Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr.
WESTFIELD – Robert A. Paul, Sr., who is seeking to be re-elected as the Ward 5 City Councilor, said he has been a strong advocate for his ward on the council.
“My advocacy has been to strongly and with complete conviction represent the residents and taxpayers of Ward 5,” Paul said, adding that much has been accomplished.
Some of the achievements he points to are the zero tax increase in this year’s budget, “the first time in decades.” He added that as chair of the Finance sub-committee, he led a “clean up” of prior year billings, along with development of a capital plan and a budget that supports schools, fire, police, infrastructure, pensions and business development growth.
Paul said the Little River Fire Station expanded to allow 24/7 coverage for Ward 5. He also worked on the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail safety and crossings, which resulted in flashing light indicators at Shaker Road. He said he is a strong financial and voting supporter of the Rail Trail.
Paul also led the $20 million sewer bond program with the Mayor and his department leaders. The bond, which he said will pay for itself from sewer revenue, includes the Bigwood project area in Ward 5. He said $2.5 million was spent on installing sewers last year, and another $2.5 million will be spent this year for residents that have been promised sewers for the past 20 years. “When you put a sewer in, you get a new road with all the latest DOT standards, storm water control and new sidewalks,” Paul said, adding that when he started advocating for the project, he was told he would never get it.
Paul said he also drove the $15 million bond for Westfield Gas & Electric’s Whip City Fiber expansion across Ward 5 and throughout the city. Paul spoke about his partnership and relationship with WG&E, having formerly served on the Municipal Light Board before joining the City Council in 2014. He also fought this year for the integration of Whip City Fiber into municipal buildings through an intergovernmental agreement to bring internet services to the city.
“If you go into a community and see infrastructure, good roads, sewer, fiber,” Paul said that’s when you make the decision of where you want to live.
Paul said he is also a strong advocate of the schools, whose budget now includes technology upgrades. He said if re-elected, he will be looking to make improvements at Munger Hill in Ward 5, which he said needs additional investment in HVAC equipment and an internal and external facilities upgrade.
Paul, who grew up in Philadelphia and his wife Chris have been residents of Westfield for over 45 years, and all four of their sons were educated in Westfield schools, with three having now “graduated university and served their country.” His son Bob, who served in the Army, lives in Westfield with two of their six grandchildren, Bobby and Emily. His son Christopher served in the Air Force, and lives in New Mexico with his wife and two children, and Shawn, who served in the Army, lives in Montana with his wife and two children. His son Jonathan lives in Holyoke, and is a past Special Olympics star in swimming, track & field and basketball, he said.
Paul said the Westfield school’s services, education, support and inclusion “are the best.” He added that there is still more work to be done, and if re-elected, he will remain a “strong advocate on the City Council.”
