I hope everyone enjoyed a memorable and happy Thanksgiving Day. This weekend, as we polish off leftovers from the thanksgiving feast, we are on the threshold of one of the busiest times of the year. As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season progresses, I wish you all the gift of time to relax and enjoy the special moments of the season with family and friends. Keep it simple and keep it safe!
For this my last article of the year, I offer these observations!
The water contamination issue wasthe main topic on the agenda at the October 26, Ward 1 meeting at the Hampden Ponds Association Hall. At that time, three contaminated wells on the Northside had been shutdown and the drought was getting worse. I wish to personally thank Dave Billips, the Director of Public Works, for his presentation. Mr. Billips provided detailed information, answered questions and addressed concerns. Those in attendance showed their appreciation with a well-deserved round of applause.There were concerns expressed about the long term health impacts of the contaminants and the safety of private wells. Residents were reassured that their water was safe and measures will be taken to correct the situation. As more information is gathered going forward, concerns and the discussions surrounding them will most likely continue to be addressed. Residents are encouraged to contact the DPW or Public Health Department, if they have further questions or concerns. Stay tuned for further updates and meetings. (FYI: At a recent Water Symposium I attended, it was suggested that solid carbon block filters work best to remove PFOS and PFOA.)
Since then, water issues have continued to plague the city. The combination of contaminated wells, the drought, the shutdown of the Granville Reservoir due to a 12 foot drop in water level and a broken water main on North West Road which contributed to low water pressure didn’t help to relieve the cities water woes. As the Department of Public Works actively pursues permanent solutions to address these problems, we must all do our part to help.
Rachel Carson, a writer, scientist, and ecologist who wrote on conservation and protecting natural resources said, “In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifferences.”
Remember the mandatory water BAN on outdoor water use? It is still in effect. Some people either didn’t get the memo or chose to ignore it. It is incumbent upon residents, city officials and business owners to do what needs to be done to comply with these requests to conserve water. We cannot take for granted that our water resources will be available going forward if we do not take seriously our collective and individual responsibility to help protect it. When levels are low, we all have to do our part to conserve water! This is a city-wide issue. It will take a city-wide effort if we are to protect this life-supporting natural resource. Contaminated wells, the need for treatment plants and the drought directly impacted all of us as we have seen with the increase in water rates. We not only have to be vigilant about protecting our water supply from contamination, it is clear that we also need to practice water conservation measures particularly in times of drought. You can check out this website for some of the ways to conserve your water use:http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/
This issue is our wake up call.We need to find solutions and put preventative measures in place that will help sustain our water supply for the future. Strengthening the ordinance that protects the water resource district would be one action that can be taken. Non-compliance with conditions outlined in special permits given to developers and businesses in the water resource district needs to be enforced and corrected. There needs to be a clear, fair, equitableand enforceable process in place. People have a right to clean water and air. They deserve to have their health, safety and quality of life protected, no ifs, ands or buts about it.
In another matter, in case you missed the notice in the Westfield Evening News posted on November 21, 2016, here is some important Taxpayer information. On December 1, 2016, the Westfield City Council will hold a Public Hearing at 7:00PM in the City Council Chambers. This hearing is relative to determining the percentages of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of real and personal property for Fiscal Year 2017. The Board of Assessors will be there to provide information and data relevant to making the determination and the fiscal effect of available alternatives. All interested taxpayers are invited to attend and present oral or written information on their views. Written information may be directed by mail to the City Clerk, 59 Court Street, Westfield, MA. Comments that are mailed in comments, must reach the City Clerk’s Office by 5:00 P.M. the day of the hearing in order to be made available to the City Council prior to its determination.
Also for your information, residents can access city alerts, updates and meeting agendas by visiting the city website at www.cityofwestfield.org. If you have email or a smartphone, you can receive emergency alerts and agendas as they are posted. Go to the Home page of the city website, click on the Notify Me button and select the alerts you wish to receive. Scroll down to view other items of interest that you may choose to receive.
Finally, thank you to all of the residents who attended my scheduled office hours this year, who called to report concerns and who took advantage of their right to publicly voice their concerns at city meetings. I appreciate hearing your concerns, getting your feedback and your willingness to get involved.
I will be holding my final Ward 1 office hours of this year on Monday, December 12in the Barnes Regional Airport Conference Room located at 100 Airport Roadfrom 11:00 am to 12:30pm.Please continue to reach out to me with your questions and concerns: [email protected] or 413-568-8562
A reminder to all of those who drive the city streets of Westfield, please drive safely and slow down!
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Babinski, Ward 1 City Councilor
