Um, I just, yeah, I went through it. Who is it? Good evening. I'd like to call the November 6th, 2025 meeting of the Westfield City Council to order roll call. Medical City Clerk Adams. He will not be with us. Allie here. Bean. He will not be with us. Beltran Here. Burns Here. Fanon? Here. Figgy. Here. Harris. Here. Matthews. Kane? Here. Meow. Here. Morgan? Here. Oniskey Here. Sullivan. I am here. Thank You. Please rise for pleasure. I states America,
which understands one nation. Individual liberty. Thank you. Now comes of portion of the meeting for public participation. Anyone wishing to address the city council may do so by stepping forward. State your name and address for the city clerk and we do this in three minute increments, which may be extended. Anyone like to address the council? Please come up. Alright. Okay. All right. Um, Jessica Britton, 36 Casimir Street. I'd like to take this time to congratulate all the winners of the 2025 election and those that participated in the process
for offering a choice for change. We cannot change the direction of our city without public participation. I'd also like to thank Ken Komsky for taking the time out of his busy schedule to conduct the candidate interviews. I thought the questions he asked us were relevant and important issues for the city of Westfield. I want to talk tonight about a hot button question that I had during that interview, which, um, was in the area of the proposed building of the data center by our aquifer. Yet again, I want you in the citizens of Westfield to know
how dangerous and detrimental this will not only be to the residents living life and our protected resources. As we move into the fourth industrial revolution of automation and AI technology, we have to pause and realize that this is new technology. There isn't a history of long-term data behind it and we truly don't know the future implications. However, the present track record that it does have is not good. If you look into what's happening in Memphis, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona,
in Georgia, the experience that is emerging heeds a quite similar to what we saw with the battery energy storage systems that we were so willing, willingly going to put up without proper education, proper engagement, nor the understanding of the true risks that a business like that would pose on top of our aquifer. Westfield has many true intrinsic qualities and resources that make us unique compared to our bordering cities and towns. We have our own municipal energy with the Westfield g
and e in whip city fiber for internet. We have lots of land in green spaces such as parks in our actual land size of Westfield compared to surrounding cities. And we also have a city that's founded along the Westfield and Connecticut River Water systems that affords us clean potable drinking water, a huge asset in natural resource to not only our community, but the surrounding communities that don't have direct access to water. As I stated, the data centers that are popping up nationally are starting to experience significant detrimental issues
to the environment, both living in resources. They suck up millions of gallons of water equivalent to many Olympic-sized swimming pools to help cool the immense heat and energy that is being generated from its operation. Pulling from local aquifers already stressed by legacy industrial contamination. But one thing is clear, a hundred percent of the water it steals cannot be reused. 80% is evaporated into the environment because of the intense heat that's being generated. The other 20% gets dumped into wastewater systems,
which can be overwhelming. The water is treated with chemicals to prevent bacteria and corrosion, therefore deeming it unfit to be reused. This is not sustainable. The diesel generators that run constantly not only create noise pollution, but environmental pollution such as toxic fumes and carcinogens and can exacerbate COPD, asthma and other respiratory diseases. The energy drain currently equivalent to a hundred thousand houses can cause brownouts and enforce the surrounding communities
to reserve their energy for the data center. Who's going to pay the higher rates for this consumption? How is this sustainable? Minimal jobs are also created. Second. Motion made it second. All in favor? Aye. A please. Two paragraphs is pretty short. Thank you. Um, minimal jobs are created anywhere from 50 to a hundred permanent jobs. They're highly automated facilities that don't benefit the entire population of Westfield. The tax breaks that are given from the state are from our tax dollars. We are the ones funding this, make it easier
for the data centers, not easier for the community to survive and thrive. I will continue to bring education to this podium so no one can say I didn't know, and it will be on the record. And I will commandeer my army on this side of the podium until they choose otherwise. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Like to address the council? Donna 2 87 Shaker Road. Westfield. I understand the financial gain, jobs, et cetera. Westfield will benefit from a data center if, if it's built here. Other states believe the same thing until their residents experience their negative effects.
