In September I wrote an article “Westfield’s Tipping Point” This article will continue on that same thread but expand into the facts we must face in Westfield and my views. I would like to say Westfield is a great place to be, my friends and family are here and this is why I am fighting to bring Westfield into balance. As November rapidly approaches politics has gone into full effect. A majority of the city council that supported a six percent tax increase is now changing and stating they are protecting the residents. Ads can be seen on billboards and social media and state they will not increase the tax. So why now, and how? Sadly it is the same old story. It’s election time. In June the majority of the council declared residents could absorb a five to six percent increase. Some stated the budget was perfect as presented and needed no alterations as written. Now flash forward two months. New candidates have entered the arena. People are upset by the status quo and want candidates that truly represent the residents and control the spending. Can the residents at this point truly believe that everyone who supported and voted for the increase now thinks that fewer taxes is better? If so… how and why? As a resident and voter, your voice is needed to make a change.
Let’s start with some simple observations. Before the election started to heat up, a tax increase of six percent was reasonable by more than fifty percent of the city council with one absent (enough to pass it). That was just in June. How is it now unreasonable and the budget must be cut? Well knocking on doors I can say ninety-nine percent of you agreed this was bad. This, in my opinion, did not go unnoticed. Now let’s break this down. In ten years taxes have increased. We had one exception of last year which is touted as a great thing. If we review that one exception of last year and this one, we have borrowed out of the “City of Westfield Savings Account” to avoid increasing taxes in these examples. Westfield has not addressed the elephant in the city. The spending versus income!
Knocking on doors has enlightened me to many things. We often misuse words like a tax cut. When is the last time anyone has seen a cut? We need to limit the “Tax increase“ so it does not outpace the city’s income. In short, we can’t continue to spend more than we take in. As an example, it would be like spending one hundred and fifty dollars a month on a credit card and only making one hundred dollars a month to pay that same bill. What has been proposed is taking a loan out of your 401k or savings to make that monthly payment. Taking money out of the healthcare and roads may not be the best course to help residents and I am absolutely against taking money from roads. Westfield has the fourth largest amount of roads in Massachusetts and they are already underfunded. I do appreciate that the Mayor is looking to help residents with tax relief but I’m not sure these are the options we are looking for.
One of my other platforms is water. Westfield has challenges with well contamination. Last check the state has tested 57 wells. Of those, 3 had unfavorable results and carbon filters were implemented at those locations. 20 other residents have not responded to the two mailings requesting access to test. Several inquiries have been made to confirm accountability and funding of this problem. From my knowledge, the response has been noncommittal. Westfield needs to ensure accountability for this or in the end, it will be the taxpayers that pay the price. The water issue is not just confined to this contamination issue. While speaking to people, many have issues with tap water smelling like swamp water or chlorinated like a pool. While neither example leads one to say there is a clinical problem it should lead to more questions and meaningful conversations. Westfield has 220 miles of underground piping and some of that could be up to 100 years old. If you believe you have water problems I encourage you to reach out to the DPW directly with your concerns at (413) 572-6226 or online through SeeClickFix.
In my “Westfield’s Tipping Point” article I was asked about transparency and did it mean a negative connotation. The answer is yes and no. Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in other social contexts, implies openness, communication, and accountability. To this end I believe all subcommittee meetings should be recorded and available. Is that realistic day one… maybe not? Let’s start with a few key ones. Another more economical option may be an audio recording only. We should also standardized subcommittee meetings just like city council meetings so residents know where and when they should attend. Right or wrong, people’s perception is a reality and should be worked on.
Why am I a good choice for city council? I have a track record of bringing people together to achieve what is best. Politics is not all about an individual. It’s about common ground, ideas and goals. Westfield needs fiscally responsible people in our city council. What serves me best is that I am not a politician. To this end I have no other interest other than serving you, my neighbors and the community at large. My main goal, when elected, is to bring Westfield into a balance between spending and taxes. I believe in smart investments in the City and a rate of return. I will not blindly accept a new budget that will raise taxes without reviewing each budget line item. I will ensure we are spending money where it is needed, making the tough calls, and propose cuts where it makes sense. I believe Westfield should be business friendly. We should strive to make it easier and lower the cost to open up businesses in Westfield as well as retaining the businesses we do have. It is my leadership skills and experience working with a diverse group of people I wish to bring to Westfield. If elected as one of your City Councilors I will speak plainly. It may not always be what you want to hear, but it will be from the heart and the truth.
Lastly, I would like to thank the residents and businesses of Westfield. I did not know what to expect going door to door on this adventure. You were all very welcoming and I was truly humbled by this experience.
Thanks in advance for all the support and I would request one of your votes on November 7th. Every vote does matter.
Jeff Chagnon
Candidate for Westfield City Council at large
1-413-642-6642
