WESTFIELD- Budget hearings continue this week as the Finance Sub-Committee of the City Council meets with department heads to review requests and look for potential revenue.
On Wednesday, June 22, Landfill will meet with the committee at 5 p.m. in Room 201 at 59 Court Street, a recent change to the schedule. Also meeting that evening will be the Building Department, Public Works, the Airport and Personnel.
On Thursday, June 23, Police will meet in the same room beginning at 5:30, followed by Fire, Ambulance, IT and Public Safety.
Last Thursday, prior to the City Council meeting, City Engineer Mark Cressotti met with Finance to review his budget. He said his focus it to make improvements to the City of Westfield which are authorized by the Boards and Commission.
“Understand, I can’t afford this whole list. We’re going to have to be selective,” Cressotti said about the list of projects in his budget proposal. He said one of the challenges this coming year is that the Mayor is trying to commit the entirety of Chapter 90 funds for pavement, while in the past, designers and others used Chapter 90 funds for their work on projects.
Among the projects slated for this year is an ongoing update to GIS through aerial photography for assessor’s maps. Cressotti said this is a three year process, which is costing $10,000 per year. The maps are a free service and available to the public online.
A $25,000 upgrade to the software that inventories all the streets and forecasts deterioration is also in the budget. Cressotti said he is looking for consultant services.
He said his department has also been asked to evaluate the need for traffic signals in two locations, including Little River Road which is slated for construction, and on Southampton Road.
Also in the budget is $40,000 to pay for maintenance of fountains. Cressotti said that will be handed off to Parks and Recreation in the future.
“Can we not do the fountain maintenance ourselves?” asked Finance Committee member Matthew T. VanHeynigen.
“I would hope so, but we’re not at that point yet,” Cressotti said.
Another $300,000 has been requested for Western Avenue work and design.
Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise asked how much had been put aside for the total project.
“We’re paying for the project as we go. No funds have been put aside,” Cressotti said. He also said that Western Avenue is a city road that they will be required to maintain, in response to another question from Surprise.
All of the active city projects are listed under Engineering on the city’s website.