This is why local opposition to data centers is growing in the United States. In fact, $64 billion of data center projects have been, uh, blocked or delayed. There is many reasons for this and I'll focus on two. Number one, constant noise and glaring light pollution. And Manassas. Virginia residents are experiencing migraines, stress and anxiety and sleeplessness. People have a low quality of life because virtually there is no silence. In an article by Harvard Medical School,
they say noise pollution has associated health risks and can worsen and cause cardio cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, sleep disturbances, mental health and cognition problems, memory impairment, attention deficit, and child childhood learning delays. Number two, water usage. They consume vast amounts of water for cooling. It is estimated that these centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water daily enough
to supply dozens of thousands of homes. When a counselor questioned Mr. Bartone, a principal with DBS energy about how much water would be used for cooling, he replied, the cooling system is a closed system and does not require a significant amount of water. This is not the case. These systems save only 33 million of gallons of water per year. Weekly. They consume 35 million gallons in Mansfield, Georgia. Meta built a 2 million square foot data center,
which is smaller than the 2.7 million square foot one proposed in Westfield. Nearby, residents have experienced the following water pressure so low that it trickles out of faucets and contains sediments. People need to store water and to drink. They need to store water to drink and to flush their toilets with their water. Bills have doubled in price. These two points alone illustrate that data centers end up taking precedence over the welfare of residents and this is not acceptable. Counselor,
Is it? Motion to extend A second. Motion to extend for a minute. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Thank you. Is this really what we want to invite into our backyard? Please. I urge you to reconsider and do more research before our back door is open to a living nightmare. It's simple. Just Google, um, the negative effects of data centers. Thank you. Thank You. Thank you, sir. You're up. Hello? Peter Ante, uh, one 70 Prospect Street Extension. Um, sorry, I feel very unprepared for this,
but, um, I just was, wanted to see if the city council would consider making these meetings available via Zoom. Um, I did some, a little bit of research and found that a lot of people in town have canceled their, their cable subscriptions. When I moved to town, we didn't have a cable subscription. There was no cable lines in my entire house. Um, I know that the town that you guys put this Meeting on, on the Channel 15, um, for, for the whole public. But I know that I would like to come to these meetings sometimes and have been trying to get here, but my work schedule doesn't allow.
I'm, I work at 13 hour day. I get in, I go in at 5:00 AM and I get out at 7:30 PM So it's just, and I'm not obviously speaking for only myself, but I'm sure that there are other people I work with, some people if that also live in town. Um, that's it. That's all I got. Thank you. Thank you. Council Morgan help. Okay. Thank you Mr. President. Counselors Nicholas Morgan, only 34 Prospect Street. Um, Today in Westfield, uh, the, uh, bishop of, uh, of Springfield, um, of the Catholic Church,
uh, William Byrne was there for a press conference and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts reports that each month an average of more than 124,000 people across our four counties receive emergency food assistance assistance. And at the St. Vincent Depa Society Food Pantry in Westville. Volunteers say they've seen it up to a threefold increase, uh, in people seeking help in recent weeks. And that's gr that growing need prompted action for Bishop Byrne to, uh, to come to Westfield today. And, uh, there was some other,
there's some news media there as well. Um, and he said, today we gather as a diocesan family to unite in faith, compassion, and love for our neighbor. Um, he also said, each can of food, each box of macaroni, each one of these is a symbol, a sign of love. And that's what we are called to do, do, is to bring love to the world. So our Catholic Charities Agency, and it's, uh, going where the need is. Mobile food program will be coordinating and assisting with work in the parishes. Uh, it's a new directive they have is this, this mobile food pantry.
Uh, Catholic Charities Agency director, uh, Shayna Rodriguez was there. And, uh, she said, the need is all across Western Massachusetts and we need to step it up together. Uh, she said, we need to do what we're called to do by the Gospel by Jesus. Um, pantries, uh, take many different types of donations They can take, uh, toiletries, baby form, formula, diapers, even pet food. Uh, and some facilities have refrigeration for perishables. But, uh, the essential non-perishables are really what, uh, these food pantries are looking for. Not at just in Westfield,
but all around Western Massachusetts. So canned food, canned tuna, pasta, pasta sauce. Uh, it's really important. And also other items that might be, uh, for different cultures to be culturally sensitive. 'cause there's many different people of many different, um, backgrounds that are looking for assistance. Uh, so the bishop said, um, uh, we just wanna let every parish do what it's doing best, uh, in parishes that aren't doing it. While to heighten their awareness. Uh, now's an opportunity to, uh, to begin. It's as easy as getting a big box and putting it at the entrance of the church.
