Robert Paul, Sr. (center) came to the City Council meeting dressed for St. Patrick’s Day, here with councilors Dave Flaherty and Mary Ann Babinski. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The liveliest discussion at Thursday’s City Council session concerned a motion originally made by At-large City Councilor David Flaherty that the City Charter be changed to extend the terms of Mayor and City Councilors to four years.
Ward 2 City Councilor Ralph Figy said the Legislative & Ordinance (L&O) Committee had held two meetings on the matter.
“What we have here is a home rule petition,” Figy said.
He said Rep. John Velis and Sen. Don Humason have agreed to take the petition to the Legislature, allowing a change to the City Charter.
During the discussion, Al-large City Councilor Cindy Harris said while she was initially against the change, a new law that may allow campaign signage from April to November has swayed her.
“Every four years cuts down on sign pollution,” she said, adding that she would support the change “begrudgingly.”
Flaherty said he was surprised the motion came to the floor at the meeting.
“I thought you were going to send this to the Charter & Rules Committee,” he said.
Figy said the L&O Committee had discussed that action, but didn’t want to go forward until a vote was taken by the City Council.
Ward 5 City Councilor Robert Paul, Sr. asked if there had been a discussion about how many times a person could be elected. Figy said that was a totally separate discussion.
Ward 4 City Councilor Mary L. O’Connell, who serves on the L&O Committee, said there had been a discussion around taking some other action, including sending the motion to the Charter & Rules Committee. She said if the councilors are not comfortable with home rule, the motion could also be folded into a petition, or into a review of the charter, which would take longer.
“I will support this,” said At-large City Councilor Matthew T. VanHeynigen. “Constituents say we should be spending more of our time governing.”
At-large City Councilor Steven Dondley commented that he was strongly in favor of extending the mayor’s term to four years, but not the city councilors.
Figy said if the home rule petition went to the House and Senate in a timely fashion, it could go into effect at the next election.
Ward 3 City Councilor Andrew Surprise said he would be in favor of the motion if the elections were staggered, adding that at least half of the City Council should be up for re-election every couple of years.
“I would like voter input on this,” At-large City Councilor Dan Allie said. “You want some part of your government to be responsive.”
Allie said that passing a home rule petition is not being responsive.
Flaherty said it only takes one meeting to send the matter forward, and the council could only vote on it once. He suggested sending the motion to Charter & Rules, or back into L&O.
Council President Brent B. Bean II commented that the matter had already been in a sub-committee meeting, which the councilors could have attended.
“I represent Ward 5. I don’t know the will of Ward 5,” said Paul. “I believe it’s a significant decision. We have to ask the will of the people.”
He said he would like to get voter input on the matter, and spend money to do so if necessary.
Figy made a motion to send it back to the L&O committee, and urged Councilors to come to a meeting.
“I would like to see a non-binding ballot initiative in November,” Allie said.
“This has been in committee for two years,” Flaherty said, and encouraged committee chairs to make it clear on their agendas what would be actively discussed in meetings.
“I’d be happy to come and talk to the committee,” he said.
The motion passed to send the matter back to the Legislative & Ordinance Committee, to be discussed at its next meeting on March 29 at 6 p.m. in City Hall.
