I hope that this finds everyone enjoying their summer. Even though the City Council is in recess until August 22, Ward 2 continues to be a busy place.
It is great to finally see the doors are off of the Gazebo. I made the Gazebo my first priority after being elected. It has taken lots of time, energy, and persistence to make to happen. I would like to thank Mr. Falcetti from the Technical academy and all of the students that worked on this project. It is a job well done. Thanks also go out to City Engineer, Mark Crisatti and to Facilities Director Brian Ferrette. They were both instrumental in getting this project over the finish line. It is my hope that the citizens of Westfield can appreciate all that has gone into this project.
I attended the concert on the Green last night. I was amazed at the size of the crowd that gathered to listen to some excellent County music. The over flow crowd really enjoyed themselves and there was little to no disruptive behavior on display. The food vendors were busy and everyone appeared to have a great time.
This past week as I drive by the green at night, I see lots of young adults walking about fixated on their cell phones. I realized that the Pokémon craze has arrived here in Westfield. It is great to see our youth outside and engaging in physical activity. I guess it goes to show that no one knows how the Green will be used. The fact is, the Green is being used.
As Chair of the Legislative and ordinance Committee, I should a great deal of responsibility for the progress that the council makes. Every ordinance and zoning issue must pass through this committee before reaching the full Council. We have several issues in committee presently and will be acting upon them this fall after our summer recess is over. The Committee will once again take up the issue of fire pits. As it currently stands, outdoor fire pits are considered to be open burning and therefore fall under the control of the state’s open burning regulations. These regulations are enforced by the local Fire Departments. It is the council’s objective to craft an ordinance that allows for fire pits under controlled circumstances and not violate the State regulations. The Law Department is working diligently of creating this ordinance and it is my hope to have this ready for September.
A shout out to the staff at the Westfield Senior Center on a job well done. The response to the Easy Pass Transponder give away was beyond anyone’s imagination. The staff at the senior Center did an outstanding job in making people feel welcome and helped them endure the one and a half hour wait. A shout out also is in order for the Westfield Police’s Traffic Bureau as they come forward to assist with traffic control.
I would like to encourage everyone to get involved volunteering for the Babe Ruth World Series. Christine Geotiz is doing a great job spearheading the recruitment of the volunteers. If you would like to volunteer please go to the Westfield Babe Ruth web page. As of this writing there are plenty of opportunities and a variety of things that you can do.
That’s about it for this edition of the Ward 2 update. Enjoy the summer weather and stay safe.
Ralph Figy
Ward2 City Council
