Kristen Mello, a founding member of WRAFT (Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves.) (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – The referendum petition to rescind the $13 million water filtration bond, started six days ago, came up short according to Kristen Mello of Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves (WRAFT). Mello said the count was 2,893 unverified signatures as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The petition read: We protest against the $13 Million Bond Authorization entitled “A BOND ORDER FOR WATER WELLS, CONNECTOR AND WATER TANK”. We request this Bond Authorization to be annulled, repealed or rescinded, and if it is not, that the city council submit the referendum petition to a vote of the qualified voters, either at the next regular city election or at a special election which the city council may, in its discretion, call for such purpose.
The petition needed approximately 3,100 verified signatures, 12% of the registered voters in Westfield turned in to the City Clerk by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to meet the deadline of 20 days following the bond vote, as stated in section 49 of the City Charter. Nothing was provided to the City Clerk by the deadline.
The vote by the City Council to pass the bond was made at the City Council meeting on June 28.
A few hours before the Wednesday deadline, Mello was at Stop & Shop in Westfield, where she said, “We are signing as fast as we possibly can.” She said people were dropping off petitions with signatures they had collected; some full, some not. “It’s just a nail-biting situation,” she said.
Mello was still hopeful at that time that enough signatures would come in, but either way, she was proud of the citizens’ effort. “Last night, when we realized 2,000 people had fought to find us… the response has just been phenomenal,” she said, adding, “So many people are worried about this plan.”
Mello also said that if they did not have the required number of signatures by the deadline, she would not be turning in the petition to the City Clerk. “If we don’t hit the right number, I will protect these people and keep their information private,” she said.
Mello also said she would notify the people who signed the petition of ongoing developments regarding water testing in the city. “These people are engaged,” she said.
