Hooray for Daylight Saving Time which is only a few weeks away, bringing with it those longer daylight hours we all appreciate. The first day of spring will follow a week later reinvigorating us and giving us more reason to celebrate renewal. I have nothing against winter but I am so ready for spring! How about you?
The past few months have been filled with City Council and committee meetings, special events, conversations with residents and informative meetings with city department personnel. All of which have been very informative and much appreciated. I look forward to more of the same in the coming months.
At the Bike Path Hearing at South Middle School residents came to hear about the revised plans for the Western Avenue project. The City Engineer and MassDOT representatives were there to answer questions and to receive feedback from residents and city officials who were in attendance. The part that impressed me the most was that many residents took advantage of the opportunity to address their concerns to city and state officials. They asked many great questions, made suggestions and pointed to areas of concern that need to be considered as this project moves forward. Whenever and wherever opportunities such as this happen, I would encourage all residents to participate in these discussions and to make sure their concerns are addressed and not ignored. These forums need to happen more often. Residents always deserve to be included in the decision-making.
As a City Councilor, I have been tasked with being a member of three council committees: Natural Resources, Public Health & Safety and License. I encourage residents who have concerns in these areas to feel free to contact me and/or come to the committee meetings. The agendas are posted on the city website under Agendas and Minutes and City Council Committees. If there is an issue that impacts your area or there are issues you are concerned about, please make an effort to attend these meetings. You will have an opportunity to state your concerns up close and personal with your City Council Representatives.
One to note will take place on March 2 at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The Public Health & Safety Committee will be discussing among other items, a Resolution authorizing the City Council to accept and support a request made to the Department of Public Utilities and associated agencies in regard to new and unusual circumstances surrounding the siting of a power plant in close proximity to the Barnes Regional Airport. This resolution has to do with a letter I recently wrote to state agencies on behalf of residents I represent in Ward 1 as their City Councilor.
The letter respectfully requested that state, local and federal agencies thoroughly review and make comments in writing regarding the implications and impacts these new and unusual circumstances could pose to the airport and nearby residents, economic development and the noise mitigation study. Because this is an issue that is relevant to the city as a whole, I also shared the letter with the full council and made a motion in the form of a resolution asking the council members to vote in support of the request made by the residents. That resolution has been referred to two committees and will be returned to the full council hopefully on March 17. I encourage residents across the city, in particular Ward 1, to encourage councilors to show their support for the request by voting in favor of the resolution.
As the liaison to the Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee (BAPAC), I travel to Easthampton for the monthly meetings. BAPAC “is a coalition of four Massachusetts communities, Easthampton, Holyoke, Southampton and Westfield and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Committee members work together to protect the aquifer, an important regional groundwater resource. BAPAC addresses water quality issues, and educates and advises local governments, citizen groups, and small businesses about groundwater protection and effects on the aquifer.” Water is one of the most important substances on earth. Without water we could not survive but it is one of the natural resources that we often take for granted. Those who work tirelessly to protect it and encourage us not to neglect it, should be commended for their efforts. If you want to learn more about BAPAC you can visit their website at http:/bapac.pvpc.org.
I have attended Flood Control Commission meetings both before the election and now as the liaison. It has been a privilege to watch this group in action. “The mission of the Flood Control Commission is to monitor and report on dikes and waterways vital to the city’s interest which includes routine maintenance and essential improvements. It is therefore the mission of the Flood Control Commission to perform these duties to the fullest extent possible.” The dikes and waterways considered vital to the city have been identified as follows: Arm Brook Dam; Powdermill Brook Dam; Little River Dike; Westfield River Dike; Westfield River Flood Way; Williams Riding Way Flood Control Pump Station. The current members are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the work that they do to protect the city of Westfield by fulfilling the mission of the commission. If you ever have some time on the third Wednesday of the month and are interested in the issues of flood control, stop by City Hall for one of their meetings. There are currently four members on the commission and they have room for one or two more passionate members to join them.
Recently I attended the WG&E luncheon and I would like to reiterate the positive feedback that Councilor Onyski gave in his recent article in the WEN. For those residents of Ward 1 who asked me about the fiber network, I would suggest that, if you haven’t already done so, you might want to check out www.whipcityfiber.com to find your Fiberhood. Enter your address to see how many others in your Fiberhood have shown interest and how many more are needed to qualify.
The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce sponsors some amazing events that provide local business owners an opportunity to learn, grow, share and network. From the Mayor’s Coffee Hour and the After 5 Connection to the Legislative Luncheons and various workshops the Chamber continues to offer a variety of activities to support our merchants. I encourage city councilors to consider attending one of these events. It would really be worth their time.
From the Flood Control Commission, to the Traffic Commission, to the Board of Public Works, to the Health Department, DPW, to the Chamber of Commerce and Engineering departments, I have enjoyed and appreciated hearing about the work being done by these dedicated department and commission members.
One of the highlights and perhaps the most moving event I recently attended was a fundraiser for local businessman, John Clark. My recent campaign for the Ward 1 City Council seat was helped significantly by John, particularly in the strategic placement of campaign signs. When you need to find places to put your signs having the help of the guy who knows everybody on the North Side is a huge asset and I truly appreciated his help.
John comes from good strong, stock! Overcoming challenges is in John’s blood. As a man who has built a successful carpentry business. John has a reputation for quality work and, more importantly, a desire to help people. John is a man who not only takes pride in his work but also values family and friends more than anything.
It was a pleasure for me to attend this event and experience a true example of how a community comes together in times of need to support one of its own. It was obvious from the great turnout, well beyond what was expected, that he has the love and support of many family and friends. This speaks volumes about the caliber of the man and the people who care about him. There are many people rooting for him. It is a tough time, but I am confident that he can get through this.
Stay tuned for future updates and for upcoming ward meetings to be announced in mid to late April. I encourage you to reach out to me should you have any questions or concerns: [email protected] or 413-568-8562
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Babinski
Ward 1 City Councilor
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
