WESTFIELD – At the Feb. 4 City Council meeting, Personnel Action Committee Chair Cindy C. Harris presented seven volunteers for three-year appointments on various commissions and committees, most with a long history of service to the city.
Peter Cowles has been appointed as a member of the Public Safety Communications Commission, replacing Hipolito Nunez.
Harris spoke first about Nunez, who she said wished not to be reappointed. “We are very grateful for his service,” she said, adding that he helped to create the Dispatch Center.
Regarding Cowles, Harris said prior to serving as IT specialist and now media specialist for Westfield, he had served for years as a dispatcher for the Holyoke and Westfield police departments, and is familiar with all aspects of the field. She said the position provides no compensation.
At-large Councilor Dan Allie thanked Cowles for all that he does for the city. “He goes above and beyond constantly,” he said.
At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty echoed Allie’s words. He also said Westfield should still be looking at expanding the Dispatch Center to serve other towns, including Southwick, which is looking to move and combine services. “I hope that can help move that along,” Flaherty said.
Harris then presented the reappointment of John Niedzielski as a member of the Water Commission. She said Niedzielski has 30 years project related experience, a master’s in environmental technology and a bachelor’s of science in biology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She said he also holds licenses in the field, has extensive experience in water management and has authored many articles on bacteria and heavy metal removal in water.
Niedzielski was reappointed 12 to 1, with At-large Councilor Kristen Mello voting no “in protest” with no further discussion, the only dissenting vote on appointments of the night.
Also reappointed was Thomas H. Pereira as a member of the Board of Public Works. Pereira was first appointed in 2016.
Sara Unger was reappointed as a member of the Parks & Recreation Commission. Harris said Unger was first appointed in 2006, and serves as the Ward 1 representative.
Michael Tirrell was also reappointed to Parks & Recreation, which he has served since 2017 as the Ward 5 representative. Harris said he is well known in the sports arena in Westfield.
Also reappointed to Parks & Recreation was Douglas Morash. First appointed in 2018, he serves as the Ward 6 representative to the commission. Harris said all of Morash’s children participated in Parks & Recreation programs, and he “truly appreciates what the commission does for the city.
The final reappointment was of Grace Sullivan to the Board of Assessors, which she has served for over 30 years. Harris said that Sullivan has been a realtor for over 40 years, understands the real estate market and values, and has helped a large portion of the Westfield populations. She said Assessor Robin Johnson recommended Sullivan’s reappointment.
“Our city is fortunate to have Miss Sullivan want to continue on this board,” Harris said.
Ward 5 Councilor John J. Beltrandi, III agreed. “She has done a great job for 30 years. You don’t find people of that caliber who stay for 30 years. I hope she continues for another 30,” he said.
In other business, Harris said the committee voted to take no action on the motion by Council President Brent B. Bean, II relative to a residence requirement for city employment, including Westfield Public Schools and Westfield Gas & Electric, and to defer to the Law Department.
Harris said a letter from Attorney Fitzgerald in the department cited legal requirements and the unattainability of the action.
“We all read the letter, no surprises. Some groups we can’t do as a residency requirement,” Bean said. He said his motion was really about hiring more Westfield People, and how the city can do that.
“In my opinion, we have to make a conscious effort to hire more Westfield people,” he said.
