city has to pay for associated water, sewer and stormwater work.
Finance committee member John J. Beltrandi, III asked whether there was any way to go back to the contractor who gave the estimate. “That’s a lot of money,” Beltrandi said.
Billips said that would be up to the Law Department, but the money is needed for work that has to be done. Beltrandi said it was a question he would like to be asked.
Finance committee chair Brent B. Bean, II said the request could be left in committee, and they could reconvene before the City Council meets on Feb. 7 to vote on the transfer. He said meanwhile, he would seek an answer on whether the contractor could be held accountable for the estimate.