Um, and he said, our awareness is to say it's, it's not just the good times where we might remember how blessed we are, um, and what, and we want to share, but every day people need to eat. Um, so I just, uh, bring that to the council's attention. Um, I plan on, uh, on bringing a box in here. We'll have it by the door. Um, anybody that wants to bring anything over the course of the next several weeks, as winter comes in, I'll make sure it gets down to the food pantry here in Westfield. Uh, which is actually located, uh, at St. Mary's, uh, in the back of their, uh, parish offices.
That's where the food pantry is, uh, for that, that the Bishop was at today. But there are many across all the Western Massachusetts. There's a complete list of those, uh, online as well at the di Diocese of Springfield website. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else like to address the council? Go. Uh, I'm John Bowen, 38 Pine her Street. I will be brief. Um, I just want to come up and say I have a new appreciation for what it takes to campaign and get elected for city Council. And I want to thank you all for going through it. It's a lot of hard work. It's a lot
of time away from your family and I appreciate all of you taking the time to do it. I know that once you get elected, there's a whole nother list of things that you need to do. You have to show up at these meetings. You have to go to, uh, your committees, you have to be, uh, liaisons for other parts of the city. It's a lot of work and I don't think I've ever heard anyone say thank you to you guys. And, uh, thirdly and probably most important, I want to thank Rick Sullivan for his, uh, support of the city and all he's done for many, many years.
You know, the planning board has our, uh, wise man on the mountain, Rick or, uh, Phil McEwen. You guys have, Rick and I, uh, appreciate all you did. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else like to address the council? Seeing none communications from the mayor. Item one, councilor Fi. Thank you Mr. President. Motion to suspend the rules for media consideration. Second. Motion made it seconded. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Now under suspension Councilor Piggie. Thank you Mr. President. Requesting immediate considerations for a motion
to accept a grant in the amount of 3090 $8 from the Highland Valley Elder Services FY 26 28 Older American Act to the Council and Aging to fund certification of a master trainer of a program entitled Matter of Balance. Second Motion made it seconded. Further discussion Counselor? Yeah, this is a reason for meeting consideration that this is a time sensitive issue. Uh, this is a grant that had, has been worked on over a couple of years and that different funding mechanisms were looked at to try
to, uh, get this program, which is a scientifically based program on teaching someone to teach other people to train people about fault. Uh, the total amount, 3090 $8, uh, covers the cost. There is a local match of $516. The friends of the senior center are covering the $516. The other thing that's unique about this grant is that we've done it in cooperation with the Southwick Senior Center. So we will be training someone that will be able to train the Southwick folks as well.
And once that is done, the Southwick will be contributing towards the $516, uh, match. So considering all the facts and all this, there's a lot more in the share drive about this, uh, and the time sensitivity. Uh, I think we need to act on this. Thank you. Anything further from the council? Seeing none. Roll call. Madam City Clerk. Allie? Yes. Beltran? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Figy? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Morgan. Elliot. Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Thank you.
Get a motion to go back to regular Order. Motion to return to regular order. Second. Motion made it second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Now back in regular order. Item two, Councillor Figgy. Thank you. Please have Madam City Clerk eight items two, three, and four and refer to finance Second. Motion made and seconded. Madam City Clerk. Two transfers of transfers totaling $26,542 and 67 cents from various reserve for future salary accounts within the Department of Public Works to full-time salary accounts, longevity accounts, and stipend accounts to fulfill contract obligations
of the successor agreement ratified between the city of Westfield and the American Federation of State County and municipal employees. A-F-L-C-I-O. Count Council 93. Local 1676 for the period between July 1st, 2026 and June 30th, 2028. Three transfer at $46,250 from the fire department. Ambulance undesignated account for the fiscal year 26. Ambulance equipment vehicle account for the purchase of a new vehicle to replace a 2012 Ford Explorer that has reached the end of its serviceable life. And to equip the vehicle with an existing fire department. Radio four transfer of $68,000 from the Public Safety Communication Center,
full-time salary account to the construction account to cover costs associated with the SouthWare Communications Tower Project that exceeded the available grant funding. Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Now in the hands of finance Item five, councilor Oniskey. Thank you Mr. President, would you please ask Madam City Clerk to read item five and refer to l and o and law? Second. Motion made it seconded. Madam City Clerk Five. Submitting a resolution to accept a gift donation of an undisclosed amount from the estate of Joan Kennedy to the animal shelter. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye.
