The council approved two separate grants for the Westfield Barnes Airport, both funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The first grant, amounting to $905,730, is designated for vegetation removal as part of compliance with rare species permitting. The city will contribute a $23,835 match, already included in the budget. The second grant, totaling $350,930, will support an aeronautical study to assess potential obstructions near the runway approaches, with a city match of $9,235. Both grants were unanimously approved.

Another focal point of the meeting was the special permit application from Westlake Royal Building Products Inc. for their lumber yard on Grief Way. The proposal includes plans for creating two new stormwater basins to manage runoff, accompanied by a concrete surface area designed to protect groundwater. The project is divided into two phases: the first will address stormwater controls and site improvements, while the second will pave the existing gravel yard. This development aims to bring the property, previously managed by Clear Lumber, into compliance with stormwater regulations.

Inquiries from the council during the discussion sought to clarify the impact of the proposed changes. The applicant confirmed that while the yard area would be upgraded, it would not expand beyond its current footprint, thus not increasing truck traffic significantly. The council’s queries also touched on stormwater permit feedback, with the applicant reporting no objections from Joe Hener, the assistant city engineer.

Concerns about lighting compliance arose, prompting the applicant to assure collaboration with the building owner to address any non-compliance issues. The public hearing portion of the meeting did not elicit questions or comments from the attendees.

In other business, the council discussed a motion related to lighting reports, which was referred back to the Zoning Planning and Development Committee after a unanimous vote to close the public hearing on the matter. Additionally, the council reviewed a proposal by William F. Reed and James C. Reed to convert land for residential use on Cabot Road. The council referred the proposal to the Law and Ordinance Committee and the Conservation Commission without requiring Planning Board involvement due to a pre-existing recommendation.

The council also processed several license applications, including a fortune teller license for Sacred Ember Healing Arts and a junk dealer’s license for Eco A-T-M-L-L-C. Both applications were forwarded to the license committee, with public hearings scheduled for further review.

A petition for street acceptance for Cardinal Lane, submitted by a councilor, was referred to relevant departments, including the Department of Public Works and the Planning Department. A similar petition for Maplewood Avenue followed the same referral process, showing the council’s systematic approach to street acceptance requests.

In financial matters, the council addressed the transfer of $50,056.51 from the reserve for future salary increases to clerical unit contracts. An amendment reduced the transfer amount to $31,193.71 to reflect the accurate due amount, which was unanimously approved after clarifying discussions.

The zoning planning and development session included addressing a zone change petition for a property on Tannery Road. The request was withdrawn without prejudice after a letter from the applicant, leading to unanimous acceptance of the withdrawal.

Lastly, the council discussed local sewer and septic system regulations, emphasizing the need for updated information and the importance of addressing infrastructure issues. The matter was referred to the Board of Health and the new DPW Director, underlining the council’s focus on addressing long-standing infrastructure concerns.