by Matt Emmershy, At Large City Councilor
The City Council once again has a $13 million bond before it. This is the same bond was rejected on March 15th. This past Tuesday the Council held a highly unusual special meeting that brought together the full Council, Mayor, Purchasing, Treasurer, DPW Assistant Director, in-house and contracted Consultants. After the previous bond failed, the Mayor indicated the Council needed to come up with a solution. I was then able to bring everyone on board with taking this highly unusual step.
Last fall I called for a similar meeting of the Public Health & Safety Committee relative to the Cowles Bridge. Shortly thereafter a waiver was granted for our Fire Engines. These types of meetings need to become commonplace, instead of the exception. Our government is broken and we need to ensure open lines of communication. I will continue to press for accountable and transparent government.
This past Tuesday’s meeting was extremely productive. However, I do not think it pushed us to the finish line. Our job to obtain all relevant information and make informed decisions. The meeting was abruptly closed after 2 hours. Many questions need to be answered before I will even consider voting for this bond. I still have a list of questions that were sent over to DPW on March 19th, that remain unanswered.
The previous bond was rejected based off the votes of 4 Councilor’s (Emmershy, Flaherty, Allie, and Surprise.) Three of them make up the Finance Committee, with Councilor Flaherty being a former member and currently on Long Range Finance. The main argument made by the 4 dissenting votes was the lack of details on the bond. The March 8th Finance meeting was the first time we received any information on the bond. Twenty minutes before the meeting we received a 5 line spreadsheet with estimated remaining costs. With $5 million already bonded in January ’17 and only $800k spent, we were unable to obtain total costs for each of the 5 projects and an accounting of funds already spent.
At the conclusion of the Finance meeting Chair Allie asked for a motion. I stated I was not comfortable voting with the limited information we had. I made a motion to ‘remain in Committee’ which was not seconded, meaning it dies and is ineligible for a vote. Chair Allie presented a motion for a positive recommendation, which I seconded so a vote could be taken. At that time Councilor Surprise and I voted against a favorable recommendation. The bond was then moved out of Finance with an unfavorable recommendation by a 2-1 vote.
The following week no further information was provided. I met with the Mayor and Council President Beltrandi on the 14th. Some information was obtained, which still fell short of what was needed. However, I learned it is a 30 year bond. Poisoned residents will be on the hook for the next 30 years. I also learned that sub-contractor bids were due on the 23rd at 2pm, which would give us a rough total cost of 7&8. Final comprehensive bids are due on April 3rd. I asked the Mayor about splitting up items and presenting smaller bonds for each distinct project ie. Water tanks, Springfield interconnect, and Storage tanks. The answer I received was a resounding NO!
The unwillingness to be flexible and work with people draws parallels to the Cross St School project. Even as the City was losing and spending our tax dollars by the hundreds of thousands, we were told we were winning. Make no mistake the Cross St. debacle is peanuts compared to this issue. The same rigid tactics are being employed here. We are told we are winning, until we lose. In this case, residents will not only be stuck covering $5 million and $13 million bonds, but the City Solicitor indicated that the real number is $46.8 million! This works out to about $1 million annually in excess of the bonds. Water rates need to increase another roughly 40% to cover this. Water rates will ultimately be increased rough 70%, costing about $700 more per year. This is just to maintain inadequate services already provided and does not address our aging water infrastructure over the next 30 years. $46.8 million for contaminated wells does not factor in storage tanks or interconnect projects. There are limited funds and we need to keep all our options open.
By April ’19 water bills will have increased in excess of 30%. The Water Commission implemented a 10% rate increase on 1/1/17 to cover the $5 million bond, of which only $800k is used. They also implementing a 10% rate increase for April 1st, and another 10% compounded on April 1st, 2019. Currently DPW is using those increased revenues to go on an equipment buying spree. Undesignated funds (water revenues) have increased and they’re looking at buying equipment like a $105k excavator, with no one to operate it. Interim excess funds should be directed towards Water Dept debt payments, not being used as an extra pool of money to buy toys.
