WESTFIELD – A reconsideration of an ordinance to increase councilors’ salaries by $3,000 and include a graduated increase from $13,000 in 2018 to $15,000 in 2026 was voted on at Thursday’s City Council meeting with little discussion. The vote passed 7-5, and will go to a second reading at the Feb. 16 meeting.
At-large Councilor and former Mayor Daniel Knapik received a plaque for his service to the City of Westfield from Council President Brent B. Bean, II at his final meeting Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
A lengthy discussion on the salary hike took place at the last meeting, when the vote was 6-5 for the increase, with 7 votes required for passage.
Following that vote, At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty moved for the reconsideration, due to the absence of Councilors Robert A. Paul, Sr. and Daniel Knapik.
Knapik was present at Thursday’s meeting, and cast the seventh vote for passage of the salary increase at his final City Council meeting. Knapik is leaving as a condition of employment for his new position as town administrator of Yarmouth, MA.
John J. Beltrandi, III will be sworn in on Friday as the new At-large Councilor to replace Knapik. Beltrandi, who was the next highest At Large vote-getter in the November 3, 2015, election, will now have the opportunity to weigh in on the raise at the Feb. 19 meeting.
Voting against the increase at both meetings were At-large Councilor Stephen Dondley, Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski and Ward 3 Councilor Andrew Surprise, all first term city councilors, along with At-large Councilors Matthew T. VanHeynigen and Cindy C. Harris.
City Council salaries have been at $10,000 annually for the past sixteen years. The salary increase would not take effect until January, 2018, following the November, 2017 election.
Immediately following the vote, city clerk Karen Fanion submitted Knapik’s resignation letter to the Council, effective immediately, giving many of the councilors the opportunity to extend their best wishes for his next endeavor.
Dondley thanked Knapik, saying he was responsible for bringing him on the City Council. He also thanked him for his “yeoman’s” work as mayor.
Flaherty acknowledged that he and Knapik had had their differences over the years, but added, “Best wishes for you and your family. I really mean that.”
During his briefing earlier in the evening, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan had acknowledged Knapik as more than a colleague, saying they had been friends since he and his brother went to kindergarten together.
“It’s been a pleasure, Sir, working in this room and working as a colleague with you,” Sullivan said.
And during the public participation, Westfield Council on Aging executive director Tina Gorman also took the opportunity to thank the former mayor.
“On behalf of the city’s older adults, I want to express our gratitude to City Councilor and former Mayor Daniel Knapik,” Gorman said, saying that one year and three months ago the brand new 22,000 square foot senior center had been built under his tenure. She said since that time their clientele has doubled from 2,000 to 4,000.
Knapik, asking to say a few words, mentioned some of the people not in the room with whom he had served that had influenced him over the years, including Adam Liptak, Lenny Burlingame, Jimmy Casey and Charles Medeiros. He said in particular Medeiros had taught him a lot about human nature.
“Charles used to say, all you’ve got to do to win in Westfield is promise a senior center,” Knapik said. He said he thought of all the citizens who never made it to see the center be built.
“For me, this is the single biggest thing we did together,” Knapik said, adding, “It’s been a great run, and a heck of a lot of fun.”
As the meeting closed, Council President Brent B. Bean II presented Knapik with a plaque for his service.
