DPW Director David Billips updates the Public Health & Safety committee. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – During public participation in the Public, Health and Safety committee meeting on Tuesday, Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves (WRAFT) member Kristen Mello reported that she, former Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell, Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise, At-large Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli, Jr. and Emily Warren on behalf of Rep. John Velis would be attending a hearing in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 26. The group plans to meet with Senators Richard Neal, Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey about the federal role in the PFAS crisis.
During the regular meeting portion, Morganelli, who chairs the sub-committee, reviewed the ordinance for clearing fire hydrants of snow and ice.
Department of Public Works Director David Billips said there are state laws, if a fire hydrant is in front of a resident’s house, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to clear it. He said if that language is not in the city ordinance, it should be.
Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr., who attended the meeting, said the city could consider an advertising campaign that clearing a fire hydrant is a homeowner’s responsibility.
“We have sent our guys to do it, but there are not enough to do it,” Billips said, adding that there are 2,200 fire hydrants in Westfield.
“It’s easier for homeowners to do one, than for the DPW to do thousands,” added DPW Assistant Director Francis Cain. “I think most people would want to shovel their hydrants,” he said.
Morganelli said the committee would look at the state law, which was also mentioned by the Fire Commission. Committee member Dan Allie said the Law Department could advise them if the wording should be added to the local ordinance.
“We should be aware that for people who live on a major highway, it is impossible to shovel snow; and it is difficult for the elderly,” commented At-large Councilor Cindy C. Harris.
“There are certain areas of the city where we don’t want the homeowners doing it,” said Surprise.
Billips and Cain said they put flags on the hydrants in the winter, and have equipment that can clear hydrants on major highways and Lloyd’s Hill Road, for example.
Public Health & Safety chairman Nicholas J. Morganelli, Jr. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Morganelli said more flags would be great. Cain said they have the flag markers, but they can be dangerous for kids who could poke themselves in the eye. “I’ve seen more safety issues with them, breaking hydrants, too,” he said. Cain said he’d rather mark the hydrants with permanent posts on the critical ones around schools and hospitals.
Both Billips and Cain said they know where the critical hydrants are and have a list of the most critical ones. Cain said some hydrants are not close to any structures.
At-large Councilor Matthew Emmershy suggested the community police speak to private snow removal contractors about keeping the hydrants clear when plowing. Surprise also suggested keeping a list of contractors for homeowners who are unable to clear the hydrants by themselves.
Billips and Cain then updated the committee on the city’s water supply. Cain said regarding the temporary treatment of Well 2, that the carbon will be delivered on Monday, after which they will start testing the water. He said they want to run the water through the carbon for a while, and the DEP wants to verify the samples, before the water is delivered to residents.
Billips said there will be several test points; before the filter, mid-point in the filter, and going out of the filter. He said if there is something detected mid-point, the water would also be tested lower in the filter.
Cain said there were rain delays getting the filter up and running, especially pouring the concrete. He said the temporary treatment should be up and running in early October.
Billips said the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was scheduled to test the water on Tuesday, but that date may have been delayed. He added that there is a new updated schedule from MassDEP on everything the department has to test for now. He said once the new plants come online, they will be testing quarterly, but for now they will test every couple of weeks, then monthly, then every couple of months.
Cain said the site for Wells 7 and 8 is down to rough grade, ready for the footings for the plant and piping.
Billips said the key date for water for residents from Wells 7 and 8 is next August, if they are able to work through the winter. “Delaying this like we did really drove up those costs,” added Cain. He said they also changed the design of the footing to get the building up sooner.
Paul asked them if the bond funds were adequate to meet the schedule for the structures, and Billips said they were. He said the permanent structure for Wells 1 and 2 should go out to bid in the spring.
Surprise asked whether the city has set the goal of non-detect for all five PFAS compounds, and Morganelli asked whether the testing schedule was for all five PFAS. “This is just the schedule. The permit tells you what you’re testing for. All five PFAS are listed,” Billips said.
Regarding the last item on the agenda, a request from Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski for a sidewalk from Southampton Road, along Arch and Lockhouse Roads to Twiss Street, Morganelli suggested that they need a new motion to look at the sidewalks in the city as a whole. He said he has observed the sidewalk on Union St. to be in rough shape.
“I would suggest that you work with Dave (Billips) and the Mayor on a list of ones called critical. The Council might have the appetite for a bond,” said Paul.