Opposed? None. Defense of l and o Item six. Councilor Osky. Thank you Mr. President. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of item six. Second. Second. Motion made it second. Any discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Now under suspension Council Osky. Thank you. Item six is submitting a resolution to accept a gift donation of a new five foot by eight foot American flag from Marsha Sanford to the Department of Public Works to be used at the department's discretion upon a city flagpole. Second motion made it seconded.
Further discussion, counselor? Uh, yes. Thank you. I'd like to thank Marsha Sanford for her donation of the flag and hope we can accept it tonight. Great. Any discussion from the council? See none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed petitions or mons and other papers? Item seven, councilor Matthews King. Read the resolution. Yeah. Can I motion to read the resolution by title, I'm sorry. Uh, resolution of the city of Westfield for acceptance of gift pursuant to MGL L 44 53 8 to the Department of Public Works. And also a motion to return to regular order.
Second. Motion made it seconded. All in favor? A. Opposed? Now back in regular order number seven. Uh, Excuse me, Mr. President, I just realized there was a re resolution attached to item number one. So is that covered by the vote we already took to approve? There is a I think so, yes. Okay. Item seven, councilor Matthews Kane. Thank You Mr. President. I'd like to make a motion for the city clerk to read item number seven and refer to license and legal Second. Motion. Made it seconded. Madam City, clerk Seven Westfield License Commission submitting a request
to city council to submit a home rule petition to the Senate and House of Representatives to convert a seasonal license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages into an annual license for Shiva Lacks me, Inc. DBA Pleasant Street Market 54 Pleasant Street, Jain Patel, president and treasurer of Shiva lacks me, Inc. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Now in the hands of license item eight, councilor Fanon. Thank you Mr. President. Our Let Beck Associates submitting a project status update for 81 Surface star Industrial Way. Motion to accept and place on file. Second. Second. Motion made it seconded.
Any further discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Reports of committees, legislative and ordinance. Item nine. Council Ky. Thank you Mr. President. On October 30th, l and O met and upon a three zero, uh, positive recommendation, uh, we voted for, uh, approval of eminent domain taking for the acceptance of Scenic Road. Second motion made it seconded for the discussion Counselor? Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. We've worked on acceptances of, uh, city roads early two ways.
This is the newer of the two. The, the first way we're working on it was by having every, uh, resident sign over with a deed from the center line of the road to their property line. In the cases where there's many houses, it's extremely difficult to get that done. There's, there's properties with, um, divorce cases. Husband hates the wife, wife hates the husband. They're not signing anything. Uh, it could be bank owned property. Um, so in the scenic road and,
and pheasant road, which we'll get to next, there were some, some items where it was difficult to get in touch with people or, uh, having the bank sign anything positive, negative. They're, they're just not signing anything. So this is another way of, of doing it. The city takes those center of the road properties to the property line by eminent domain, uh, scenic Grove, pheasant Road, uh, friendly, friendly takings. Uh, the majority of the people signed off the residence.
That is, uh, the owners of the property signed off on scenic and pheasant. So, uh, this is a way to do it. It also saves the city money by having fewer, uh, deed transfers. When we do a property, or let's say a hundred properties at 125 or $150 per d transfer, it starts working into a little bit of money. This allows us to do it in 1D transfer and, and save some money. So, uh, what we're going to do actually, is if this board so desires, we will,
um, have a public hearing. I'd like to schedule a public hearing on this. Okay. So what's your action tonight? Uh, well we'd like to get a vote here to go forward and if the vote is positive, then schedule a public hearing for December 4th and continue with this Process. Alright. This is, this is gonna be an order of taking anyway, so we're gonna at some point have to do two readings, Correct? Okay. Correct it, the way it's gonna work, uh, would be, we, we will have a public hearing. Uh, we could vote first reading that night and then advertise it again and vote for final passage
and then we'd have to vote on the layout order. Uh, again, two readings, so there's a little bit to it, but this is the start of it. Alright, So our motion right now is to schedule a public hearing, correct. Okay. And discuss it on the motion. Councillor Allie? Yeah, I just have a question. Why is it when these developments happened? Like the, the taking of the road wouldn't be triggered by like, you know, so many days after, let's say the completion of something and just be done at that time? I mean, we spent, like, I've been on this council for 12 years and we've taken hundreds
of roads. I think we, yeah, I, I can probably help you with that one. There. Now it's done. Where the right of way is all one deed. Everything's there. When the developer's done it's deeded to the city in one shot. They, they didn't do that for a number of years and that's why we have the issue, right? So this is what we gotta do. Any councilor fan? Thank you Mr. President. I'd like to thank the LNL committee for taking this, um, item and looking, um, into it. I have met with the city solicitor. We have talked about the eminent domain taking. I have also met with the residents of scenic and pheasant.
