Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr. (WNG File Photo)
Ward 4 Councilor Michael Burns
WESTFIELD – At 6:15 p.m. Thursday in Room 201, a joint Finance and Legislative & Ordinance sub-committee meeting is set to discuss a motion by Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr. and Ward 4 Councilor Michael Burns to initiate a storm water fee analysis by the director of the Department of Public Works, to identify fee gaps and city compliance with state and federal environmental protection regulations.
Paul told the City Council at its Oct. 18 meeting that pollutants that run off the road are the number one danger to ground water. He said when a road is redone, the water running off and underneath undermines the life of the road work. He said currently the $550,000 income from storm water fees doesn’t cover storm water management, allowing pollutants to go into the water.
Paul said with $700,000 annually, the city could finance a $20 million bond which would allow storm water work to be done properly, and allow new roads to stay fixed. He said that would also allow the money for roads to go farther; a good portion of which is now used for storm water repair.
