WESTFIELD—This Thursday, the Westfield City Council will be holding its final meeting before Election Day and the agenda is more brief than usual.
The City Council will meet Thursday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., with communications from Mayor Brian Sullivan beginning at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall. Overall, the agenda does not have as many items as it normally does, with just 18 items scheduled including mayoral communications.
First, in “Communications from the Mayor,” Sullivan is expected to bring five items to the council.
The first is a request for the consideration to accept an energy efficiency rebate from Westfield Gas and Electric, totaling about $42,000. According to Sullivan, this is related to blowers that were installed at the wastewater facility on Neck Road.
Westfield City Council (WNG file photo)
Next, an interdepartmental transfer within the auditor’s department is expected to be put forth in the total of $6,000. These funds are being used to cover outside auditing costs and supplies, Sullivan said.
Then, another transfer is expected, this time between “Interest-short-term debt” account to the “Custodial Services” account in the treasurer’s office, according to the agenda.
“Basically because of our good fiscal position she has ability to move this money to use it to secure and maintain foreclosed properties,” Sullivan said.
Then, a resolution is being submitted for a sanitary sewer easement that is expected to be placed on Plantation Circle. According to Sullivan, the residents in the area are allowing for the placement of a pump station and continue the sanitation project.
Finally, a resolution is expected to be submitted to allow a Westfield teacher to also be employed as a field hockey referee.
Next, in “Petitions, Remonstrances and Other Papers,” the City Council will be looking to schedule a public hearing for “J. Dog Junk Removal and Hauling” The hearing will be for a junk collector’s license, according to At-Large Councilor and City Council President Brent Bean.
Then, in “Reports of Committees,” the Finance Committee has several items that are scheduled to be addressed.
The first item is the draft ordinance for the chief financial officer (CFO) position in the city, and according to Bean, it is expected to go to the Legislative and Ordinance Committee after.
According to Bean, one of the issues is the appointing authority of the position. As it is drafted currently, the Mayor’s office has appointing authority but Bean said that this could change to the City Council. Bean said that the two positions that were essentially combined for the CFO position, treasurer and collector, were council-appointed, and he would like that to continue.
The next three items expected are related to budget management, Bean said. These items include $100,000 being transferred from the Health Insurance Benefits account to the city’s stabilization fund, and another $100,000 from the Health Insurance Benefits account to the Other-Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) balance.
Third budget-related item is the “Managed Appropriation Reduction for Fiscal Year 2018 Budget,” which totals about $1.57 million.
According to Bean, the reduction is coming from several places, including $1 million coming from the city’s health insurance account, then $100,000 from the school department due to an out-of-district cost that did not occur, as well as $335,000 from the Department of Public Works.
These three items were also brought forth last meeting by Sullivan, during the “Communications from the Mayor.”
The next item is the appropriation of $125,000, which is being used to purchase several new vehicles for the Westfield Police Department.
Then the final item from the Finance Committee is expected to be the appropriation of about $68,000 from the PEG Designated Fund for the funding of construction of a multimedia studio at Westfield Technical Academy.
Then, from the License Committee, two items are expected to be discussed. The first is for the Mobile Store Operators, who are applying for a junk dealer’s license, then the second is for a change to a special permit at a contractor’s yard by Western Mass Demolition Corporation.
Then, the final portion of the meeting Thursday is “Unfinished Business.”
In this portion, there are a number of items that are going for their second reading before City Council, which means that upon that and a successful vote they shall pass.
“Final steps of approving all of these at this point,” Bean said. “It’s unfortunate it takes this long for some of this stuff to happen.”
The first is a bond order related to the traffic light improvements on Springfield Road. The bond would allow up to $400,000 to be used.
Then, an ordinance for the media systems specialist position is expected to be given a second reading.
Third, an ordinance prohibiting parking in front of the Westfield Senior Center.
Finally, an order that will transfer a parcel on Montgomery Road for a pump station, where the city will be taking custody and care of the property.