I've been working with them since a la two years ago in January to get their SRI accepted. And as already stated, getting those release deeds are very problematic. A lot of those deeds are in, in probate court, they just cannot get signed. So in discussions, this was another alternative is to go the eminent domain taking. I have also met with the residents of Scenic Conant Road this past summer, explaining this process to them that there could be an eminent domain taking and they were in favor of it. Um, so I feel it will be a friendly taking. I know that taking people's property is not something people
actually want to do, but I feel it will be a friendly taking. I do have a petition that people signed to speak in favor of it. And prior to the next, when the public hearing is scheduled, I will be sure to get that information out to the residents so that they can come and speak in favor so that everyone will know that we are taking it as a friendly taking. Thank you. Thank you Councilor Figgy. Thank you Mr. President. I'd like to say that this is following this with interest as there are several private ways in ward two that are wanting to become, um, public streets.
So, uh, it's interesting. I wanna thank Councillor Sullivan for coming up with the idea of the eminent domain to, as an alternative to the original process, which is so cumbersome as Councilor Fanon has said. So, uh, there will be at least four streets coming in from ward two. So I appreciate all the support for all these private ways. Anything further? This is a motion to schedule a public hearing Next available For December 4th is, which is the next available. Okay, December 4th.
Any more discussion? All in favor? A opposed? Item 10. Councilor Osky. Thank you Mr. President Ele O met on October 30th, and upon a three zero vote, uh, made it made a positive recommendation to move forward with the eminent domain taking for the acceptance of pheasant drive and scheduled public hearing for December 4th. Second. Motion made it seconded. Same situation. Council, Same, same thing. Okay, Mr. President, any discussion on this? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Now on for December 4th.
Item 11. Council ky. Thank you Mr. President. On October 30th, Ellen Omit and upon a three zero vote, voted for a positive recommendation for a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Council of Aging and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts for the brown bag. Food for Older Adults program. Second. Motion made it seconded for the discussion Council? Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, this is a program that the, um, food Bank of Western Massachusetts is really in charge of.
And the senior center will help implement this, um, applications for, uh, for food are gone through with the, uh, food bank Western Mass. They give about a hundred to 120, uh, bags of food a month. Shelf friendly food. The food comes in from the food bank, students will help with the bagging and in most cases, uh, everything is picked up for the, uh, for the bags at the senior center. We've been doing this and doing this,
however, there's been no, no real way of solidifying that we, we do it. So this resolution will, will help with that. Thank you. Any discussion on this item? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Would you like to read it, sir? Uh, yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I wish I had it right in front of me and I do somewhere. Hold On please. There you go. Uh, thank you. The resolution of the city council. The city of Westfield authorizing the mayor to execute documents relative to Brown bag food
for older adults program of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Thank you. Counselor. License committee Item 12. Councilman Matthews Kane. Thank You Mr. President. On October 27th, license committee met regarding the application for a gas storage license for the storage of 20,000 gallons, a ST of Jet, A Fuel to be located at 44 Airport Drive, submitted by Jim Bob Aviation Incorporated. And upon a two to one vote, we voted to approve the license and I move approval. Second. Second. Motion made it seconded. Further discussion council. So part of the meeting was just to summarize
what had been discussed at the public hearing. They'd like to install 20,000, um, Gallons of jet fuel. It's above ground. It's a double wall tank, and then a pump to transport the, um, jet fuel in and out. It's not to be used by the public, it'll be used by Jim, Bob only. They had gone through the planning board and received site plan review. Um, councilor Melo had asked about tertiary containment and they do have, it's a tank is set in the basin to catch potential spills. Um, but her question was about the chemical constituents of the fire extinguishers. And, um, they, they talked about what it is.
