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Home business plan to be aired Tuesday

WENPUB2 — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:36:08 +0000

By DAN MORIARTY
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – A city resident will present details of a home-based business to the Planning Board at a public hearing slated for Tuesday, July, 5, 2011.
Zilkia Escudero, of 54 Grenier Drive, is seeking a special permit to allow her to conduct workshops and study groups in her home.
Community Development Director Larry Smith said the board will review the petition and determine if the proposed use is allowable under the city’s code of ordinances.
“A home-based business is different than a home occupation business, which is a by-right use,” Smith said.
The primary difference is that a home occupation business, with permits issued through the Building Department, does not have clients, while a home-based business, which requires Planning Board special permit approval, may have clients coming to the residence where the business is located.
“The no-client provision of the home occupation use is part of that can’t see, can’t smell and can’t hear approach. The idea is that nobody knows it’s there,” Smith said. “A home-based business use is more permissive, but requires a special permit.
“The intent of the ordinance is to allow small scale or incubator business uses that have little, if any, impact on the neighborhood,” Smith said.
The ordinance allowing home-based businesses sets conditions to mitigate the impact on the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
One condition is that a home-based business can receive only one delivery truck per day. A second condition is that vehicular traffic generated by clients is limited to 15 average daily trips or ADTs, counted as one ADT to come to the residence and a second ADT when leaving.
“That allows up to eight people to come to the residence a day,” Smith said. “All of those vehicles have to be accommodated on the home-based business property. Parking on the street is not permitted.
The City Council voted in May of 2010 to modify the city ordinance that had regulated home occupations and businesses, bringing the ordinance in line with today’s technological environment. The original ordinance, adopted in 1987, did not reflect occupations created during the technology revolution of the past two decades.
The ordinance approved by the City Council gives the Planning Board broad discretionary power to decide if a specific business is appropriate for the surrounding neighborhood.

FEMA: All affected should apply for assistance

WENPUB2 — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:35:04 +0000

WESTFIELD – Many people recovering from the June 1 severe storms and tornadoes in Hampden and Worcester Counties have been helped, but many more may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.
Disaster assistance helps fill the gaps in recovery, even for those who get insurance payouts or other assistance.
Here are common reasons why people fail to register:
I make too much money to apply for FEMA assistance.
Most federal and state disaster assistance programs are available to individuals of all income levels. The kinds of help provided depend on the applicant’s circumstances and unmet needs. The aid is to help individuals and communities come back as quickly as possible from a disaster.
I have insurance.
You may be eligible for help with uninsured or underinsured losses, including damage to wells and septic systems.
If you are still waiting for a visit from an insurance adjuster, or for an insurance settlement, go ahead and apply for assistance.
Promptly make necessary repairs to make your house livable and be sure to keep papers and receipts for all work.
I don’t want my other benefits to be reduced.
Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Aid to Families with Dependent Children.
I did not sustain enough damage.
The damage caused by the tornadoes, strong winds and heavy rains – and the costs associated with repairs or rebuilding – may not be apparent for several weeks. By registering with FEMA now, you may be covered for those damages that are discovered later.
Other people need the money more than I do. There may not be enough money for everyone.
There are enough disaster funds to take care of every eligible applicant.
There are several ways to register with FEMA:
By phone, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT. Assistance is available in many languages. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability may use TTY 1-800-462-7585;
By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov;
By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

