Westfield City Hall
WESTFIELD – Before the City Council on Thursday is a grant acceptance of $7,811 from the state Office of Grants and Research Highway Traffic Safety Division to the Westfield Police Department for the 2019 Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Grant program.
Also listed under Communications from the Mayor are several transfers and appropriations for lesser amounts within departments; including an appropriation of $200 from Reserve for Unforeseen account to Engineering Dept. Construction Account; a transfer of $16,666 from Westfield Police Department Settlement Account to the WPD Insurance Reimbursement Account, and a total of $788 in transfers from the Department of Public Works to pay a prior year employee payroll retroactive payments due to a contractual step increase.
Three attorneys in the Law Department are being submitted for reappointment: Attorney Jeffrey R. Krok, as City Labor Counsel for a term of three years; Attorney Meghan Bristol as Assistant City Solicitor for a term of three years, and Attorney Shanna Reed as First Assistant City Solicitor for a term of three years.
A public hearing is scheduled on a petition for a zoning amendment submitted by the Planning Board to strengthen the regulation of marijuana establishments by prohibiting them within 500 feet of any park.
This will be the second hearing on the petition this week. The first was held at the Planning Board during Tuesday’s meeting, at which the Planning Board voted to revise its initial petition requesting a prohibition, and instead require a special permit review for any marijuana establishments within 500 feet of a park.
Also under Petitions is a notification from the Attorney General on the Open Meeting Law complaint filed against the City Council by Kristen Mello on February 1. The complaint cited audio disturbances on Ch. 15 video broadcasts of meetings, and the absence of some meeting minutes. The OML complaint is listed on the Attorney General’s website under pending complaints.
Among the items being reported by the Finance Committee, which is meeting in Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m. Thursday prior to the City Council, is an appropriation of $172,000 from Free Cash for the Fire Department Capital Project account. Finance committee chair Brent B. Bean, II said the appropriation is for upgrades and repairs to fire alarm boxes across the city.
The Legislative & Ordinance committee, chaired by William Onyski, will report on the 2-1 recommendation by his committee to request the MassDOT to study a 24-hour heavy truck exclusion on Paper Mill Road. Previously, the MassDOT approved an overnight heavy truck exclusion on the roadway.
Also from L&O is a 2-1 recommendation to establish a special purpose stabilization fund for road and sidewalk repair and maintenance.
Onyski will also report on the 3-0 recommendation to approve ordinance amendments from Police Chief John A. Camerota to lower the speed limit in the downtown central business district to 25 mph.
A motion by Figy and At-large Councilor Cindy C. Harris to review the city ordinances related to smoking by minors to ensure consistency with state laws is also on the agenda.
