The City Council has taken the first step in acquiring 82.2 acres of land in Granville for the protection of drinking water and land conservation. The land will be under the care and control of the Board of Water Commissioners. This land lies between Hollister and Tillotson Brooks that flow into the Granville Reservoir which supplies over half of our City’s water suppl. It is crucial that we own and control what happens on this property. The property was appraised and the purchase price is $440,000 ($203,000 of which will be reimbursed by the state). The money is to come from our Conservation Rights account. The money funding this account was generated by the sale of development rights of land in Montgomery (Montgomery/Tekoa Watershed) to Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for $1,000,000. The total amount of land was over 2,000 acres. Frank Mills of Westfield originally suggested this plan to the City Council in 2008 and the purchase was enacted that year.
Dave Billips and Charles Darling spoke to the Committee in favor of this land taking. Mr. Darling explained that this land sits between two feeder brooks that supply our water in Granville and it is very crucial that we obtain control and ownership of this land. There is a hostile land taking involved but all procedures to move forward with the land taking have been followed including DEP Hearing and appraisals.
Westfield State University is holding Pathways to Excellence Gala (an evening to highlight the work of faculty, staff and students at the University) this Saturday Evening, May 7, the event on the Campus Green in front of Ely Campus Center and University Hall. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. and tickets are $75 per person. You may still purchase tickets to this event by accessing the University’s web site, www.westfield.ma.edu.
City Council is preparing to begin our Annual Budget Review.We have not yet received the budget form the Mayor but hope to see that in the very near future.Finance Committee will be scheduling meetings during the next several weeks up until the end of June if necessary. As of May 5 some of our balances in our City accounts were as follows:
Stabilization Fund $6,252,769. Certified Free Cash $1,697,289
Ambulance receipts $2,076,020, Receipts reserved for Conservation rights $731,241
I anticipate that this budget season will be as difficult as we have seen. All Departments including School, Fire, Police, DPW, and others will be vying for their share of the pie and we have limited dollars to go around.
Please enjoy this weekend and Happy Mother’s Day to Mothers and to all who fulfill that role.
Mary O’Connell
Ward Four City Council
