John J. Beltrandi III
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many citizens that have welcomed me back to the City Council after a three-year absence. I have now been present at three meetings, and I must say, this Council has some very talented people doing the work of the City. I have missed representing everyone, and I am glad to be back. I also thank the Westfield News for the opportunity to address the citizens of Westfield.
I would like to comment on a few items that I have been approached about from taxpayers. First the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. To be clear on my position, I am not opposed to the trail, or its completion. I, like many other residents have some difficulty with the cost involved in this project,but I also know that this has been in motion for many years, and as we have been told, the funds are in place, and the project is moving forward. It has been suggested by some, that the funds and the project should be re-directed or changed. This is not possible without jeopardizing the funding and the project. Changes to the plans, as we were told by the City Engineer, are not possible now. It’s easy to look back and second guess where we are, but the time for input has long passed. The project will create a positive for the City and the residents in many ways. The health benefits and the potential economic impact to the downtown and the entire City are far too great to de-rail any part of this.
Another area of constant discussion is our roads. As a contractor in the private sector, I deal with road construction continually. There has been some recent input from the public regarding repair of pot holes, and the suggestion that the materials used from asphalt vendors is inferior in Westfield. This asphalt that the City buys is the same that the surrounding communities use. It is produced to a Mass Highway Specification. The issue is, the structure of the roads and the sub base that exists, along with patching methods of roadways during construction, repair and installation of infrastructure. During my previous time on the Council, I worked with the DPW Director and with the Council to put in place a process for permits for street excavations, and proper compaction methods, to ensure that the roads were put back to an acceptable condition. The DPW now requires that all contractors be licensed and properly insured to work in the roadways, and to have a paper trail that follows each permit to assure that these road patches are done correctly, if not, the City can hold contractors responsible. Compaction is the most basic part, and most important part of trench restoration. If the compaction is not done correctly, you will see depressions in the roadway soon after the work is done. Some examples include, Union Street, Meadow Street, and many others. The DPW has acquired an infrared patching machine, that works wonders in road patching and pothole repair. This piece of equipment super heats the blacktop and blends the old with the new, creating a much better repair than traditional methods. The older roads will always be a challenge, but at a recent meeting,Mayor Sullivan indicated that he is committed to finding funds to both repair and reconstruct these roads moving forward. Currently there are many road projects in different stages of construction, for example,the Little River Road Route 187 project is in underway and will dramatically improve traffic flow and safety, the Gas Light project is nearing completion and work in Ward 4, Western Ave. will improve flow and upgrade infrastructure too. It is a challenge with the funds available to make everyone happy, but good work is being done to make improvements, both short term and long. The good news is, the asphalt plants are open for the 2017 season.
Finally, I am pleasantly surprised by the number of people that watch the Council meetings on television. I would like to comment on something I am asked frequently bysome that watch.They ask “why is there so much arguing among the Councilors during the meetings?” My answer to them is this,when I first became a City Councilor, I was fortunate enough to be able to learn from some of the veterans about how the process works. When you are on the Council you are assigned to Committees, and, also Chair some of them. Initially, when items are brought before the body, they are usually sent to the appropriate committee. A Sub Committee meeting is scheduled and posted as required. At these meetings, the public is invited, as well as the members of the Council. Discussion is welcomed and encouraged. During this time the goal is to consider input, look at rules and regulations, and ask for help if needed from various City departments to make the best decision possible for when we vote at the regular televised meeting. The reason for this, is to resolve any issues in committee beforehand and then bring items to the floor for an up or down vote in the chamber. My view is that far too much is being discussed at the televised meetings, and far too little at the committee meetings. A lot of arguing could be avoided if this process was followed as designed.
I will end with this, a very wise supporter reminded me “It is not what you say”, but “What you do that matters”
John Beltrandi
City Councilor at Large
