WESTFIELD—During this week’s city council meeting, a packed agenda is gearing up city council and residents for the upcoming election season.
The Westfield City Council meets Thursday, Aug. 24, in city council chambers at 7 p.m., with communications from Mayor Brian Sullivan beginning at 6:30 p.m. The agenda includes a potential start to a medical services district in the city and a potential increase in real estate tax deferment for senior residents, among other items. Westifeld at-large city councilor and council president Brent Bean spoke on the topics for the upcoming meeting.
In, “Communications from the Mayor,” there are a number of items the city council is being asked to act upon, including accepting a grant for the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program from Westfield Police, a submission to amend a bond to permit the spending of funds for a Springfield Road traffic light and roadway improvement, a request to allow certain bond orders to be rescinded from the treasurer’s department, and several items related to personnel within the city, among other items within the communications.
The council is also expected to discuss and act upon two properties that the city has first right of refusal on, which are on Furrowtown Road and Montgomery Road. The properties are unrelated but have similar potential uses, according to Bean, which includes residential construction on each.
From Jay Vinskey, city planner, it is suggested that the city purchase the Furrowtown Road property, while Montgomery Road is suggested that the city not act upon it. Bean said that if the city council determines that they want the city to have the land, then the city would pay market value.
From ward 2 councilor Ralph Figy, a petition was submitted for a zone change on a number of properties on West Silver Street and Court Street from Residence A to Medical Services district. According to Bean, the proposal would not have significant change for the city initially, but could potentially allow the area to become a medical services district where Baystate Noble Hospital is located, and could also open the area to grants.
“In the end, it’s to be able to tell the city, tell the area, that this is where our hospital is,” Bean said. It’s more of that overall big picture, shows the importance of the hospital in Westfield.”
Within reports from committees, three items are coming from city council’s committees for discussion and possible vote. The first is a heavy truck exclusion on Paper Mill Road, which came from the traffic commission. If this is voted in favor of, then several steps still must take place, according to Bean.
“There’s a lot of regulations that follow,” Bean said. “We would have to go through the checklist.”
There is also a motion, originally set forth by at-large councilor Dave Flaherty, which requested a new city rule, or ordinance, regarding receiving legal opinion from the law department in the city. According to Bean, the potential rule would be an effort to potentially minimize workload of the law department.
Finally in reports from committees, at-large councilor Dan Allie put forth a motion to request that the area previously used as a temporary bus stop on Elm Street during the Arnold Street bus pavilion construction be made into parking spaces. According to previous reports however, this area has been made into parking.
In “Unfinished Business,” the city council has three items related to public hearings for developments in the city. One, a proposed Dunkin’ Donuts at Main Street and Taylor Avenue, is expected to continue and be discussed during the meeting.
“They’re looking to expand that area and put in a drive-thru,” Bean said. “We’re going to review and see if it fits in the neighborhood,” he added.
Regarding a public hearing for a proposed contractor’s yard and trailer drop and office use on Servistar Industrial Way, the hearing is being requested to continue to the Sept. 7 hearing, and regarding a request for zone change on Little River Road for a proposed gas station, a request is being made to withdraw the proposal.
Finally, in “Motions, Orders or Resolutions,” there are a number of items from city councilors.
First, ward 4 councilor Mary O’Connell made a motion to set a tax rate for Green Meadow Solar, LLC, on Western Avenue. According to Bean, Green Meadow Solar is a nonprofit organization but can generate revenue for the area, so potential revenue generation needs to be discussed.
Also on the agenda, a motion by Allie related to the Southwick Road bridge is expected to be discussed. The bridge was previously determined to have a truck exclusion, and recently the Massachusetts Department of Transportation sent a letter to the Westfield Fire Department to follow the exclusion, which limits the types of fire service vehicles can cross the bridge. The department is currently seeking a waiver to utilize the bridge.
According to Bean, he and Allie are looking to have a meeting with Sullivan and others to “look at the state plan” on how to get the bridge back onto the state’s Transportation Improvement Program, which would allow for improvements to the bridge to be done.
Another two motions, which were put forth by Bean and at-large councilor Steve Dondley, are related to raising tax deferments for seniors and raising the cost of living allowance for city pensioners.
The first, which is the local option for tax deferments according to Massachusetts General Law, would give the city the opportunity to raise the qualifying gross income level of those 65 or older for the option from $20,000 to a higher number. Other qualifiers exist to be eligible for the program.
The current option allows for those who qualify to defer their property taxes, but according to Robin Johnson, city assessor, a lien gets put on the residence, and the deferment can occur for up to 50 percent of the value of the home. In addition, 8 percent interest is owed to the city from the time the person deferring passes away and the home is sold.
For the cost of living allowance, the motion is set to approve a unanimous vote that there be a $1,000 increase to the allowance.
Another motion by Bean is expected to be made to allow the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield to utilize bocce courts that are currently on Elm Street. According to Bean, the Boys and Girls Club has shown interest in the courts and this could bring activity to that area.
Finally, a motion by O’Connell would have a resolution that would “condemn white nationalist and neo-Nazi ideology and to pursue justice in response to hate-fueled violence,” according to the agenda. This, according to Bean, is in response to recent incidents in the country, including those in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“I think councilor O’Connell and the council want to express our voice and concern on the issue,” Bean said.
