Westfield City Clerk Karen Fanion (l) administers the oath of office to John Beltrandi III (r) in City Council Chambers. (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD–John Beltrandi, III, was officially sworn into the city council Friday morning, providing the council with an experienced replacement for former at-large councilor Dan Knapik.
Beltrandi is stepping into the position of at-large city councilor, after Knapik left due to an employment agreement with the town of Yarmouth. Knapik took the position of Yarmouth’s town administrator. Now, Beltrandi is coming back into the position that he served in previously, which creates a seamless transition for city council.
“I think we got lucky on this one,” council president Brent Bean, II, said. “[Beltrandi] is a former city councilor so he can hit the ground running. We don’t have to explain the inner workings and we don’t have to worry.”
Newly sworn in At Large City Councilor John Beltrandi III (second from right) is joined by Mayor Brian Sullivan (l), City Clerk Karen Fanion and Council President Brent Bean (r). (WNG file photo)
Beltrandi had previously served in the position of at-large city councilor from 2008 to 2011. He lost his re-election bid in the 2011 election, then attempted to run again in 2015 but lost out to now-fellow at-large councilor Steve Dondley by three votes, following a recount.
In addition to being at-large councilor, Beltrandi is also expected to step into the roles left behind by Knapik, namely the position of chairperson of the license committee for the council. This was a position that Beltrandi also previously served in.
“I’m excited to getting back into city council,” Beltrandi said. “I’m going to work for the taxpayers and the voters.”
Beltrandi said that his goals are to focus on the city’s infrastructure, especially roads, which Knapik also focused on, and to build on the good relationship he had previously with the Westfield Department of Public Works. These meld well with Beltrandi’s full-time business experience, operating the Belco Construction Company.
“It’s a pleasure to have Beltrandi back on city council,” Mayor Brian Sullivan said. “It doesn’t happen too often to have a veteran like him back. He has a respectable knowledge of the city, especially with construction and infrastructure.”
Beltrandi added that he intends to run for the position again, when city elections arrive in November.