FEMA: Mass. survivors need to be on alert for scams

WENPUB2 — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:34:22 +0000

WESTFIELD – In the aftermath of Massachusetts’ devastating tornadoes, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are advising those who have sustained damage to be aware of potential scams and fraud.
As residents are beginning the recovery process, unscrupulous people may pretend to be contractors and inspectors and ask for a fee. FEMA employees do not solicit or accept money. Also, some scammers are attempting to purchase goods with fake FEMA vouchers. FEMA does not offer financial assistance in the form of vouchers.
Those who suspect anyone of committing fraudulent activities should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline toll-free at 1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and to the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs Consumer Hotline, 1-888-283-3757. To check the history of a business or to file a complaint about a scam, residents can also contact the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Consumer Hotline, 1-617-727-8400.
To safeguard against disaster-related fraud, officials suggest the following precautions:
Ask for ID. If someone represents him or herself as a federal employee, such as an inspector, but doesn’t produce identification, residents should ask to see the identification.
A FEMA or U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) shirt or jacket is not absolute proof of someone’s affiliation with the government.
Federal employees carry official, laminated photo identification. Applicants may receive a visit from more than one inspector or verifier.
Safeguard personal information. Do not give personal information such as Social Security and bank account numbers to individuals claiming to be affiliated with the federal government. FEMA inspectors never require this information.
FEMA will request an applicant’s Social Security or bank account number during the first phone call when the applicant calls FEMA’s registration line. On any follow-up calls, a representative may ask for the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you didn’t initiate the phone call, do not provide sensitive personal information – it could be a scam.
Beware of people going door-to-door. People going door-to-door to damaged homes or phoning disaster survivors and claiming to be building contractors could be frauds. If visitors or callers solicit personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers, they may not be legitimate.
Federal workers do not solicit or accept money. Remember, FEMA and SBA staff members never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. If in doubt, do not give out information, then report people claiming to be government workers to local police.
FEMA inspectors only verify damage. FEMA inspectors do not hire or endorse specific contractors to repair damage.
TIPS FOR HIRING CONTRACTORS
Use reliable, licensed contractors – Ask to see a license and get references. For more information about a contractor or if you are unsure about the validity of a license, check with the Better Business Bureau and your local or state contractor licensing board.
Get a written estimate, and be sure to read the fine print – Always try to get estimates from several reputable contractors before making a decision. You may want to hire a local contractor if at all possible.
Ask for a written contract – A complete contract should clearly state all the work to be performed, all associated costs and the payment schedule and obligate the contractor to pay for what was agreed upon, such as materials, etc.
Permits – Make sure the contract clearly states who will obtain the necessary permits. You may want to have a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved. Keep a copy of any signed contract.
Proof of insurance – Make sure your contractor carries general liability insurance and workers’ compensation and is bonded. A homeowner could be liable for accidents on the property when working with an uninsured contractor.
Pay by check – Avoid paying in advance and making payments in cash if at all possible. A reasonable down payment is 30 percent of the total cost of the project.

College Highway project to begin

WENPUB2 — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:32:52 +0000

By DAN MORIARTY
Staff Writer
SOUTHWICK – The first phase of the massive College Highway reconstruction project is beginning.
Town residents and business owners have been notified of the onset of reconstruction of a 1.5-mile stretch of Routes 10 and 202, between Tannery Road and Tuttle Brook culvert beside Southwick Auto Body (formerly Guiel’s Auto Body), just south of Town Hall.
Richard Grannells, Department of Public Works engineer, said work on the $5 million Department of Transportation project is slated to begin July 11, although crews may begin preliminary work on July 5, 2011.
The DOT is reconstructing the entire length of College Highway from the Westfield city line to the Connecticut state line in three phases. Initially, the state considered beginning with the southern section of the road, but flipped the scheduling of the phases because of culvert reconstruction needed along the southern section of the highway.
in addition to the reconstruction of the highway in the center of town, the DOT has also slated reconstruction of the Johnson Brook culvert near the Notch Travel Center this summer.
“This phase of the project is to widen the road to three lanes the entire length, with the center lane being a dedicated left-turn lane and holding lane, so motorists making left turns do not hold up through-traffic,” Grannells said.
“A requirement of the contract is that the construction companies have to maintain access to all businesses,” Grannells said.
The project will also add shoulders and sidewalks on both sides of the highway.
“The state has a 60-foot right-of-way and is using 55 feet for these improvements,” Grannells said. “Everybody will have to pull back onto their own property. Some signs were put on the state’s right-of-way.”
Another major focus of the project is to revamp the drainage system. Many of the current drainage facilities were constructed without easements or other documentation.
“We’ll have all new drainage, which should take care of a lot of nagging drainage problems,” Grannells said.
Palmer Paving, Inc. was awarded the job as the general contractor and has retained Ludlow Construction to perform excavation and installation of underground infrastructure, such as drainage. David Northup Electric, Inc., of Agawam, is also a subcontractor and is charged with installing traffic signals and street lights.
Grannells said the street lights will be similar to the decorative lights in downtown Westfield.
“Another good feature of the new traffic signals is that there will be dedicated left-turn arrows at the intersections to improve traffic flow through town,” Grannells said.
The traffic signals will also have an emergency service trip system, so that police officers, firefighters and EMTs responding to an emergency can trigger red lights for all other vehicles, then safely proceed through the intersection.
Selectman Russell Fox said the highway and Johnson Brook culvert reconstruction projects will be “a challenge” for local residents and business owners.
Town officials have limited ability to shape the reconstruction effort because it is a state DOT project, similar to the situation in Westfield, where two major DOT projects are under way. One of the major challenges in Westfield has been getting information out to residents, a challenge that the selectmen are already addressing.
“The Board of Selectmen has tried to get out front of this and avoid some of the mistakes made in Westfield by getting the word out to our residents and business owners before the project starts,” Fox said.
The town has conducted several meetings to hear residents’ and business owners’ concerns and has attempted to address those concerns with the DOT.
“We sent out our safety officer, Sgt. Kirk Sanders, to all 70 College Highway businesses,” Fox said. “We’re been working with residents and businesses to keep people informed.
“When it’s all done, we will have a much improved area downtown,” Fox said. “It will be safer, more pedestrian-friendly with the sidewalks. We plan to connect the downtown to the bike trail to bring people down to those businesses.”
Fox said that the schedule calls for completion of the phase one reconstruction by Aug. 8, 2012.