This has gone on while our leaders were aware of how to remove the chemicals. Bench scale testing that determined which filtration would be effective was completed in June ’17. With $4.2 million available since last January they failed to consider temporary filtration. The north side has been running almost exclusively on one Well for the past 18 months. This is absolutely a dire situation, which is not new. What is new is the push for a $13 million bond. The same people who were stating the water was 100% safe and they’re doing a great job at election time, are the very same people sounding alarm now saying we need to do this without consideration.
The Mayor has finally committed to temporary filtration of Well #2 (Union St). Last Monday the City contracted with Calgon to have that Well filtered by the end of July. The north side will finally have a reliable and safe water supply flowing. The Mayor indicated Tuesday that if the bond fails again, that he would be back looking for stabilization funds to cover the $350k-$400k expense to temporarily filter Well #2. This includes a $264k filter vessel that will be used in a permanent filtration system. With almost $800k in undesignated water revenues and the $4.2 million remaining in the bond, why is the Mayor intent on draining the City’s emergency fund? I cannot make any sense of this unless it is an attempt to leverage passage of the bond.
Some Councilor’s have provided documentation and are asking questions. Attempting to avoid answers like ‘I am not sure’ or ‘we will need to get back to you. Of all the questions that were presented, the only person to upload documents in advance was Solicitor Phillips. Monday afternoon a file was finally set up for Councilor’s to review documents ahead of time. Contrary to claims by a Former Councilor that I was disputing open meeting law notification. The meeting was posted with plenty of advanced notice. My issue was giving Councilor’s enough time to review any documents that would be uploaded. The Solicitor furnished roughly 500 pages of documents. Thankfully I previously reviewed roughly 270 of them.
Shortly before the meeting another timeline of events and costs were added. With plenty of notice for this meeting, there was absolutely no reason documents should be provided within an hour or two of the meeting. The Finance Committee was blocked from reviewing this bond, which is in the hands of Legislative and Ordinance. I will send a list of questions to Chair Figy, since only the 3 members of the Committee will be discussing this before it comes out for a vote. In attempts to silence dissenting residents, one had multiple visits from the police and a subsequent search that found the accusations to be baseless, another has had his livelihood threatened. Government at any level should not be taking steps to silence residents who share differing opinions.
Only Well #1 which previously received multiple negative recommendations from Mass DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) is running. I inquired on the feasibility of installing a temporary filter on Well #1. DPW stated it is not possible without installing it near the permanent filtration system site off Dry Bridge Rd. Mass DEP indicated the City has not contacted them about temporary filtration feasibility on Well #1. I will be looking in to this further to better understand our options.
On Tuesday the meeting was cut short and the possibility of installing a new Well in the vicinity of Root Rd. did not get asked. Mass DEP has indicated that the City has never consulted with them on the installation of a new Well. The Root Rd area is within the high yield portion of the Barnes Aquifer. The water runs south towards the Westfield River. While attending the WRAFT (Westfield Residents Advocating For Themselves) event “Aquifer Hour” with Dr. Bob Newton, he indicated a geological formation that would essentially block the PFAS contamination from spreading west (to this area.) Currently an organic farm is drawing water from the aquifer. They had to go through extensive water testing to obtain their certification. The water is clean and safe in this area.
We should be exploring the possibility of at least one new Well outside of the contamination zone. Root Rd and Summit Lock Rd have a water main that can handle 1.728 million gallons per day. With a total cost of $46.8 million to build and operate these 2 filtration systems, we need to consider alternatives. DPW Director Billips indicated at Finance they have not explored alternatives. He also stated “We have a problem we can fix, let’s fix it” and “I’m not looking at getting reimbursed.” I will add that the Director does not live in Westfield. He will never be paying the rate increases or the condition of our water infrastructure over the next 30 years. It is irresponsible to take an approach where you refuse to consider alternatives, which can save tens of millions and provide safe and chemical free water before a filter plant can be brought online.
