WESTFIELD – Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell made a motion on behalf of the Legislative & Ordinance Committee to take the Olsen property in Granville by eminent domain for water supply protection, and to appropriate the sum of $440,000 for that purpose.
O’Connell stressed the importance of securing the 82-acre parcel which is between two brooks that feed into the Granville Reservoir watershed, which supplies over 50% of Westfield’s city water.
MARY L. O’CONNELL
The property was formerly an apple orchard, which used pesticides and caused contamination. The city first sought to acquire the property through eminent domain in 2014, under then Mayor Daniel Knapik, and had plans to clean up the contamination to protect the water source.
O’Connell said that it would be an unfriendly land taking. Two hearings have been held on the matter, and the state is in favor of the move. Under state law, Westfield can acquire land in Granville for water supply protection.
“What was the objection for?” asked Ward 5 Council Robert A. Paul, Sr.
O’Connell said the party that owns the land doesn’t want to give it up. She said he purchased it in February of this year, and stands to make a profit of $100,000 on its sale.
She said the appropriation of the $440,000 will come out of the “ever-present fish fund” (Conservation Rights account), which has $700,000 in it, and the state will reimburse the city for $203,000. She added that the reimbursement opportunity runs out on June 30.
Paul asked for a timeline of the events that led up to this motion.
O’Connell said the city has had their eyes on the property for years, and had a plan to buy it from the Olsen Estate as many as five or six years ago. The plan fell through when state funds became “snagged.”
She said everybody in Granville knew that Westfield wanted the property. The individual who bought it was also told that the city wanted it. She said it is not a surprise to anyone that the city needs to secure the property.
“Now, we’re saying that we’re going to take it because we couldn’t buy it,” said Paul.
“He (the new owner) is speculating to make a profit on it. We’re giving him the appraised value,” responded Ward 2 Council Ralph J. Figy.
A motion was made to move the request to a second reading.
