Letter to the Editor:
My name is John Beltrandi III, and I am a candidate for City Council at Large. Many of you know me from my previous service on the City Council as well as being the former Chairman of the License Commission. I am a 35 year resident of this community, and a small business owner here. During my previous terms as a Councilor, I worked to give a better understanding to my fellow Councilors with regard to projects that were in process and ones that were planned. My experience as a contractor provides an ability to explain the process and be involved in creative ways to utilize our resources. We are fortunate to have the ability to do some projects from within our Public Works Department and Water Resources Department at a dramatic savings to the City, and ultimately a savings to the taxpayers. This is something I encouraged in the past, and will continue to support. Recently the Water department installed a water main on Ponders Hollow Road, across Tannery. This work was done by this departments at a large savings compared to using an outside contractor. They are currently doing drainage work, and will be paving areas using City employees, again at a tremendous savings to the City. This creativity is one way we can better serve the community and save tax dollars that can be directed to other needs. I spent time with Dave Billups during my past Council service, and have discussed these issues with him as recently as this week. The point is that we can do better, and this is just one area where we are doing better.
My Council experience included Chairman of License, Chairman of Legislative and Ordinance, member of Finance, member of Natural Resources and Business Development. Each of these positions required attention to details with regard to City Government, Budget preparation, and direct contact with the business community. I have always worked with all the other members to achieve goals in a professional way.
Also as liaison to the Westfield Gas & Electric, I was able to get a unique insight into the workings of one of our greatest assets. We are fortunate to be able to have this resource. As many may remember, during the Tornado and severe winter weather, they provided the residents of this community with exceptional service and reliability. Currently they are working to expand internet capabilities and looking to the future for their customers. I would look forward to working with them again as a Councilor.
Everyone’s favorite topic is roads. As I have indicated before, the safety of our roads must be a priority. Continual maintenance is critical. Many have forgotten the conditions from last winter, but very soon we will face Mother Nature’s fury again, and we will have potholes. Our Public Works Department will be tasked with keeping up with this, and they must have the tools and resources to do their job. I want to be sure their funding is adequate to serve the City properly.
Our Police and Fire Departments do a tremendous job of protecting our residents and the community as a whole. We have some new equipment in both departments, and we need to continue to provide funding for state of the art safe equipment for the future of these departments.
I stand committed to seeing the new School built. Our kids need to be able to have the tools to move forward in an ever changing world. Technology changes every day, and without giving our students the newest available learning tools, they will fall behind other communities that have the latest available. Busing our kids to Russell is not what any parent wants to see. While that option was our best available, we have to have our kids in our own City. We are spending huge amounts of money that could be used for the education of our children.
On November 3rd you will have several choices to represent you as your voice on the Council. I have proven in the past that I have been able to bring opposing sides together to work toward a solution to problems to GET THINGS DONE! I don’t believe in dragging issues out for extended periods of time. Fiscal responsibility is a must and working with a new Mayor will be necessary to succeed. My attendance in the past was near perfect, a commitment to the job I was given by you the voters. I will maintain that same commitment again, and I am asking for your vote. To those who have supported me in the past, thank you. To those looking at the choices, please consider me on November 3rd.
Thank You
John J. Beltrandi III
