WESTFIELD – The City Council voted 11-2 on Thursday to adopt an energy reduction plan, the last step in making Westfield a “Green Community.” Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy, chair of the Legislative & Ordinance Committee which brought forward the plan, said it reflects the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption.
“This plan here is an attempt to reduce energy consumption in the city, which we have been doing right along. Now, we’re going to open up revenue streams,” Figy said.
At-large Councilor Daniel Knapik, state director of the Green Communities division, gave the example of street lights, which are presently being converted to LED lights.
“If you were to convert all lights to LEDS, the theory is the bill would be half of what you’re paying now,” Knapik said. He said the schools have also been generating savings by converting their HVAC systems to more energy efficient ones.
“I don’t see any negatives in adopting the policy,” said Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski.
Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr., one of two who voted against the plan along with At-large Councilor Dan Allie, said that the Council has to start looking at the return on its investments. He said if a project has a financial return in 5 to 10 years, great. If it’s more than 10, he said the technology will change in that time anyway. “Let’s not leave it open-ended,” Paul said.
The Complete Streets Initiative, another state proposal to encourage communities to plan pedestrian and bicycle ways in new construction, is being held in the L&O Committee for more discussion.
“Apparently, we can’t modify it,” said Ward 4 Councilor and L&O member Mary O’Connell about the 50 page initiative. O’Connell encouraged the council to read the initiative carefully, and come to the next L&O meeting on Nov. 28 to discuss it.
At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty asked if there is a condensed version with the main points listed.
“It was my understanding that we were going to make this an ordinance and not a policy,” said Onyski.
Figy said there is an ordinance that will be brought to the City Council for a vote, and contains the condensed version Flaherty requested.
Tina Gorman, executive director of the Council on Aging, spoke at the City Council meeting on a proposed smoking ban at the Senior Center. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Also sent back to the committee was consideration of a smoking ban for all city-owned, leased, operated and controlled properties. Currently, smoking is banned in all city buildings. The ban proposal has evolved from a request by the Westfield Council on Aging to ban smoking anywhere on the Senior Center premises.
Tina Gorman, executive director of the Council on Aging, spoke during public participation about the request. Gorman said smoke wafts into the building from the premises affecting staff. She also said that portable oxygen is being used by some visitors, and the evening before, a woman on oxygen had to exit through smoke. She added that the Senior Center has only one part-time custodian, who has to clean up the cigarettes on the premises.
“We heard Tina talk earlier about how important this is. I think it’s important that we support no smoking on all city properties,” O’Connell said during the discussion.
“We have the support of the Board of Health. This brings city properties on par with the schools,” Figy added.
“It’s a completely legal product. Until it’s banned, we should make accommodations,” said Knapik. He said particularly at the Senior Center, which the city built for seniors. He said he would hate to meet someone who used to go there, but stopped because of the ban.
O’Connell withdrew the motion at the meeting, because the agenda item had not been changed to reflect the enhanced ban. She said the matter would be discussed again at the L&O meeting on Nov. 28, and once again encouraged Councilors to come to the meeting.