It's mostly sodium bicarbonate, which is, um, basically baking soda. Um, I asked them to submit the material safety data sheet, um, as they did not have it at the meeting, but they have sent it in and it is on council Sheriff. Anybody wants to look at it. Um, we also discussed the Mullens rule because a lot of counselors weren't there. Um, but we don't need to sign for the Mullens rule for this. And, um, I, I had asked Shanna for a legal opinion, um, about what we could discuss, and she said you could only get clarification of facts already presented. So I had a chart of all
because it, during the meeting it was discussed that other companies had fuel tanks and there was a chart of the companies and who the owner was and the location, um, the fuel type, the capacity. Um, we did not have a long discussion. Um, it was two to one. I was the one negative. Um, it was established that it was not over the water Aquifer protection district. And as to why the positive recommendation, um, counselor Allie was there. You can discuss your reasoning.
Yeah, I just felt like the, all the questions were, um, addressed. Um, uh, that was raised by various counselors and that sort of thing. So I mean, we were pretty much restricted to what was in the, the phone itself, or not the phone, but, um, and so there's only two, um, actually fire extinguishers one right at the site and then one just slightly away from it and that sort of thing. So, um, they're good size, but they're, they're portable and that sort of thing. And so that was really the only, uh, sticking point and that sort of thing. So Council Miller, Uh, thank you Mr.
President. I appreciate the committee getting the information. I appreciate the applicant bringing in the information about, um, the onsite chemicals and yeah, it is faking soda. Um, plus the little mixture of a couple other things. The problem is for me, and the reason I can't support it, um, is because even though it's not over the aquifer, the storm water from that location drains into very sensitive places that have already been very polluted and adding another opportunity for a fuel fire,
which if one actually happened in addition to the baking soda, um, what you would have is a response from barns because they're there and you'd get the foam truck if you had a fuel fire and, and it would be expelled. You know, it would, and, and because we have a base at our airport, even though the FAA says you can use fluorine free foams, now you can't because you can't use two different foams and the military hasn't switched over yet. So it's a FF and it's PFAS
and it will go into the stormwater system. And so I, I have nothing against the applicant. Everything they turned in is, and if this were nowhere near, you know, a sensitive spot or a place where we already have fuel, right? It's not like we don't have any fuel up there for planes to get. I didn't get some kind of report that says people are crossing, you know, runway traffic in order to fuel. And so this is a safety issue. And so since it isn't a safety issue, my, the way I have to measure it out is how much risk for
how much benefit to the city. And based on the information given to me, the benefit to the city is $40 the first year and $20 each additional year. But I can't do that. I, I can't say that. And, and if we had a fire at Barnes would respond with the phone and so I can't add another, I know there's some there, but I can't knowingly add more. And so I'm a no thank you. Any other discussion? Roll call Madam City Clerk. Allie? Yes, Yes. Burns No. Fanon? No gie? Yes. Harris?
Yes. Matthews. Kane? No. Mellow, no. Elli? Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Seven. Yes. Four. No Motion passes. Uh, zoning planning and development. Councilor Fanon. Item 13. Thank you Mr. President. Zoning planning and development met, met October 30th and we discussed the, um, zone change application for or to correct the map at Ridgeway. Ridgeway at vicinity. And the motion was to with a two zero motion to approve keeping the vicinity to residency.
Second motion made it seconded. Further discussion, counsel? Yes. Thank you. So in 19 86, 19 87, Ridgeway Avenue was listed as residency. And then in 1988 there was a map change in all. For some reason residency was changed at resident C one on the map and it was only on the map. It was never changed in an ordinance form. In 2000 it was realized that it was mislabeled, so they went back and changed everything from resident C one back to resident C. However, this Ridgeway Avenue vicinity was missed.