Another aspect of this bond are the water towers. I am comfortable funding the water tower projects provided the Council is provided a full accounting of the $800k spent so far, a total cost of the projects, remaining funds required, and a timeline through work completion. We do not have alternatives to maintaining our 4 water towers.
The only other bond component yet to be discussed is the interconnect to Springfield Water. This is projected to cost $1.3 million. Director Billips indicated that they are looking at removing problem Wells 5&6 from service and purchasing water from Springfield. The expense would incorporate tie in work, a booster pump, a filtration and treatment building, and hook up to our water main. The Director previously stated Springfield charges us an “outrageous amount to get that water.” He indicated they were talking with Springfield to bring rates under control. Councilor Surprise presented an act of the Legislature that requires Springfield to provide us with favorable rates. He was rebuffed with his findings. Last Tuesday the Mayor indicated this will be used as an emergency tie in only and possibly to buy water in the future. A cohesive plan on why we need it, coupled with a plan in place to maximize our expense of $1.3 million is needed. Councilor Flaherty spoke about a relative who was DPW Director in the 1950’s, when we allowed them to use more land and they agreed to preferred rates. Springfield water does not pay tax to Westfield for any property they own. The least they can do is provide us water at affordable rates. Westfield has a history of over promising and under delivering. Look at our regional dispatch center that was justified by cost savings of going regional, but has only served Westfield. Negotiated rates with Springfield need to be locked in before we begin spending $1.3 million. Once we spend that, what incentive does Springfield have to give us reasonable rates?
Some Councilor’s have never asked a single question, yet blindly vote to throw money at this. The PFOA and PFAS expenses are not going away. Some Councilor’s have made bold statements like we don’t care, or we are gambling with resident’s safety. The irony is these very same people were stating at election time that everything was under control. They were dismissive of Kristen Mello and WRAFT who have been fierce advocates for clean water. They still refuse to sign a pledge to call and request blood testing and monitoring for residents. Talk is cheap, stating there is no politics involved, yet that is all they are doing.
I am the youngest of the 13 members on the Council and arguably in the worst health. I have bathed and drank the water here. I have family on the north side. I have always been in the area on the south side where blended contaminated water could be. At 27 I was diagnosed with incurable Leukemia. For the past 9 years I have taken a chemotherapy pill a day. I am not supposed to have this. People in my age range do not get this. There are no studies or tests of anyone below 55 who have this. At some point the Leukemia or Chemo will kill me sooner than later.
I am fighting for safe, clean water for all residents including my wife and boys. No one should have to go through this and I truly get it. While knocking on doors I came across many cancer clusters which were extremely disturbing. My wife’s friend is 34, battling breast cancer that cannot be contained. She will leave behind 3 young children. People deserve answers and safe water sooner than later.
Victims should not be stuck with a $46.8 million bill. Our relationship with the base is not nearly as cozy as indicated. Councilor Surprise is the only person to contact the Guard Bureau to get us help. He was rebuffed for contacting those that we are now suing. Why is it acceptable to communicate and work with Barnes who are part of the same organization yet holds zero power to resolve our issue. But we can’t press the actual decision makers? That makes zero sense. The military will take interim remedial action if we bring it to their attention and most importantly WE ASK. Interim actions include bottled water and filtration systems for municipal and private wells. The issue appears to be CERCLA only addresses remediation and does not offer punitive compensation.
Residents contacting the Governor and our Federal Representatives will help. In New York the Governor provided Newburgh with the funds to filter their PFAS contaminated water. There is no reason that we should solely bear this massive expense. Please contact your elected offials.
Governor Baker (617)725-4005
Congressman Neal (202) 225-5601
Senator Warren (202) 224-4543
Senator Markey (617) 565-8519
