Ward 2 Councilor and City Council President Ralph J. Figy (WNG File Photo)
WESTFIELD – Featured on the agenda for the regular City Council meeting on Thursday, March 7 will be a presentation by City Engineer Mark Cressotti on the city’s pavement management plan. Council President Ralph J. Figy said the PowerPoint presentation would take about 20 minutes.
The City Council will also vote on a resolution to allow the Mayor to sign a Host Community Agreement with HEKA, Inc., at 89 T.M. Sgt. Dion Way for an adult use marijuana establishment, which was tabled at the meeting on Feb. 25. Figy said tabling the motion at the last meeting gave the Councilors additional time to study the agreement.
Items under Communications from the Mayor include acceptance of a grant of $396,000 from the Dam Repair or Removal program of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to the Department of Public Works, for the removal of the Tekoa Reservoir Dam.
Figy said the grant acceptance, along with a grant of $1,400 from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to the Westfield Emergency Management Dept., and a transfer of $1,500 within the Police Dept., and one of $46,535 within the Airport Dept. would likely be referred to the Finance sub-committee.
Other items from the Mayor’s office to be referred to sub-committees include an ordinance amendment regarding consumption of alcohol in public places, open container; and orders and funding for easements of the Springfield Road Traffic Signal project.
Also from the Mayor is the reappointment of Cynthia Bronson for the Historical Commission, and permission to serve beer and wine for the Westfield 5K Kooldown Block Party on May 18.
Assistant City Solicitor Shanna Reed has submitted a list of traffic ordinance amendments from Police Chief John A. Camerota from the Traffic Commission, which include reducing the speed in the central downtown Elm St. business district to 25 mph.
The School Committee has submitted a recommendation to have all coaches, referees and mentors deemed Special Municipal Employees under the city’s Conflict of Interest statute. Figy said the request is in order to speed up the process for approval of these positions.
Reports from committees will include the recommendations from the Finance committee on appropriating $115,000 from Free Cash for pickleball courts at the Municipal Playground; and reallocating the remaining funds in Bond Order #2455 for the same purpose. The Finance committee will meet prior to the City Council in Chambers at 6 p.m. to make their recommendations.
The License committee will report on the status of the GG’s United Transmission, 247 Elm St., Taxi License.
The Zoning, Planning and Development committee will give their recommendations for a zone change at 14 Coleman Ave. from Business B to Industrial A, submitted by Kimberly Betts.
Finally, there is a motion by Councilors Bean, Figy and Flaherty for immediate consideration of a resolution related to the All-Abilities Playground project. Figy said considering the push for pickleball courts, the City Council wants to make the playground a priority, and is asking for the resolution as a statement.
“I’m impressed with the hard work and diligence that continues to be done in the committees,” Figy said.