TRAFFIC UPDATE

WENPUB2 — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:31:13 +0000

WESTFIELD – There is no other way to say this, but it will be challenging in the Main Street corridor for the next couple of weeks.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Free Street will be closed at the intersection of Main Street for water line work. Access to Free Street will be from Thomas Street.
On Wednesday, Meadow Street will be closed from the intersection of Main Street to Casimir Street. Detour signs and officers will be in place to assist motorists in navigating through the area.
On Thursday and Friday, Mechanic Street will be closed from the intersection of Main Street to North Cherry Street for water line work.
Also on Tuesday, work is expected to be starting on the Thomas Street parking lot, which is expected to be closed for at least six weeks.
Have a safe and pleasant holiday,
Respectfully,
Capt. Michael McCabe
Off. Michael Gamache

State Fire Marshal Warns of Fireworks Danger

WENPUB2 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:51:45 +0000

By JENNIFER MIETH
Department of Fire Services
WESTFIELD – State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and National Fire Protection Association President James M. Shannon hosted a press conference on Thursday with members of the medical, fire and law enforcement communities to raise awareness of the dangers of fireworks. These participants are working together to encourage the public to “Be smart! Leave the fireworks to the professionals,” and to enjoy a safe and happy July 4th holiday. It concluded with a demonstration by the State Police Bomb Squad on just how much harm fireworks can do to the human body.
Coan said, “Each fireworks injury is a life-changing event and each time people say they thought it wouldn’t happen to them. Yet every year we have tragedies like the 79-year-old Fairhaven woman who woke up to her house burning down from her neighbor’s illegal show, or the 7-year-old who picked up a lit roman candle that exploded in his hand, or the 3-year-old who had a firework shoot up his shorts instead of over the lake.”
“With more fires occurring on the fourth of July than any other day of the year, we cannot stress enough the dangers of consumer fireworks,” said Shannon. “Ask any staff in an emergency room or in a fire department during this holiday and they will tell you that the numbers tell a sad story. There is no safe way to use consumer fireworks. Our goal is simple: to prevent injuries and fires.”
“Parents underestimate how dangerous fireworks can be. Fireworks send 3,400 children under 15 to emergency rooms each year in the U.S. and more than half of fireworks victims are under the age of 20,” said Dr. Amy Rezak, a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of Trauma. “Even seemingly harmless fireworks like sparklers result in serious burn injuries and account for one-third of the injuries to children under 5,” she added.
“With alcohol in the mix, a bunch of people and the dark, the Fourth of July is an incredible holiday to work the ER because of all the injuries that happen from fireworks, fire pits, and bonfires,” said Dr. Colleen Ryan, Sumner Redstone Burn Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. “As a trauma physician, I can assure we will be busy enough this Fourth of July, so please leave the fireworks to the professionals,” she added.
State Police Lt. Jeanne Stewart, Commanding Officer of the Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal said, “The possesion and use of all fireworks by private citizens is illegal in Massachusetts. This includes Class C fireworks, which are sometimes falsely called ‘safe and sane.’ Examples of these are sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers and spinners.”
Massachusetts lawmakers are considering legislation that would legalize the sale and private use of the celebratory pyrotechnics, a move some say would help the state’s economy.
“It is misguided to think of this proposal as a revenue generator,” said Coan. ”The costs and burden to public safety, the increased visits to emergency rooms and the life-changing injuries will offset any potential revenue associated with the sale of fireworks in the Commonwealth.”

