WESTFIELD–Several items are going to be coming from City Council Committees during this week’s City Council meeting.
The City Council will meet Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., with communications from Mayor Brian Sullivan beginning at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall. There are several items on this week’s agenda, including the request of funds related to two new police-related vehicles, possibly strengthening the abutter ordinance and more.
Beginning with “Communications from the Mayor,” Sullivan is expected to request consideration of a payment from the Westfield Gas and Electric for just over $11,500 related to the Green Communities projects, this time for freezer-coolers within schools in the city.
Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan (WNG file photo)
Next, Sullivan is expected to request a transfer of money from the Westfield Police Department’s Towing and Storage of Motor Vehicles account to purchase two vehicles. The total is just under $55,000, and will be used to purchase two vehicles, a 2018 Ford Edge that will be used as an unmarked police vehicle, and a Ford Transit, which will be used to replace a vehicle for Westfield Animal Control.
Sullivan said that there will be no contributions made from the city for the purchases.
Another appropriation will be for $300 to the License Commission from the city’s Unforeseen account, which Sullivan said would be used for specialized paper the commission needs.
Also, Sullivan is expected to request the acceptance of authorization for the remaining $1,800 from the PEG funding, which will be used for the PEG operation expenses. According to Sullivan, the funds were job-specific, so City Council must approve of their alternative use.
Then, Sullivan is expected to submit appointments of several individuals. First, Eileen Rockwal and Kerry Ann Kielbasa are expected to be put forth as nominees to the Council on Aging, replacing two members retiring.
Then, Sullivan is expected to submit the appointment of Jeffrey Gosselin as a member of the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities. Gosselin, Sullivan noted, is a former School Commission member.
Next, the City Council is expected to go through the “Reports of Committees,” addressing several committees.
First, from the Finance Committee, At-Large Councilor and City Council President John Beltrandi said that there are two motions for transfers of funds related to Department of Public Works to care for past bills.
At-Large City Councilor and City Council President John Beltrandi
Then, there is an expected motion for an appropriation for $28,750 from the PEG Access designated Fund to pay for the salary of the Media Systems Specialist.
Also, Beltrandi said that Ward Three Councilor Andrew Surprise and At-Large Councilor David Flaherty are also looking to establish the “Special Purpose Stabilization Fund,” which would be funded through monies gathered from the city’s Local Option Meals and Room Occupancy Taxes.
Beltrandi noted that there may be a bit of an issue with this, but noted that its intent is good, so a discussion may be had about it.
Then, a briefing from former Finance Committee members is expected for current Finance Committee members.
Then, the rest of the items Beltrandi said that he expects to be taken out of committee without any action, including motions related to adding questions on the 2017 ballot.
Next, four items are expected from the Legislative and Ordinance (L & O) Committee during the meeting.
The first item is from former At-Large Councilor Steven Dondley, who asked the city to explore possible legal action against pharmaceutical companies related to the opioid crisis.
L & O previously determined to allow the city’s Law Department to handle this.
“I think there’s some action being taken by the Attorney General, so I think we’ll wait and see where the chips fall,” Beltrandi said.
Next, a motion is expected to repeal the sex offender ordinance in the city. According to Beltrandi, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court determined that such ordinances were unconstitutional in 2015, and that this ordinance, which he believes was never active and was in committees, is being motioned to be taken out and repealed.
Then, a transfer of care and custody of the West Farms Schoolhouse on Montgomery Road is expected to come with a positive recommendation. The schoolhouse, located in Wyben, will be changing hands from the Westfield School Department to the Westfield Historical Commission.
Finally from L & O, City Council is expected to receive a positive recommendation on allowing Mayor Sullivan to execute a development agreement for the traffic improvement project on Springfield Road.
Then, the Personnel Action Committee is expected to have five items acted upon. However, Beltrandi noted that these will be hashed out Thursday, after their meeting prior to City Council’s is done.
And the final committee report expected on the night is the Natural Resources Committee, which is related to a status report on the Water Resource Protection District ordinance.
The final agenda topic is that of “Motions, Orders and Resolutions.”
The first is a motion by At-Large Councilors Dan Allie, David Flaherty and Nick Morganelli, Ward Six Councilor Bill Onyski, Ward Five Councilor Robert Paul and Ward Three Councilor Andrew Surprise to see about strengthening the ordinance related to abutter notification. According to Beltrandi, it’s being sought to extend the notification from within 300 feet to within 500 feet.
Then, At-Large Councilor Emmershy, as well as Onyski and Surprise, are requesting that the City Council’s City Properties Committee account for and evaluate all city property, which could be used to maximize and improve value, among other items.
Then a motion coming from Ward Four Councilor Michael Burns, as well as At-Large Councilor Brent Bean, as well as Paul, which is seeking to allow the city’s sewer rates to be set by the Board of Public Works.
Finally, the same councilors as the last-mentioned motion will also seek information related to combining the city’s Water Commission and the Board of Public Works.
