At-Large City Councilor and City Council President John J. Beltrandi, III.
WESTFIELD – A bond order for $1 million for the rehabilitation and construction of municipal outdoor recreational and athletic fields to include basketball courts, pickle ball courts and an all-access playground will be presented to the City Council for the first time at Thursday’s meeting.
“This is the first time we’ve seen this,” said City Council President John J. Beltrandi, III. “Everybody wants everything fixed. They want the parks fixed, they want Cross St. fixed. Pickle ball courts are a real thing. We need money,” he added. Beltrandi said the bond will be referred to the Finance and Legislative and Ordinance committees.
Community Development Director Peter J. Miller will also give a report on the status of the all-abilities playground, as requested on a motion by Councilor David Flaherty at the Sept. 6 meeting.
A continued public hearing will be held on a Special Permit/Site Plan and Stormwater Permit for a proposed truck terminal for Old Dominion Freight Line to be located at Medeiros Way, which is zoned Business B.
The site is for 21 tractor and 124 trailer spaces, with 26 anticipated truck trips per day, according to the presentation at the Sept. 6 City Council hearing. The hearing was continued due to questions about lighting, expansion and noise, and to await the comments from the city engineer.
“I anticipate if there are any questions, they will be answered,” Beltrandi said. He said they received the engineer’s report, which contained some requests for modifications that are in process. The Special Permit request is currently in Zoning, Planning and Development, where they held a meeting last week to discuss the process moving forward.
In reports from committees, the Finance Committee will report on a motion from Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise to investigate procedures to join the state’s Municipal Open Checkbook System.
The Legislative & Ordinance Committee will bring forward a 3% local excise tax, the maximum allowed by the state, on the retail sale of marijuana; as well as an amended general ordinance on marijuana regulations in the city. The committee voted to amend the ordinance to add the limitation not to exceed four licenses in Westfield.
L&O will also bring forward nine other recommendations to the City Council on Thursday that were approved by the committee at the meeting on Sept. 12.
The Personnel Action Committee will submit the reappointment of Bryan Forrette as Director of Facilities for a term to expire in May, 2021; and the reappointment of Rene Laviolette as a Republican member of the Board of Registrars until February, 2021.
The City Properties Committee will report on a motion by former Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell to rename the Highland Sanctuary behind Highland Elementary School in honor of former Councilor Barbara Swords. Prior to the City Council meeting, a public hearing on the matter will be held by the City Properties Committee at 5 p.m. Thursday in Room 201 in City Hall.
Immediately prior to the City Council meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, a joint meeting of the Municipal Light Board and the City Council to define the process and procedure to fill the vacancy of the Ward 5 member on the Municipal Light Board, due to the resignation of Thomas Flaherty in August.
Beltrandi said the purpose of the joint meeting on Thursday will be to discuss what the process will be for the Ward 5 replacement on the board. He said following the meeting, a joint meeting to review applications for the position will be held between the MLB personnel commmittee and the City Council PAC. Beltrandi said the final vote on a candidate will also take place at a joint City Council and MLB meeting.