City mulls campaign sign law

WENPUB2 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:51:02 +0000

By DAN MORIARTY
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – The political season is quickly approaching as candidates for local office begin to campaign for elections slated for the fall.
One aspect of that election season is that campaign signs spring up across the city and, in some cases, remain up long after the elections are over.
The Planning Board and City Council will conduct public hearings next week to consider new regulations for those campaign signs.
The Planning Board will conduct its hearing on Tuesday, July 5, while the City Council will conduct its hearing on Thursday, July 7. The Planning Board will review the technical aspects of the proposed ordinance change, while the City Council, as the city’s legislative branch, will vote to adopt or reject the proposed amendment.
There is an existing sign ordinance, but there is nothing in that city law that regulates campaign signs.
At the May 19 council session, At-large City Councilor David A. Flaherty proposed an amendment to Section 8-10.3 of the city sign zoning ordinance. Flaherty’s motion was referred to the city’s Law Department and the council’s Legislative & Ordinance Committee for further review.
“I was in the process of ordering my campaign signs and called (Community Development Director) Larry Smith to get clarification about putting the signs up,” Flaherty said Thursday. “Larry referred me to the temporary sign section of the sign ordinance, but it really didn’t address campaign signs.”
Smith and Flaherty then researched campaign sign ordinances, including those in Northampton, which were written by Smith when he worked in that community.
“There are a whole range of issues we need to clarify,” Flaherty said, “issues such as the size of the signs, when they can be put up and when they have to be taken down and their location on private property.
“Do we allow one size in residential zones and a larger size in commercial zones?” Flaherty said. “Can you put a large one on the side of a commercial building? The ordinance we have is not really clear about a bunch of things like that. It’s something for us to think about.
“Then there is the freedom of speech issue,” Flaherty said. “Those are all of the things we want to clarify. I want clear guidelines so we all know what we’re doing, so we’re all playing by the same rules.”
The proposed ordinance addresses the number of signs a candidate can erect on one property lot, the setback from the property line and the height of the sign from the ground.
The proposed amendment also prohibits signs from being lighted and from being attached to structures, except buildings serving as a candidate’s campaign headquarters, and limits signs to 10 square feet in size.
The amendment does allow the Building Inspector to issue a permit to attach a sign to a structure if the sign cannot be displayed on the ground, but it still has to comply with sign criteria for the specific zoning district in which the building is located.

Town beach opens for the season

WENPUB2 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:50:04 +0000

SOUTHWICK – Town officials have said that the South Pond Park Beach will open today, July 1, just as it did in 2010.
Park and Recreation Secretary Tracy Cesan said in an earlier interview that the beach had traditionally opened in late June after the local schools closed for the summer.
Two years ago, a cost savings was found by delaying the beach opening, and since then, the beach has opened on July 1. During the early spring of this year, a discussion of handicap accessibility was addressed, and according to superintendent of Buildings and Grounds John Westcott, work on the compliance issues will be started after the beach closes at the end of August.
Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an entrance fee of $2.00 for town residents. Out-of-town residents will be charged $3.00, and children ages 7-13 will pay $1.00. Children under 6 years old and active military personnel will not be charged.