If you looked at the map closely, the one sits right on a line of the um, street, so it, you can't really see it. So it was, it was left there because they didn't even realize that it was a C one. And then in 2005 they were doing the digital mapping. JS was doing digital mapping and at that point they did realize that it was resident C one. Um, so now this, so it's always been residency. So what this is going to do is now just changed the map back to residency. We don't need an ordinance to do this because there was never an ordinance
to change it to see one. So it's just correcting the map to reflect what it always was and should be, which is residency. Any other questions from the council? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you. Item 14, councilor Fanon. Item 14 is, um, motion for um, a zoning P development on October 30th to discuss the zoning petition to amend and affirm the map at 2 65 Union Street as industrial. A second Motion made it seconded. Further discussion Council?
Okay, the motion from the committee. The motion from the committee was a negative, a negative recommendation to change it to industrial A. This property has always been listed. This property was residential and on the map it was changed to industrial a in error because there was another piece of property adjacent to it that was changed to industrial A in 1986. And that was changed in or through ordinance number 4 51. However, if you, if you read the description of that piece of property, it does not include 2 65.
So 2 65 was never industrial A. It has been listed as industrial a for several years. Um, but the committee discussed the fact that it actually is rural residential and we looked at the different, um, things that can be done in rural residential and in industrial a and because at this time there is a house on, on this piece of property as well as a farm, the committee felt that we should just keep it as um, the rural residential and give a neg negative recommendation to move forward with the zone change into industrial a
Counselor salt just through the chair. What did the owner think? It was zoned when he bought it? The owner never responded to any, um, any reply. Like he did not reply to any notifications that he received. So we did not get any response from the owner and that's why we did hold. We continued the public hearing so that we could get something from him, but he never replied. Council, thank you. Do you know who farms the land? I do not. Does anyone know who farms the council alley? Well I abstain, but yeah, I farm. I farm there. Oh,
You're Abstain. It's always been a farm. I mean that's one of the things that we've had to prove. Alright, thank you. It's either been hay or farmed Anything further. So I am gonna abstain this. Yes. In favor. Glad they managed to fix that mess. What's that? I'm Glad that they fixed it. 'cause basically we were gonna codify It. Are you abstaining? Yes. You can't ab you're abstaining. Alright, all those in favor? Wait, wait. Can we clarify? We clarify. Clarify. We told her she's gonna have to clear clarify the vote is, is the vote was negative. Correct. So this would be to not have it as industrial ag.
So a yes. So we vote yes, no is to agree with the committee, no yeses? Yes, yes, yes. Because it's a negative coming out. So yes. So a yes agrees with the committee, correct? Correct. No, wait, no. Yeah. Yes. The planning board, the, the application came in as, as an ordinance because they were petitioning to it for it to be changed to industrial A. So there is an ordinance on this one. So the motion is for the ordinance to change this piece of property to industrial A. So if you do not want industrial a,
if you do not want the ordinance to pass you, you vote no. Okay. We Yes, yes. That's okay. That's the Everybody good. Recommendation of the committee. The recommendation was to keep negative for industrially. So to keep it. But we vote on the motion is right? Yeah. So the motion is, is for a zone, an ordinance to change the zoning. Okay? Okay. And to further clarify, the committee voted no, correct? Right. Okay, thank you. Correct. And you're abstaining. Abstain. All in favor. This is a roll call. It's nobody Roll call. It's a roll call. It's a roll call. Madam City clerk. Beltran, No
Burns, no Fanon, no Viy, No Harris, no. Matthew. Cain? No. Meow, no Morgan alley. No Oniskey, no. Sullivan? Yes. Item 15. Council Fanon. Thank you Mr. President. Zoning plan development met on October 30th to discuss petition of the planning board to do regulate, uh, family daycare uses plus some miscellaneous text updates. Second Motion made it seconded. Further discussion counsel? Um, so the recommendation from the committee was, um, two to zero.
