More than 50 residents packed the Lang Auditorium as candidates for Westfield City Council Ward 1 and 2 faced off during a candidate forum sponsored by The Westfield News and The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – Candidates for the Ward 1 and Ward 2 City Council seats squared off Monday night as they tried to define their positions during a public forum sponsored by the Westfield News and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce in Lang Auditorium of the Westfield Athenaeum.
The forums were attended by about 50 residents and were videotaped for rebroadcast on the public access channel.
The Ward 1 race pits a citizen activist against a three-term incumbent, while the Ward 2 seat is a contest between two candidates who are seeking election to a public office for the first time.
All of the candidates were asked to define the three most important issues related directly to their wards and to the city as a whole, although there were some crossover issues, such as traffic.
Ward 1 challenger Mary Ann Babinski stated that her primary focus would be to protect the environment, limit north side development to “green” businesses and to give Ward 1 residents a different voice on the City Council.
“I threw my hat into the ring this year to give Ward 1 residents a voice in city government,” Babinski said
Incumbent Christopher Keefe said that continuing to make infrastructure improvements, relieve both traffic congestion and “the constant pressure for development” in the ward as “issues that continue to plague the city.”
Babinski said she sees air, water and noise pollution as the biggest threat to the residents of the ward.
“I’m hoping, if elected, to work to bring in more green business to protect those resources,” Babinski said.
Keefe identified that ward residents, especially those on Prospect Hill, are exasperated by traffic congestion on North Elm Street, in particular at the intersection of Notre Dame Street.
Westfield City Council Ward 2 candidates Ralph J. Figy, left, and Carl Vincent prepare for a question and answer session during a candidate forum sponsored by The Westfield News and The Greater Chamber of Commerce at the Westfield Athenaeum Lang Auditorium last night. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Keefe said that there has been a $100 million investment into the Elm/North Elm streets corridor between the Massachusetts Turnpike and downtown.
The design to restructure the Notre Dame/North Elm Street traffic pattern, with associated drainage to deal with chronic flooding of that area has already been initiated and the Pochassic Street or Drug Store Hill bridge is slated to open early next year which will provide some relief to commuters and Prospect Hill residents.
“If we get those two issues resolved, it will make traveling across the city easier,” Keefe said.
Babinski, who has opposed many recent commercial projects because of environmental concerns, said she would like to see the City Council and government “pay more attention to the Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee opinions” about “siting of industry up there very near, if not on, the Barnes Aquifer.”
Keefe countered that the city has to “balance” environmental impacts of development with the need to continue to increase the commercial tax base, which lowers the need to increase residential tax rates, and to create new jobs.
“The best land for development in the city is in Ward 1 and Ward 6 because of the proximity to highways and in some cases, the airport,” Keefe said, adding that he opposed the zone change for the new industrial park off Turnpike Industrial Road, but when it appeared that the City Council would approve the zone change, added large buffers along the proposed industrial park boundaries to protect residents.
Keefe said a citywide priority is to continue investment in infrastructure and to continue to improve roads.
“It’s imperative that we have the revenue,” Keefe said. “The state has cut local aid by $4 million. We don’t want revenue, or city services, to be static. We need new growth.”
Babinski said residents have seen an increase in property taxes and that city government needs to take “a more common sense” approach to spending and bonding.
“The key thing is to get people involved, to feel that they are empowered,” Babinski said. “I don’t think that happens enough.”
The Ward 2 City Council race pits Ralph Figy, a retired teacher and counselor against Carl Vincent, a former U.S. Marine and a retired city firefighter. Both have a history of community services.
Candidate for Westfield City Council Ward 1 Mary Ann Babinski answers a question from the audience as Westfield City Council Ward 1 incumbent Christopher Keefe waits his turn during last night’s candidate forum sponsored by The Westfield News and The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. The forum was staged at the Lang Auditorium. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Figy identified three ward issues as construction of a senior center, improving education and to continue downtown development to bring in new businesses, increase the tax base and create jobs.
Vincent identified the senior center construction project, continuing development of the Columbia Greenway rail trail, and improving services, especially transportation, to the city’s growing population of senior citizens, as his priorities.
“There are more than 8,000 senior citizens in the city, that’s more seniors living here than we have students in our schools,” Vincent said. “Most of the senior housing is in Ward 2.”
Figy said that while he does not believe that Cross Street is the ideal site for the proposed Ashley Street elementary school project, the city has to work with residents if the project moves forward.
“Focus on the neighborhood to mitigate the impact,” Figy said. “If this school will have if it comes to fruition it will create some traffic problems, some aesthetic issues. I am a strong supporter of education but I don’t know if the Ashley Street project is the right one.”
Vincent said that during his walking campaign across the ward, resident have identified taxes and the increase in the cost of living as their main concerns.
“We have to be good stewards of the city’s finances and assets,” Vincent said. “We have to maintain what we have, a quality of life.”
Figy said that the city needs to maintain the current level of services, especially emergency response services which provide residents with security and that the city’s school district “is on the way up.
“I don’t want to see us going backward,” Figy said.
To watch the forums click here.
