MATT VANHEYNIGAN
WESTFIELD – Matthew T. VanHeynigen is seeking a third term as At-Large City Councilor. He is chair of the Government Relations committee, a member of the Finance sub-committee, and City Council liaison to the Police Department.
VanHeynigen said he is most proud of being a part of the Finance Committee over the last two years and working with Mayor Brian P. Sullivan to address much needed efficiencies in the budget. Specifically, he pointed to recent efforts to close out bonds that had unused funds remaining in them. He also talked about the committee’s work to address efficiencies in the Information Technology area, saying the city was about ready to enter a contract with COMCAST until the Finance Committee looked at it more closely, and worked out an Intermunicipal Agreement with Westfield Gas & Electric to provide internet to the city.
Other achievements he listed have been in infrastructure improvements, long-awaited sewer work and bonding, and helping to make that possible. “My proudest accomplishment is being a part of the Finance Committee work with Bob Paul, chair,” he said.
He also said that just a few years ago, the City Council would get requests well into the fiscal year to pay prior year’s bills, adding that the mayor has had a sympathetic ear to this issue. “Look at how far we’ve come in the past couple of years,” he said, adding that this work resulted in the city being in a position to use Free Cash to make taxes a 0% increase last year.
VanHeynigen said his goals for the next term would be “to continue on this trajectory. Look for efficiencies with the Mayor and Finance Chair, to do things better, cheaper, more efficiently.” His other priorities would be road and stormwater improvements, and to look for bonding for larger items to be repaid by stormwater fees. “I want to continue the progress we’ve made on infrastructure work, and the cost savings,” he said. He also plans to work with Paul on improvements to Paper Mill Road.
A native of Westfield, “born and raised here,” VanHeynigen said he moved away for 12 years, living in Rhode Island, Boston, Virginia, and the Adirondacks. He said he chose to move back and get married to Melissa Gavel. He said they “went to high school together, met again 11 years later and hit it off.”
“Being back in Westfield opened by eyes to how great a community this is,” he said.
VanHeynigen worked and studied at Westfield State University for four years, receiving his master’s in public administration in 2008. For the past nine years, he has worked at Western New England University as Director of Grants, working altogether 13 years in higher education. He said his current job centers around financial accountability. Melissa has taught in the Westfield Public Schools for sixteen years. She is an art teacher at Paper Mill elementary four days a week, and at Abner Gibbs one day a week. They have two children in public schools; one in pre-school and one in elementary school.
“If we don’t maintain the strength of our school system, it’s at our own peril, at the risk of (losing) residents and businesses that provide the tax base,” VanHeynigen said.
VanHeynigen said he is the youngest of four in his family, two of whom live in Westfield, and one in Chester. (He is also the uncle of Gateway senior and soccer star Jessica VanHeynigen, who recently scored her 100th point). His parents also still live in Westfield.
VanHeynigen said his ultimate goal as a city councilor is “doing better for the taxpayers by finding better ways to utilize their tax dollars, making tax dollars go farther.”
