Town council votes down Bear Hole conservation restriction

March 11, 2020 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

WEST SPRINGFIELD – After weeks of discussion, study sessions and dozens of residents weighing in, the West Springfield City Council voted on March 4 against signing a preliminary conservation restriction (CR) for Bear Hole. The CR would have allowed Mass Audubon and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to prohibit development of 1,465 of woods and reservoir land in perpetuity.

Councilor Nathan Bech said that most of the people who are against the CR have a “distrust of the state,” but that he does not believe there are “negative motives” from any of the parties involved.

Councilor Edward Sullivan asked Mayor Will Reichelt if control of the land would change hands.

“All we’re selling, essentially, or giving away, is an easement to ever develop the property. So we still own it, we’re still responsible to maintain it,” Reichelt clarified.

Councilor George Kelly said, “Everybody on this council would like to see Bear Hole protected.” He added, “When we do this, we need to do it right.”

Councilor Michael Eger expressed hesitation that they would be dealing with two separate organizations, saying there were “more masters to serve.” He also said the restriction could be carried out better locally.

“All I’m looking to do is take the foot off the gas,” said Councilor Dan O’Brien who is an abutter of the Bear Hole property, and has voiced a concern at the speed with which the CR process was moving.

Council President Brian Griffin thanked the councilors, Mass Audubon and the DCR and said that he wants to work on a CR, but not on a rushed time table.

In the end, the restriction was voted down 5-4.

West Springfield High School students gave a presentation to the town council on the negative effects on the environment and human health of the chemicals found in styrofoam, styrene and benzene.

The students explained how the chemical styrene affects the central nervous system, causes depression, headache, fatigue and impacts kidney function. Benzene, they said, can cause leukemia, harm bone marrow and decrease red blood cells, leading to anemia.

They also discussed how the material is non biodegradable and non recyclable, but instead it breaks down into microplastics which can kill animals when eaten.

The students collected 1,204 signatures on petitions calling for the ban of styrofoam in West Springfield and proposed an ordinance to do so.

Kelly called it a good first step. Eger said that, “as long as we can make this fair for everyone, including the businesses that have to comply, I support this.”

O’Brien asked the students questions, such as what are the alternatives, the cost to businesses, and how many jobs would be affected.

In response, the students said that paper products are about $0.05 more expensive and that any jobs eliminated in the styrofoam industry could be picked up in the paper products industry.

Bech questioned if eliminating styrofoam would increase plastic use or if killing trees for increased paper use would replace “one environmental problem with another environmental problem.”

The ordinance will be taken up by the policy subcommittee on March 16.

The second presentation of the night was from Interim School Superintendent Tim Connor. He explained that the recently-passed Student Opportunity Act changes the way Chapter 70 state funding is allocated, putting an emphasis on districts with high percentages of special education and English language learners (ELL).

“West Springfield is one of 35 districts identified to receive the higher tiered allocation,” Connor informed the council.

Statistics from the 2018-2019 school year show that ELL students represent 42.3 percent of the student population in West Springfield. Students with disabilities represent 18.5 percent, while 56.6 percent of students are “high needs.”

The district is currently developing a three-year plan to address “persistent disparities in achievement,” a requisite to be eligible for the funding. The school committee voted on the plan at its March 10 meeting.                            

“We’re very fortunate to have the diversity that we have. It makes West Springfield strong. With that comes challenges – challenges on the economic side, challenges with language,” Connor said, adding that accountability standards are increasing even as students are facing more challenges.

“We’re back filling skill sets that for some kids, they may not have been in school for the first six years. We have folks that come to high school that may never have held a pencil before because they’re coming out of a refugee camp.”

West Springfield ranks number four in the top 100 U.S. cities for refugee resettlement according to recent data from American Public Media’s America Amplified project.

Griffin turned the focus to preparedness for the coronavirus.

Reichelt said he had a conference call with the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the town’s emergency management team.

“While the coronavirus, itself, is new to the world, the kind of pandemic that it causes be it through the flu, or SARS, or whatever has happened in the past,” Reichelt said. “The DPH and the CDC have all experienced [it], and they’re all ready for it.”

Reichelt said the recommendations from the DPH were to wash your hands, don’t touch your face, cough to a tissue and dispose of it, clean off your phone and stay home if you are sick. He said if a more serious response is needed, it will be put in place as the situation progresses.

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