WESTFIELD – The City Council approved the first reading of a $1.8 million bond “associated with rehabilitating municipal outdoor recreational and athletic facilities” last week on a 12-1 voice vote.
The second reading and final passage of that bond could be approved at the City Council’s Nov. 19 session. Ward 1 Councilor Christopher Keefe was the only councilor opposed to the athletic facility bond package because of concerns that those funds could be better applied in other areas, such as education and road maintenance.
At-large Councilor Cindy Harris also has similar concerns.
“Citizens have told me they are concerned about the condition of roads in the city,” Harris said. “I’d support this bond if there is also a bond for road repair.
Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr., said he would not support a bond for athletic and recreational facilities.
“The priority should be school technology and infrastructure improvements,” Paul said. “Let’s get the school technology bond before us. It is sitting in the mayor’s office.”
At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty said he supports the bond to improve athletic facilities, but also sees an opportunity to bond for road improvements.
“Can we afford this given all the other bonds we have?” Flaherty asked. “We decided that we could do this. It is an appropriate use. I do think we can afford to do it. The city collects more than $5 million in excise tax, so we should be able to bond for road repair and use that tax revenue to pay off the bond.”
The council members generally agree that there is a need to improve athletic facilities and to give more equality to venues for female sporting events, but the divide among those members is financial and an issue of priorities including can the city afford to spend nearly $2 million for athletic field when 14 School Department staff members lost their jobs last June.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik originally submitted a bond for nearly $4 million to improve existing and create new athletic facilities, but that was rejected by the dollar-conscious council members. Knapik then submitted a bond order of $1.8 million, but that was also rejected who felt it was too male-sport and baseball oriented.
Knapik then submitted the second version of the $1.8 million bond with language less specific about where the existing Bullens Field light poles would be used.
