This has been The Winter of Cold and Snow. To date, temperatures have averaged in the mid-teens over the last month and close to four feet of snow has fallen in Westfield. The snow has wreaked havoc on the snow removal budget to date topping off at close to $1 million so far with another four weeks of winter to go. The breakdown is $560,000 for hired plows, $46,000 in overtime, $45,000 for sand and $274,000 for salt. These figures do not include the regular salaries of the public works employees.
Our city is blessed to have volunteers that fill in the gaps of services provided by our government and willingly serve our community through their time on the playing fields, in the schools, and in other venues. There is a group that also volunteers to serve on city boards and commissions and for this we are fortunate. I am concerned by the openings on many of our boards and commission. Vacancies total well over fifty positions including a number of critical ones. It is difficult to comprehend why the Mayor has not filled these spots. He has said publicly that he has difficulty finding volunteers to appoint but I know of many folks who have submitted their names only to be overlooked.
The actual gender makeup of some of the more powerful boards is one of concern. For example, the Fire Commission, the Police Commission, the Flood Control Commission, also the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Water Commission, and the Board of Public Works are all 100 percent filled by men. In a city where the gender breakdown is 48 percent men and 52 perceng women, this does not reflect the gender makeup of our community. Gender equality describes the situation where man and women experience the same rights and opportunities in all areas of society, including portions with decision-making authority. Currently we suffer from gender inequality in our city. Perhaps our next mayor will rectify this imbalance.
There is one rather important board, the Conservation Commission, that does by current city ordinance require that at least one woman serve on its panel. In my opinion we are lucky to have this requirement. In a perfect world we would not need any protection for gender representation but when we have an appointing authority that does not place importance on the appointment of women in powerful positions it is a relief to have this safeguard. You may have read in the Westfield News this week that the Council intends to remove this requirement. I really hate to see articles in the paper that predict with certainty the outcome of a council vote. It diminishes our role in the process and it puzzles me as to why the press would print such an article. I would suggest that you watch this issue. It comes up for a vote at our Monday meeting.
One of the most important ordinance changes before the city in a long time is the pending change to the Water Protection Overlay District. This proposed ordinance change is the result of years of work and a step towards protecting one of the city’s most valuable resources: our water supply. The changes proposed are not perfect. They are a compromise. I can only hope that the Council will thoughtfully weigh the proposed changes to the ordinance and, with the future of Westfield residents in mind, move to both protect our water resources and allow beneficial, planned development over our aquifer. The first reading of this matter is scheduled for our Monday, February 23, meeting. I expect that some councilors will vote to amend some portions of the ordinance and I am hopeful that a version will be passed through to second reading.
Please remember to shovel out nearby fire hydrants and take care in this cold weather.
Mary O’Connell
Westfield City Council
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
