Westfield City Hall
WESTFIELD – The City Council will meet tonight (Thursday, July 5) to consider changes and new ordinances by the Legislative & Ordinance (L&0) sub-committee including tax deferral for seniors, regulations for marijuana establishments, and a new sidewalk café ordinance.
The tax deferral change will increase the household income eligibility for seniors 65 and older from $20,000 to $30,000, and decrease the interest charged on deferments from 8% to 6%. Currently, only three households participate in the program. The maximum income eligibility allowed by law is $56,000, and minimum interest is 0%. At the meeting on May 15, L&O member William Onyski suggested that if it looks like more seniors will participate, they might consider increasing the income eligibility again in the future.
The new marijuana regulations are split into three for consideration by the City Council. The first to combine medical and recreational marijuana facilities in terms of the zoning ordinance, and to allow such facilities only in Industrial A. Previously, the medical marijuana ordinance allowed use by Special Permit in Business B. The second ordinance regulates time and manner of sales, and limits the number of facilities allowed in the city. Also on the agenda is a resolution to accept a local excise tax of 3% for retail sales of marijuana, which is the maximum allowed. All three items are on the agenda for the L&O Committee tonight (Thursday) at 5:30 p.m., prior to the City Council meeting at 7 p.m.
The new sidewalk café ordinance will also be voted on at the L&O meeting tonight before being presented to the City Council for consideration. The new ordinance would replace the sidewalk obstruction permit from the Department of Public Works, and is based on similar ordinances in other cities. The proposed permit fee is $100.
Also on the City Council agenda is the second reading and final passage of an amendment to the open burning ordinance regarding fire pits. The first reading of the ordinance, which allows backyard fire pits, provided they are 20 feet from any structure, and greatly reduces the amount of fines, passed unanimously at the meeting on June 21. Once approved, the ordinance will be submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection for final approval.
Finally, the City Council will consider eleven motions by Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise, tabled from the June 21 meeting, for referral to subcommittees. The bulk of the motions concern changes in the Westfield Home Rule Charter concerning the municipal budget process. Among the changes recommended include requiring the Mayor’s budget to be submitted to the City Council no later than May 15, and department budgets submitted to the Mayor, Council president and Finance committee no later than February 28.
Other motions codify the responsibilities of the City Council Finance sub-committee; and provide detailed advance notice to the City Council of federal and state grant applications, and annual capital improvement projects for the following fiscal year. Included in all of the above motions is a request to refer them to the Charter & Rules Committee, chaired by At-large Councilor Matthew Emmershy, with Councilors Robert A. Paul, Sr. and Dave Flaherty, members.
Another motion requests an investigation to join the Municipal Open Checkbook System administered by the state, to be referred to the Finance sub-committee and the Mayor.
The final motion on the agenda is a meeting of the Finance sub-committee and Westfield Teachers Association president Lori Lyncosky and vice-president Matthew Wroth, at their request, to discuss the labor negotiation process and contracts. This motion was discussed at length at the June 21 meeting, with several councilors expressing concern about City Council members getting in the middle of union negotiations.
