WESTFIELD – The Westfield City Council last night approved 9-3 the first reading of a $13 million bond request that addresses the city’s contaminated wells, improvements to the East Mountain water tank and a connection to the Springfield Water Works.
Councilors Matt Emmershy, Dave Flaherty and Andrew K. Surprise voted against the measure.
The council also approved a motion to extend the second reading to May 3 rather than the next meeting in April.
Figy suggested delaying the second reading as a compromise to allow more time for councilors to get answers to questions.
Flaherty said city experts, U.S.
Three of the four wells in that part of the city are offline due to contamination.
"They have worked with the city for months and their recommendation is to get Wells 7 and 8 up and running as fast as you can."
But Surprise said there hasn’t been a good flow of information from those experts.
Paul said the council needed to pass the bond measure and trust those "accountable and responsible" for the city’s daily operations.
Burns, who spent many years on the Westfield Water Commission, said, "You can’t just start drilling wells around Westfield" and agreed councilors must trust the plan presented.