Candidates sprint into election races

WENPUB2 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:48:24 +0000

By DAN MORIARTY
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – The home stretch of the 2012 campaign season is still months away, but the race for City Council is beginning to heat up as new candidates enter the competition.
The most contested City Council race remains the competition for the seven At-large seats. Currently, there are 12 potential candidates who have taken out nomination papers, with two incumbents, Nicholas Morganelli and Brian Sullivan, yet to take out their papers.
The two newest residents to throw their hats into the At-large race are incumbent Brent B. Bean II and Andrew P. Bannish, the son of former City Councilor David A. Bannish, who is also seeking to regain an At-large seat.
The elder Bannish failed to make the ballot two years ago because his nomination papers did not have 50 valid names for endorsement of his candidacy.
The younger Bannish, who just graduated from Westfield High School, is currently 17 years old, but will turn 18 just before the election next fall. The younger Bannish also told a City Hall official that he plans to collect valid endorsement signatures not only for his nomination papers, but his father’s as well, to avoid a nomination miscue recurrence.
Other incumbents who have taken out nomination papers are John J. Beltrandi III, David A. Flaherty, Gerald Tracy and Patti Andras.
Also vying for the At-large seats are Robert Cree, Donna C. Hoernig, Agma Maria Sweeney, Michael Burns and Joseph M. Spagnoli. Burns is currently a member of the Water Commission, while Spagnoli serves on the Board of Public Works.
There is currently only one contest for a ward seat.
Kevin P. Medeiros is seeking election to the Ward 1 seat currently held by City Council President Christopher Keefe.
Medeiros is the brother of the late Charles W. Medeiros, who served 28 years on the City Council, four years on the Parks & Recreation Commission and was acting mayor twice in his long political career.
Kevin Medeiros has been an active supporter of the Westfield School System, raising funds for Parent-Teacher Organization projects at a number of city schools.
Medeiros, in a prepared release, cited his “dedication to the citizens of Westfield with my past involvement in our schools.
“I cannot promise any limitations on taxes, but I can promise representation,” Medeiros said in the text. “I come from a blue-collar background and have always done my best to help the ‘little guy’.”
There is also a race for the Ward 3 representation on the Municipal Light Board. That seat is currently held by John Callahan, who was appointed by a joint session of the City Council and MLB to fill the Ward 3 seat following the death of longtime MLB member William Buzzee.
Jane Wensley, who is also vying for the MLB seat, was a candidate in 2007 for the post and received the support of City Councilors Patti Andras and Mary O’Connell during the appointment meeting.

Reserve officers hired

WENPUB2 — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:47:38 +0000

By CARL E. HARTDEGEN
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – The city’s police force will be more cost-effective, Police Capt. Hipolito Nunez said, thanks to action by the city’s Police Commission Monday to hire nine new reserve officers.
Nunez said that the reserve force is important because with the reserve officers, “We can fill shifts that we would otherwise have to pay overtime for,” and reserve officers can be evaluated “to see if they have the capabilities to serve as full-time officers.”
In addition, he said, the reserve force provides the department with extra officers to call upon for emergencies and to supply officers for extra details, such as working with highway construction crews.
Nunez explained that the size of the reserve force is limited by state statute to 19 officers, but, he said, “we usually stick around 15.”
He said that, with the seven reserve officers already on the roster, the nine candidates hired by the commission will bring the force to 16 officers.
Hired on Monday were David Arroyo, Megan Bartlett, Sean Brown, Sean Connors, Michelle Dion, Andrew Fedora, Gary Hagar, Matthew Kane and Amber Ruffo.
Nunez said that the officers hired were among “probably 24? candidates on a civil service list. He said that 10 of those applicants agreed to accept positions on the reserve force, but only nine of them completed the paperwork and interview process.
“All nine candidates were worthy of the position as reserve officer, and all nine were given positions,” Nunez said.
The officers will not hit the streets for “probably six months,” he said, as they will have a number of hurdles to overcome first.
Each will have to have a physical examination, a physical abilities test and a psychological evaluation and must complete a 240-hour intermittent reserve police academy course, which Nunez described as “a basic academy to prepare them for the position.” All of these pre-employment requirements, Nunez said, will be paid for by the candidates themselves.
And before they can be sworn in by the city clerk, the new officers will have to take an “80-hour in-house training program” he said.
Nunez said that the benefits of the expanded reserve force will come at very little cost to the department.
The department, he said, will issue each new officer “a radio, gun and ammunition, but the uniform they pay for themselves.”
He said that the additional officers will be important to fill vacancies in the ranks of the full-time officers because “we’re going to have five or six full-time openings” in the next 12-18 months, so it will be important to have officers to choose from who have been vetted by experience.
Nunez said that any reserve officer who is chosen for a full-time position will be sent to the full police academy course, and although an officer at that academy would be a paid employee of the city while attending the training course, he or she will have to pay the tuition for the academy.
“I don’t see a downside”, Nunez said.