At-Large City Councilor and City Council President John Beltrandi
WESTFIELD – The City Council agenda for Thursday is brief compared to recent agendas, with four items under Communications from the Mayor, and only one new motion by city councilors. The main focal point of the meeting will be the second reading and final passage of the bond order for water wells, connector and water tank in the amount of $13 million.
Passage of the bond will require nine votes from the 13-member council, the number which the first reading received on April 5. Following the first vote, the council agreed to push the second reading off until May 3, in order to give councilors that still had questions sufficient time to study the bond.
The Finance sub-committee still had questions, 27 to be exact, when they put together their agenda late last week for a meeting tonight (May 2) at 6:30 p.m. in Room 201 at City Hall. However, Council President John J. Beltrandi, III said on Tuesday that he has informed Finance sub-committee chair Dan Allie that the questions on the agenda are not valid, because there was never a motion on the City Council floor to have them sent to the committee.
“I’m not 100% sure if we’re going to be able to proceed with those questions, but we felt it was important to post them,” Allie said, agreeing that they had not been submitted as separate motions. “The questions themselves are the ones we wanted asked,” he added.
On Tuesday, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and Public Works Director David Billips submitted a statement to The Westfield News, discussing the water bond and the plan forward, and answering many of the questions about other options that have been raised by the Finance sub-committee. The Mayor and Billips urged councilors to support the bond.
At-Large Councilor Dan Allie
When asked whether he knew how he would vote on the bond, Allie, who voted in favor of the first reading, said, “I’m still wavering.”
Other items from the Mayor on the City Council agenda on Thursday include an appropriation of $400,000 from the Stormwater Division undesignated account to the Stormwater Construction account. These funds are needed for the stormwater remediation ahead of the paving of North Road, according to the Mayor’s office.
The Mayor is also submitting the reappointment of Karl Hupfer for the Police Commission for a term to expire in Feb., 2022, and of Jayne Mulligan for the Westfield Housing Authority through June, 2022.
The final request from the Mayor’s office is for a waiver of the open container regulation on Park Square Green, and permission to serve beer and wine for concerts on the Green, sponsored by Westfield on Weekends and MusicFest for the following acts and dates: Motown Review on Thursday, June 21; Heart Media/KIX Radio Concert on Thursday, July 19, and the Western Mass All-Star Jazz Band on Thursday, August 16.
Under reports of city officers, Conservation Coordinator Karen Leigh is requesting Council approval of a conservation restriction at 0 Southampton Road, owned by Paul Dion.
A public hearing will be held for a junk collector’s license for Russell Atwood, owner of Blue Umbrella Books, 3 Main Street.
Under reports from committees, the Finance sub-committee will bring forward positive recommendations for CPA funds for the Wyben/West Farms Schoolhouse, following transfer of custody to the Historical Commission; and for reaffirmation of CPA funds for the Old Town Hall due to new ownership.
Ward Two Councilor Ralph J. Figy
The Legislative & Ordinance (L&O) Committee, chaired by Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy will bring forward a positive recommendation for a transfer of care, custody and management of land, located off Owen District Road, from the Airport Commission to the Water Commission. The transfer of the land was never completed by the Airport Commission forty years ago, and the city is out of compliance by having private wells on land under the FAA’s jurisdiction, according to Meghan Bristol, Assistant City Solicitor.
L&O will also recommend approval of real estate at 1090 Southampton Road to be declared surplus and disposed of. The city foreclosed on the property in November 2016 after more than twenty years of back taxes owed.
L&O will also bring a positive recommendation for the orders of taking easements of real estate for roadway, traffic and related improvements for the Western Avenue reconstruction project. At the sub-committee meeting, City Engineer Mark Cressotti said only two of the easements are permanent, and both are on Lloyd’s Hill and associated with overhead power lines. He said both properties skirt private property boundaries. The other easements are temporary until construction is completed.
The License sub-committee, chaired by At-large Councilor Brent B. Bean, II will recommend license renewals for 23 Westfield businesses.
The sole new motion on Thursday’s agenda is from Councilors Dave Flaherty and Andrew K. Surprise, on a request from the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce and concerned local businesses, to increase the time allowed for free parking in the downtown area. The motion will be referred to the Traffic Commission, Off-Street Parking Commission, and the Ad-hoc Business Development Committee.
