WESTFIELD – Finance Committee Chair Ralph J. Figy asked the City Council on June 2 for immediate consideration to transfer $20,000 within the Department of Public Works (DPW), Water Division for emergency water repair.

“They’re hoping the $20,000 will be reimbursed, and are preparing for federal money coming from Congress,” Figy said, before the motion passed.

The Finance Committee also recommended a transfer of $30,000 within the DPW from severance to the purchase of services account to fund the design and bidding services for the station.

Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, who serves on the Finance Committee, explained that CDM Smith had identified the Big Stuart Pump Station as needing work.  

“Now that the city is anticipating federal funding from the CARES Act, the DPW has expedited the design They anticipate the severance money will be reimbursed when CARES act funds come in,” said Matthews-Kane, before passage of the funding. 

Also in front of the council for immediate consideration was a transfer of $841,768 from free cash to the DPW snow and ice accounts, a portion of which was for the temporary hourly employee account, overtime, purchase of services and supplies. Figy said the transfer from free cash is an annual ritual because the state recommends deficit spending on the snow and ice accounts. In response to a question, Figy said the supplies portion is for salt and sand to keep the roads safe.

“This is a common practice done every year that is required in the state,” said At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty.

At-large Councilor Richard K. Sullivan Jr. asked the council for acceptance of a time-sensitive grant of $176,200 from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division for an Avgas self-service facility at Westfield Barnes Airport. The grant requires a city match of $35,240 from Free Cash.

Sullivan said the grant must be spent by the end of June, and asked airport manager Christopher Willenborg to describe the project. Willenborg said the grant would be for engineering design and permit services only, but that he is hopeful the airport would be coming back before the council for a construction grant as well.

Willenborg said Avgas is like a gas station where a pilot is able to fuel his own aircraft. He said the gas and staffing for the mobile refueler which currently drives between hangars is getting more expensive. The Avgas station would be a permanent stationary facility, located in between Hangars 2 and 3. He said customers will still be able to use the mobile gas service, but they would be paying more. The Avgas self-service would cost 50 to 75 cents less per gallon. 

Sullivan congratulated Willenborg and the Airport Commission for getting the end-of-year grant.  He said having a properly engineered and designed station would cut down on mobile delivery and be environmentally much safer. 

The council also approved a resolution from the Legislative and Ordinance Committee (L&O) for lease of airport property over a term of 20 years for the development of three aircraft hangars.

L&O Chair William Onyski said the resolution is needed any time an airport lease goes over 20 years. He said in this case, the lease is for 20 years but with two 10-year options to review. 

Onyski said the Airport Commission had approved the proposal from Exit 3 Aviation to lease 2.135 acres with the intention to put up three hangars, two corporate style hangars for business jets, and a smaller 6,000-foot hangar. The lease is for $29,000 per year, with the price to be looked at and adjusted every three years.

Onyski said the hangars will be connected to the Alpha One taxiway, and the company will build its own ramp. All building plans will go through the planning board for review.

Flaherty asked how much the 2.135 acres is worth, and whether the land and buildings would be taxable. Onyski said the land value is based on a 29 cent per square foot appraisal of airport land. He said the $3 to $4 million investment by the company would be taxable.

Mello asked whether the Law Department has reviewed the lease with respect to liability insurance, drainage, discharge, fire suppression and owner vs. tenant or operator liability. She said they need to “make sure they do not damage the brand new very expensive filters” that are close by. “Until we have a plan moving forward on how to develop and protect, I’m a no,” Mello said, adding to Willenborg, “It’s nothing personal. I think you do a great job.”

Onyski said the law department had gone through the 16-page lease, which Mello said was not specific about water contamination. Onyski said that would be done at the Planning Board stage when they’re approving the buildings, that the council was voting on a land lease.

Willenborg said there are code requirements from environmental and stormwater agencies, as well as fire codes, which have to be met, and in the lease is broad language that the tenant has to meet all the requirements, whether environmental or aeronautical.

Later in the meeting, under new motions, At-large Councilor Dan Allie said he would like to discuss community gardens on city-owned land, and refer it to the city properties subcommittee. He said he would like to investigate using land that had been vacated near the airport for noise mitigation as being one of those options for community gardens.

Onyski said the noise mitigation team the city has contracted are considering potential uses for the property. “You can’t just build a house there; this is going to be the tip of the iceberg. Community gardens are one of the items that have been brought up. It’s good to see we’re taking a look at it, also,” he said.