Home / Business and Economy / Westfield Council OKs $1.275M for Golf Course Flooding
Westfield Council OKs $1.275M for Golf Course Flooding
18 Jan
Summary
- City council approved a $1.275 million settlement for a stormwater lawsuit.
- Shaker Farms Country Club alleged city mismanagement of drainage system.
- New stormwater improvements will be built and then maintained by the city.
Westfield's City Council has voted 9-3 to settle a civil lawsuit for $1.275 million with Shaker Farms Country Club. The lawsuit, filed in December 2024, alleged the city failed to adequately manage its stormwater drainage system, leading to repeated flooding of the golf course's sixth green. Owners had repeatedly sought city action on the issue since at least 2013.
The settlement, approved by Mayor Michael McCabe, mandates that Shaker Farms will first construct new stormwater management improvements. Following their completion, the City of Westfield will assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance of this upgraded system. This agreement aims to comply with the Clean Water Act and resolve the unauthorized discharge claims.
The Shaker Farms Country Club, represented by attorney Donald P. Nagle, had contended that the city's misuse and neglect of a 1961 drainage easement resulted in excessive stormwater runoff onto their property. The resolution includes an agreement for judgment in Land Court, after which the federal Clean Water Act case will be dismissed.
