Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
I waited to write this article until after last night’s city council meeting. I have now completed my first full year as your Ward 2 City Councilor. It has been quite an enjoyable but busy year. The learning curve became a learning spike. It was a year of the big votes. It seemed that every vote taken was about an important issue facing the city.
It has been a pleasure seeing the improvements being made in Westfield as a whole and in particular to Ward 2. Let’s look back at 2014 and review the progress Ward 2 has made.
Constructions on the gazebo on the Green resumed after a three year delay due to the inability of three engineers who could not agree on a hanger for the roof trusses. Once a decision was made, the Construction Shop at Westfield Vocational took charge and has done a marvelous job. The steel was set and the roof fit like a glove. The roof-raising was like an old fashion barn-raising. It was great to see a-s multitudes of citizens watched and cheered when the roof was put into place. The windows and doors are ordered and should arrive sometime in the near future. The seniors continue to work hard to be able to complete this project by graduation. A special thanks needs to go out to Mr. Fallcetti, instructor in charge for staying on top of this project as well as conducting his teaching assignment at the same time.
The shingles are going onto the roof and the windows are going in at the new senior center. This project is rapidly moving forward. Construction of the exterior is nearing completion. That means that construction on the interior can continue throughout the winter. This is a culmination of twenty years of planning and waiting by our senior citizens. I was very proud of my fellow councilors when we voted unanimously to approve the bond for this long overdue project.
The Community Preservation Authority took a bold step when they awarded Domus funds to salvage the former Red Cross Building on Broad Street. The fact that this structure built in the 1860s is going to be preserved is a salute to this community.
The Model school on Cross Street has cleared all of the legal challenges facing it. After several years of litigation, Westfield is now able to proceed in building a new elementary school. The students to be served are still to be determined but the schools that will be replaced have served the city’s students well. Both Abner Gibbs and Franklin Avenue now provide student with an excellent education. It is my goal to find a continued use for both buildings as they have significant historical value to our community.
The Rail Trail continues to come closer to completion. Another section has been completed and another section has gone out to bid. The next section will take the trail to Main Street. A new bridge will be constructed over East Silver Street. Part of this project will start the trail at the Westfield River and begin to construct connecting trails to the main trail that is going north. In the past two years over $6,000,000 has come to Westfield as grants from the State to be used specifically for the Rail Trail. Once completed our Rail Trail will be one of only two elevated rail trails in the United States.
As I conclude, I would like to thank the voters in Ward 2 for placing their trust in me to be your City Councilor. I would also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas , Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. May the New Year be filled with health and happiness for all the citizens of Westfield.
Ralph Figy
Ward 2 City Councilor
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
