In case you haven’t been able to tell by the heat and humidity, it’s summertime in Westfield! Our youth baseball and softball teams have been running through their competition, summer camps at Camp Shepard, the Boys & Girls Club, and Camp Togowauk are bustling, and I was happy to address a group of students and teachers from the Westfield High School summer program this Thursday morning. With the dust now settled on the June City budget season, I thought it would be a good time to share with you some updates on important projects and dispel some silly rumors that have been floated about the issues of the day as they always do near an election.
I’ve learned from my time in public office that the only responsible way to formulate an opinion on an issue is to ask questions, learn facts, and report back based on that research. I spend an inordinate amount of time dispelling rumors coming from coffee shops, the PulseLine, satirical websites, and anonymous online forums. Fortunately, when Mr. Berry and his team took over at the Westfield News, they began rebutting some of the misinformation or misinterpretations being expressed in the PulseLine. While I think these outlets are important places to foster debate on issues facing our City, it is increasingly important to distinguish between fact and opinion. That becomes a greater challenge all the time, and I offer this unvarnished account of the facts for your consideration.
And now, the topics of the day…
I had the opportunity this week to meet with the City’s consultants on the Western Avenue reconstruction project. In June, a public meeting at South Middle School attracted over 150 homeowners and residents of the area. Our consultant presented the project in great detail, and residents had an opportunity to voice their opinions and recommendations for modification. As we approach 25 percent design on this project, I anticipate holding at least one more public input session prior to submission to the Mass. Department of Transportation, who is the major funding source for this project. The City will be funding certain improvements to fix drainage problems that have plagued the neighborhood for years and it will provide us an opportunity to expand the sewer line beyond the University.
Most of the controversy raised at this public meeting focused on the installation of a multi-use trail on the west side of Western Avenue, encroachment of pavement closer to property lines, and on traffic generated by Westfield State University. I have instructed our consultant to re-work the plan to accommodate neighborhood concerns to the best of our ability. We want to continue to work with neighbors to make this project the best it can be, and we are committed to keeping you informed.
Misinformation circulated on this project has contributed to the controversy it has stirred. A recent column submitted by the Ward 4 Councilor, who represents a portion of the project area, guessed that the project would be “on the north side of 10 million dollars.” The fact is that the budget I have instructed our consultants to target is approximately $2.5 million of state money for non-utility improvements. Admittedly, that is about 2/3 of the amount needed to address an ambitious project that extends from Mill/Court Street to Bates Road. We are evaluating breaking the project into two distinct phases so that a second phase will be able to become eligible for MassDOT funding.
As many know, this project is not a new one. In fact, a designer was retained in 1998, fifteen years ago. My highest priority when I was elected four years ago was to “unstick” all the “stuck” projects that we had in the pipeline since the mid 1990s. The fact is that this project has languished for over a decade, and the condition of the road and volume of traffic has not gotten more manageable over that time. We need to make that road safe, and that is what this project is really about.
Last word for now on this project: Westfield State University, in conjunction with MassDOT, had abandoned their plan to create a connector from Route 20 to the campus. Several years ago, Senator Kennedy had secured $2 million to design and build this road. For many reasons, mostly for technical constructability and thus, cost, the project was scrapped, and Congressman Olver and Senator Kerry successfully transferred the funding to this Western Avenue project.
Next, a recent “letter to the editor” claimed that the City ran a $2 million to $3 million shortfall in Fiscal Year 2013, which ended on June 30. The author demanded the truth – not through a phone call or email or face-to-face, but through the newspaper. But here’s the truth anyway – the books are being closed for FY 2013 and we are anticipating a surplus, just like we have for the past four years. If the truth is what you’re looking for, do not hesitate to contact me, and we can all avoid the unproductive speculation.
Speaking of budgets, in June, the City Council approved the budget I submitted. That budget was the product of four months of work, and I had many difficult choices to make. With our departments, I made about $3 million in cuts. So, here is the long-and-short of it. The Council approved a budget that includes $117,649,938 in general fund expenditures. In order to make the budget balance, I anticipate requesting $384,571.70 from the City’s reserve account in the fall when the City Council sets the tax rate. The stabilization account balance is currently about $5.7 million, and as I referenced earlier, I expect another healthy free-cash certification from the Department of Revenue upon closing the FY 2013 books. The City has the resources to sustain this budget, and my goal is to make a net deposit to the stabilization fund when the books are settled in November.
And some quick hits on some of these “silly season” rumors:
1. Someone “heard” from “people in the know” that the renovation of City Hall will take a year to 18 months. While I’m sure it’s disappointing to those who are rooting for failure, but construction is progressing nicely and we still anticipate returning to City Hall this fall.
2. Last year we laid-off city employees because the budget was short $880,000- again, not true. In fact our free cash surplus was $2.75 million.
Facts are pesky things, but for those who thrive on negativity, it’s easier and more entertaining to spread rumor. But this is America, and we are all entitled to our own opinions but not to our own version of the facts. To end on another positive, please join us downtown for the Westfield Business Improvement District and Westfield on Weekends! SummerFest concert series. While our first show was rained out, Cassadee Pope, winner of NBC’s “The Voice” will be with us on July 25, and three additional shows will follow. Check out www.westfieldonweekends.com or www.thedistrictwestfield.com for details. As always, be sure to check the City’s website at www.cityofwestfield.org for our latest “Around the Whip City” newsletter. And lastly, check out my TV show, “It’s Your City,” on Channel 15 on Sundays at 4 p.m., Wednesdays at 8 p.m., and Thursdays at 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. This month, we’re focused on summer treats and the City Hall renovation project.
As always, if you have any questions, call me at 572-6201 or email at [email protected].
Respectfully;
Daniel Knapik, Mayor
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
