WESTFIELD – At Thursday night’s meeting, the Westfield City Council gave immediate and unanimous approval to two grants from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Department of Fire Services. A grant of $2,813, which was awarded to the Fire Department for the FY2018 Senior Awareness Fire Education (SAFE) program, and $5,407 awarded for the Student SAFE program.
At-Large City Councilor Dan Allie
In presenting the requests from Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, Finance Committee Chair Dan Allie said no matching funds were required from the city, and the grants have been awarded annually. Both were accepted unanimously.
Items acted on from committees included a transfer of $54,891 from Police Towing and Storage to purchase a 2018 Ford Edge for $30,535 for an unmarked detective vehicle, and a 2018 Transit connect van for $24,356 for Animal Control. At-Large Councilor Matthew Emmershy said the Finance sub-committee recommended the transfer on a 3-0 vote.
Emmershy said that in speaking with Captain Michael McCabe of the Westfield Police Department, he said both vehicles were over 100,000 miles, over 10 years old, and would be traded in. He also said the Animal Control vehicle was unsafe. The Council unanimously voted for the transfer.
Also approved unanimously from Finance was authorization for the Mayor to use the remaining appropriation of PEG funding of $1,800 for general operational PEG expenses.
City Councilor Cindy C. Harris
Personnel Action Committee Chair Harris reported on a recommendation for appointment of Eileen Rockwal to serve on the Council on Aging Board, replacing Barbara Sokolowski. Harris said Rockwal has a strong desire to give back to the community, and previously served on the Westfield State Alumni Council, the WSU Foundation, and the Interfaith Committee. Harris said she enjoys being with seniors, and COA Executive Director Tina Gorman believes she would bring a different and unique perspective to the board. At-Large Councilor Brent B. Bean, II said he served with Rockwal on several functions at WSU, and called her “very diligent,” adding that the COA would be better off with her on it.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy publicly thanked Barbara Sokolowski for nine years of service on the Council on Aging Board, before the Council voted unanimously to approve her replacement.
Also approved for the COA board was Kerry Ann Kielbasa, who will replace John Leary, Jr. Harris said Kielbasa has a passion for working with senior adults and previously served at the Granby Senior Center. Kielbasa was also a member of the Phase II building committee for the Westfield COA, where she was “phenomenal,” according to Gorham.
Figy, At-Large Councilor Dan Allie and Council President John Beltrandi also thanked John Leary for his years of service on many boards in the city, including on the School Committee, Conservation Commission and as a teacher for many years.
Also approved was Jeffrey Gosselin for the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities. Harris said Gosselin was especially suited for the Commission, due to his work experience in Human Resources and Special Education. Harris said Gosselin is employed as a teacher’s assistant working directly with students with disabilities, and was formerly a counselor and program supervisor at the Carson Center, where he trained other counselors on the Americans with Disabilities Act. Figy and Onyski said they were happy to see Gosselin continue to be involved, as he has done a wonderful job in the past.
