Hello Ward 3… We went from winter to summer since I last wrote. It was nice to see you all again as I walked Ollie. It was very nice of so many of you to tell me how much you worried about Ollie, due to her age, and not having seen her or me.
Let me start with a positive. As a Volunteer in Public Schools I usually see you at Tiger’s Pride at the Vocational School, which is such a great place to volunteer. The admin., staff, faculty and students are so positive it makes it a great place to be. For a couple of weeks I also volunteer at Middle School South covering as a hall monitor for the MCAS testing. You parents of students at South should be proud – it is such an innovative and creative learning environment. Again, admin., faculty, staff and students were so neat to work with.
Next, yes, I am going to run for re-election, and will soon be out collecting signatures and passing out flyers. I am also asking for your help, as, I do have an opponent. Any who want to help please e-mail me whether to put out a lawn sign, help with a fund raiser, techi help to set up a better Facebook Page, or just talk with me about your concerns. Our talks have been great and many of you seem to appreciate our honest and candid talks whether you agree or disagree about a policy or a vote that I cast. Many also appreciated that when I explained the real facts of why I voted as I did at least understood why I did.
OK, let me clarify something that I had said at a meeting for the Flood Control Commission. I offended some when I mentioned my concern that they might be being used as another road block to stop the Cross Street school from being built. While denied, some were the same people who filed a lawsuit to stop it, and lost in the courts: also blocked use of other land needed to replace the land for the new site. They have also said that there is a conspiracy between WSU and City Hall over the closing of Juniper Park School. Contrary to what all the conspiracy theorists are saying; I have talked with WSU administrators, and the Juniper Park School will be closed at the end of the school year. Those students will then have to go to school in the Town of Russell until the new school is built.
Then they tried to use the National Park Service, who have agreed to the transfer of land for the school, and then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, due to the levee on the Ponders Hollow site. So I do not think that I am out of line to suggest that this could be another effort to road block the building; this time sighting public safety and the cost to clean up and repair that site.
Two of the people working on this, while having property in Westfield, do not live here. Last summer at the Sheriff’s Clam Bake I was even accosted by a Holyoke City Councilor, who knows two of the parties involved, that he is “watching me” and would make trouble for me if I supported the school.
Others say they are trying to save the tax payers money, but the court costs, and delays have cost Westfield tax payers over a million dollars. I can give you a list of costs to any who want it. And, now that they have made it known about the condition of the levee it could cost us another million, by their estimates to clean up and repair it. But, even that is not true as the Army Corps of Engineers have said that the work would have to be done only if we impact the levee, and the National Park Service in their certifying document, of which I have a copy, says we can have passive use of the land, and three years to come up with a plan for the use of the rest of the property.
Lastly, we are coming into budget season. Last year was my first year as a mechanic who works a budget. My history was more in dealing with its impact. This year I want to work on having a more honest approach. Last year things were taken out of the budget knowing that they would have to be put back in later, but made it look like we had the much spoken of $12-13 Million surplus, when we did not. We should not try to con the public. I have found that being honest with my constituents is most appreciated. As well, noted in local papers, our City is well rated and praised by national lending agencies, and by the State for our fiscal responsibility. Let us not change that. I was not elected to serve my interests nor any one faction. I was elected to serve both business and fiscal responsibilities, as well, the needs and interests of our seniors, veterans, our students, our families and the working people of Westfield.
So again if you have questions please do not hesitate to stop me on my walks, or in the stores, or contact me by e mail. I always have time to talk with you.
Your Ward 3 City Councilor,
Brian Hoose
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
