The Personal Action Committee will recommend that the City Council tonight approve the re-appointments of several city officers and board members.
The PAC interviewed City Advancement Officer Jeff Daley last night, then voted to recommend Daley be given another two-year term in office.
The council voted to create the City Advancement Officer position two years ago and ratified Daley’s appointment. The focus of that position is to attract new and retain current businesses to the city as a means of increasing the city’s tax base and providing jobs for residents.
PAC Chairman Brent B. Bean II asked Daley to report on the accomplishments of his office that have occurred since his appointment.
Daley said that when he was appointed to the new position, there was not structure and that he “built the department up to become a very productive entity.”
That productivity has resulted in a capital investment of $67 million by companies that chose to locate and expand in Westfield.
“That capital investment is creating 350 new jobs and 1,000 existing jobs have been retained,” Daley said “I still have 84 active accounts totaling $21 million and hope to bring several of those to fruition within the next year.”
Daley said one of the major functions is networking: connecting businesses with agencies that can provide direct assistance through financing and job training programs.
One of the major benefits in that networking effort, a means of selling Westfield to businesses interested in locating in the region, is that the city has its own municipal utility, which has greater flexibility in dealing with potential commercial electric and gas customers than communities served by investor-owned utilities.
“I’ve established a great partnership with the Westfield Gas & Electric Department to provide rates that are appealing to companies,” Daley said.
Daley said that the WG&E conservation program, which includes power use assessments and proposals to cut both power consumption and utility bills, is helping to keep existing companies in the city and to make those firms more competitive and profitable.
“That makes it easier to do business,” he said.
PAC member and At-large Councilor Brian Sullivan asked Daley to report on the city’s ability to seek out and obtain state and federal grants to improve the city’s infrastructure to support business growth.
Daley said that he has used his network of governmental agency contracts to identify and secure $6.4 million in grants that will support a number of business expansion projects. The city is presently improving roads at Barnes Regional Airport, both internally and for exterior access to industrial areas around the airport, totaling $5 million from various state agencies.
The city is also benefiting from a $1 million grant to construct the first section of the Columbia Greenway Bike Trail. That money is being used to construct the trail and a parking facility that will enable residents to access the existing 30 miles of rail trail in Southwick and Connecticut.
Council President Christopher Keefe said that the issue of grants was a primary point of contention when the council debated creation of the position and the fact that Daley has secured $6.4 million, with another $500,000 grant in the pipeline, will assuage concerns voiced by some council members.
Daley said that another primary function of his office is aiding businesses seeking to build or expand in the city to navigate the municipal permitting processes.
“Some of the new businesses in the city, regional, national, and international corporations, have said that the never felt as much like a partner as they have in Westfield. They’ve commented that there are not the usual municipal hang ups here,” Daley said. “We’ve treated everyone, big and small, with white gloves, being a friend and partner to get their project through that permitting process.”
The PAC voted to recommend the reappointment of Robert J. Popko as the Inspector of Weights and Measures. That position ensures that city residents are getting what they pay for at the gas pumps and markets where food is sold by the pound. Popko’s job is to certify that the pumps and scales are correct.
The PAC will also recommend that the council reappoint Michael Parent to the Zoning Board of Appeals, where he is currently serving as the chairman.
Two members of the Historical Commission, Bernie Puza and Elizabeth Butcher, will also be recommended for reappointment.
