WESTFIELD – Matthew J. Collins is campaigning for an At-large seat seeking to instill a sense of collaboration with other city council members.
“An At-Large councilor represents the entire city of Westfield,” Collins said. “It is important to make yourself available to the constituents, to get a sense of their needs and wants, to make informed decisions when presented with a vote. As an At-Large candidate I would be responsible for attending the city council meetings, and work closely and collaboratively with fellow councilors.”
Collins said that the city council, as the city’s legislative body in a weak mayor form of government is responsible for ensuring the city’s financial practices are sound.
“The citizens of Westfield feel that the most important issue facing the city is a lack of money to finance many of the initiatives that are in the works,” Collins said. “They are concerned that the taxes are increasing at a rate higher than 2.5 percent, and that they are continually asked to reach deeper into their shallow pockets.
“The citizens of Westfield are also concerned that there is not a definitive long-term plan in place to attract business to the city,” he said. “Residents would like t to see more communication in regards to the spending of the taxpayer’s money.”
“We need to figure out a way to increase revenue and decrease spending,” Collins said. “My feeling is that there needs to be a more united front on these major issues. The mayor and the council need to find a way to work together to address these issues.
“Many people get upset because so much money is spent on the school department,” he said. “This should not be a surprise as that is the largest department in the city. We must invest in our future. That future is our youth in the schools. The parents of students in Westfield deserve the best education possible for their children. This can’t be done without spending some money. I do think that looking into how that money is spent within the school department is completely appropriate.”
“As a city councilor At-Large I plan on doing my research into these issues,” Collins said. “I think that the city council needs to identify first how much is appropriated to the school department, and then look into how that money is spent.
“I also feel that continuing to attract business to Westfield to increase the revenue is key,” he said. “We need to do a self-evaluation of our needs and wants as a city and move in a positive direction. “
Collins said that the city council members must plan for future economic development and invest in municipal infrastructure.
“Both are directly related,” Collins said. “If we are to continue to grow and develop economically, then we need to make improvements in our infrastructure. The traffic problem is obviously a major issue.”
“I have always felt that Westfield needs to petition the state to develop an exit off of the Turnpike for the hilltown residents,” he said. “This will alleviate a good portion of the congestion,” he said. “The truck traffic is just the nature of the beast. If we want to attract more business to Westfield, this will continue to be a problem.
“I am a listener and a visionary, Collins said. “I believe that Westfield is moving in the right direction, but there are a lot of things to do. I have lived here all my life, am raising five children here, and am invested in The Whip City.”
