WESTFIELD – Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy informed the City Council on Aug. 3 that the Auditor’s Search committee, chaired by Figy, had met and voted 6-0 to forward two candidates to the City Council for the position of City Auditor.
The two finalists for the position are Tiana Steffenhagen, assistant city auditor in Chicopee, and Vicki Leigh Moro, town accountant in Southampton.
Figy asked for a Special City Council meeting to be scheduled for Sept. 10 at 8 p.m., to conduct final interviews. He said he is trying to schedule the first interview at 8:15 p.m., and the second interview at 8:45 p.m. The meeting and interviews will be broadcast on Channel 15 or online at www.cityofwestfield.org.
Figy thanked the members of the search committee for their diligence, and the amount of work they put in. He especially thanked John Liptak, who served as a private citizen, for giving up his valuable time, and Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, for serving as secretary.
At-large Councilor Rickhar K. Sullivan Jr. asked if there is any way that the second candidate won’t hear the questions from the first candidate, to keep it as fair as possible. Figy said the meeting would be broadcast to the public, so he wasn’t sure how to accomplish that, but that he would consult with Media Specialist Peter Cowles.
Figy also said he had just received notice from Board of Health Director Joseph Rouse that the meeting could be held in Council Chambers, and asked for the feelings of the Council.
Council President Brent B. Bean II said that is why the question was posed recently about reopening City Hall. He said there is still some uneasiness about meeting in person, and recommended the meeting be held by teleconference, and the discussion be continued about future meetings returning to the Chamber.
Figy said if there are mixed feelings, then he agreed the meeting should be scheduled on Zoom.
At-large Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli added that with masks on in Council chambers voices would be muffled, which would not be conducive for clear conversation for members or the public.
