DAN ALLIE
Name: Dan Allie
Occupation: Internet Sales Manager for TigerPress, Graphic Designer, Printer, Videographer, Small Business Owner in Graphic Design and real estate. Army veteran. Former owner of my own ad agency. and manager for PJ. New England that brought Papa Johns to the area.
What experience and qualifications do you have that would be an asset to the city?
As a father and grandfather, I am concerned about the future we are leaving our children, the quality of their education and economic opportunities. Since I did not grow up in Westfield, I have had to knock on numerous doors to become one of the top vote getters in the City. I listened to you and the concerns of many residents and small business owners, learning a tremendous amount from all of you. Thank you. I rely solely on the good graces of the people of Westfield to get elected, not my family name or political connections.
The people of Westfield are concerned about increasing property taxes and city spending, especially as the City approaches the levy ceiling, the poor quality of roads and lack of maintenance over many years, the quality of education and our schools, and the fact that the same families and people have run the City for decades. Obviously, the water issue on the north side has become a major issue.
I have always tried to listen to all sides, understand issues and look at all the alternatives. When I first was elected, my wife Theresa gave me a small wooden block with the words “Think Outside the Box” on it, which I have set in front of my Council seat, at every meeting for the last six years. I have served as Chair of Finance and the Public Health and Safety Committees writing ordinances, fighting and voting to protect the wallets, best interests, as well as the Constitutional and property rights of Westfield residents.
As a small business owner, and former manager who helped bring Papa Johns Pizza to western Mass, I know the challenges of creating jobs, making a payroll in a high cost of living and business state, and the negative effects burdensome regulations and high costs can have on our economy, jobs and the cost of goods and services. People often ask for more money, but rarely ask that their money be worth more, or at least that it hold its value. Money after all, is a simply a storehouse of wealth. Inflation and a devalued currency are like having a leaky bucket. Would you ask for a bigger leaky bucket, or two buckets with holes in them?
We spend our whole lives working for the banks, mortgage and insurance companies, the tax man and try to survive on what is left over. Freedom also means economic freedom.
Have you recently met with city department heads to discuss their needs/concerns/budgets and if so, which ones?
As a member of Finance for the last 2 years, I have had the opportunity to go over budgets with most City Departments. When I was Finance Chair with Councilors Emmershy and Surprise, we brought in every City Department, except the Flood Control Commission. I have met separately with DPW, Water Department, Fire, Police and the Council on Aging.
If you could change how the Council works, what would be your priority?
Electing ordinary citizens to the Council, rather than politicians, with a concern for the citizens and the community as a whole, not just those with political power or connections. America was founded to be self-governing, by farmers, merchants and statesmen. Alexis de Tocqueville in the 1830’s marveled at the America system with its’ decentralized system of government that prevented ambitious people from lording over the people. Unfortunately, our government has become overly complex, expensive and detached from the people with those who know how to get elected being in control. Unelected bureaucrats in agencies, not subject to the voters, write regulations with the power of law, and take power and responsibility away from local and state officials, legislators, residents to govern themselves.
One of the things I am most proud of is residents now believe that they have a Council that is listening to them, and considers what they have to say.
This has led directly to the defeat of numerous plans that were proposed by the City, including voters rejecting a 4 year term of Mayor in the last election, Cross Street School judgement, moving some special permit authority from the Council to the Planning Board, and crafting a Fire Pit Ordinance that protected residents from excessive fines, and not agreeing automatically to any future changes by the state.
When I first ran in 2013, some residents said, “Why bother going in front of Council, because they are not listening to us?” In the last 3 elections, the Council has shifted to more councilors who listen to the residents. This led to downtown business owners asking the Council to dissolve the Business Improvement District, (a United Nations Agenda 21 program) which unfairly burdened private businesses while attempting to change the rules after the fact. I was able to write and pass the Abutter Notification Ordinance, that posts signs and notifies residents by mail of proposed zone changes, and in 2017, for the first time in 9 years, property taxes in Westfield did not increase.
Residents are advocating on their own behalf helping to define the Hospital District, because the City Council will not go behind their backs to rubberstamp an agreement. Residents advocated for the Center for Disease Control to make Westfield the first of eight cities in the country, to conduct blood and urine testing on residents on the north side. When asked at a recent press conference why the Mayor did not mention the Center for Disease Control would be making a presentation to the residents the following night, the Mayor said the City had nothing to do with it. I appreciate his honest and forthright answer.
We defeated Complete Streets, (another Agenda 21 program, now called Agenda 2030) that took control away from local officials and added costs to all projects, both public and private.
Greater Transparency. Record all major subcommittee meetings.
What are your top three areas of concern for Westfield and how would you like to address them?
- Controlling spending and 2. property taxes.
I have voted to reduce spending increases by millions of dollars. In June, the Council went through the budget line by line, remaining in session until 3 AM taking nearly 300 votes trying to reduce increases by 2 million dollars.
The Mayor had asked City Departments to level fund their budgets in FY20, yet the Mayor’s budget went up by 3.7 million dollars. If we raise property taxes by the maximum 2.5%, it only brings in 1.7 million. We simply cannot afford to keep spending more money that we take in.
That is unacceptable and unsustainable. A few more years of increases of this magnitude and the City will hit the levy ceiling, a point at which the City cannot raise taxes, except by overrides for specific items like a new school. Many residents and small businesses simply cannot afford to pay more taxes. Our City employees do a great job, but we simply cannot to spend more money than we take in, or more than people can afford to pay.
The Mayor was supposed to send labor contracts to the Council with first year costs within so many days after being finalized, but did not. Employees making 70, 80, 90,000 dollars, (and we have over 90 employees making over 100,000 dollars a year), could muddle through while the City gets on its feet, and the rest of us catch our breath. Some of us in the “dreaded private sector” are making the same amount, as we did 20 or 30 years ago.
3. Spending funds and tax dollars on their intended purpose on roads and infrastructure.
The City collects nearly 5 million dollars a year in vehicle Excise tax, 1.2 million in Chapter 90 funds from the state, plus sewer, water and storm water fees. We need to spend about 7 million dollars a year. We should use taxpayer funds for their intended purpose. If we put that amount into the highway budget, we have money to maintain our roads. Then if there was shortfall in the budget we could address it, rather than putting all the money into the general fund.
Why should residents vote for you?
You may not always agree with how I vote, or like what I have to say, but you will always know where I stand. I worked hard to see the big picture and listen to everyone. Your Voice Matters. My wife and I chose to move to Westfield to raise our family and become deeply involved in this community. We love this City, and the many wonderful people we call our friends and neighbors. Please know that I have all of our residents best interests in mind, from the smallest child to our senior citizens, including our single parents, working families, small business owners, parents, grandparents and veterans who sacrificed that we may we enjoy the blessings of our freedom, not just to do what we want, but to do what is right.
What positive effect have you had on the city?
I think my comments above speak for themselves. Hopefully I have given you a reason to vote, and have some positive view of your local government. God Bless Westfield.