To give a positive recommendation to make these changes per, um, and this will need an ordinance change. The first part of this deals with the family daycares. Um, this, there was a change in the mass general laws that family daycares can be allowed, um, by right, and that cities and towns cannot regulate them. Therefore, we had to adjust the ordinances that take out all the requirements for special permits. So that was the first section of it. The second piece was some, um, miscellaneous edits and updates to various, um, pieces within
the zoning ordinance. Um, the first one was at section one point 30.8 and it was, um, uh, what was the question? It was, uh, it was deleting a special permit of any extension because this is dealing with, um, variances and not special permits. So therefore that wording is just being deleted. Um, section one point 40, um, paragraph three was additional requirements for notifications. And this was changing the word wording from Department
of Community Affairs to Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The master on the laws changed that title. Um, section 1.4, 40.4 was, um, taking out section seven dash 10.2 when replacing it with, um, 1.40 that was just a typing error within the ordinances. Section three dash 70.4 was special permit uses. Um, and this, these were changes that were made within
the, um, when, when we updated the A DU um, ordinance. These were included when we updated that. The, um, it was the two, was it This two family, uh, two family was not included in this and it does have to be included in it. Um, and these are all having to do with the ADUs. And the next section was, um, there was a section three dash 10.23 dash 23 dash 100. Um, these are dealing
with zones at our core business A and business B. And it was deleting the wording of alcohol production, um, with a tap room because it, it is already allowed in those districts. It would, it was in there and it made it business unfriendly because it looked like you had to have like a brewery with that. But a tap room is allowable already in those, in those, um, zones and it was a positive recommendation. So is this an ordinance change? Yes. This is an ordinance change. So
We're gonna do first reading by title only. Yes. Okay. Um, any discussion? See none. All in favor? A. Aye. Opposed? Would you read the by title only please? Counsel? Um, city of Westwell Density Council, um, November 6th, 2025 in ordinance amending the code of ordinances, city of Westville, the Pengu B zoning adapted September 3rd, 1997 relative to deregulating family care, family, daycare, homes, and miscellaneous updates. Great. Have motion for a second reading. Motion for a second. Reading at the next meeting. Second. Motion made it second. All favor? Aye. Opposed?
Now on for second reading. Unfinished business item 16, Councillor Sullivan. Thank you Mr. President. Uh, I would move for a second reading and final passage, uh, of an ordinance amendment to include alternates to the zoning board of appeals and the planning board to the list of board and commission members that shall receive equal to twice the established rate of pay. Second. Second. Motion made it seconded. Nothing further. Counsel, We discussed this last time, so there's nothing new. This does take effect as of January of 2025. So it's just correcting of basically a scribner's error.
Great. Anything further? Roll call. Madam City Clerk. Allie? Yes. Bill. Randy? Yes. Burns? Yes. Fanon? Yes. Fige? Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthews. Kane? Yes. Meow. Yes. Morgan Alley? Yes. Oniskey? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Motions. Orders of resolutions. Item 17. Councillor Figi. Thank you Mr. President. Motion by Council Fague to amend the ordinance. Chapter six, article two, superintendent of the building section two dash two seven. Appointment refer to l and o and legal second Motion made it seconding. Further discussion. Counsel?
Yes. As stated from the PAC, we were going to add the words to the, uh, ordinance that counsel approval to the, uh, position of, uh, building inspector, superintendent of buildings. Anything further? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Announcements. Council is Matthews King. Thank you Mr. President. Um, I have an announcement. So about six weeks ago I made an unexpected contribution to the ambulance fund. I broke my ankle, my foot, and my leg.
Um, I wanted to share that because that's the reason I have missed the past two council meetings. I've also decided I'm going to be a walking public service announcement for ladder safety. When you have a ladder and you put it down, you really wanna make sure it's on a flat surface with no soft spots. 'cause you could be up in the air and it can just start falling over on you. So be careful, Westfield. And the third thing. It was, it was very kind that the council sent me flowers. I'm very appreciative. I gave President Beltran your written thank you. But I wanted to also say thank you to all these. So thank You. Should take a look at it. They may.
Unfortunately we didn't have that fall program at the senior center before we did. So I think maybe you could be a walk in. I'm gonna sign up Representative eventually I'm gonna sign up eventually. Anything further? Councilor Morgan. Thank you Mr. President. Just, uh, remember to honor our veterans next Tuesday, uh, 10 30 in the morning, we've got the parade. And then, uh, 11 o'clock at Parker Memorial Park, uh, for the ceremony, unless it's moved inside. Coldest air of the season is coming in Monday night into Tuesday. So gusty wind is gonna be a wind chill. It's gonna feel like it's 25. So, uh, bundle up.
But please come out to support our veterans. Thank you. Election day. Anything further? Councillor Harris. Motion to Adjourn. Second. Motion made it second. And all in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? We are now adjourned. Thank you everyone. Now.