Finance sub-committee members Councilors Andrew K. Surprise, Dan Allie, chair, and Matt Emmershy.(Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Finance sub-committee held a short meeting on Wednesday to discuss two pending items in advance of the next City Council meeting on May 17. City Engineer Mark Cressotti was invited by chair Dan Allie and members Andrew K. Surprise and Matt Emmershy, to answer questions.
First up was a request for approval to re-appropriate remaining funds from the bond order which paid for Park Square Green to pay for the creation of pickle ball courts in the Municipal Park.
Cressotti said the city had asked for quotes from on-call vendors for the work, which involves removing clay tennis courts and repurposing for smaller pickle ball courts. With $70,000 remaining on the bond, Cressotti said their in-house estimate had been $120,000, but the quote was $220,000 to $230,000.
“There’s a feeling that going to on-call during construction season is more expensive than bidding it out,” Cressotti said.
Allie commented that since the remainder on the bond is only a third of the cost, what were the plans to pay for the rest.
Cressotti said he didn’t know what the Mayor’s plans were, but meanwhile they are preparing a bid package. He said the work is more involved than originally thought; removing the clay, re-grading the lot, bringing in suitable material, adding new posts, nets, dividers, and potentially amending the fencing.
He also said if the city goes through the bidding process, the earliest it would be started would be in late fall, and added that the ideal season for bidding is during the winter.
“If we want the best price, the best thing to do is to wait until winter,” Surprise said. He also asked whether the Community Preservation Committee could use Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the courts. He said the last Finance Committee didn’t want to re-appropriate funds remaining on bonds. Surprise was referring to a comment made by former Finance chair Robert A. Paul, Sr. at the previous City Council meeting to that effect.
City Engineer Mark Cressotti and resident Corey Poulin were the only two present at the Finance sub-committee meeting on Wednesday in City Council chambers. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Cressotti pointed out that the CPC meets quarterly, and likes to hear from applicants at the meeting before a vote.
Emmershy said he also had an issue about using leftover funds from the bond, and asked why the funds were not closed on the Park Square Green. Cressotti said the work was just completed in the fall. “If we re-appropriate the bond, we still don’t know where the rest of the funds will be coming from,” he said.
“If we bid it in the fall, basically Pickle Ball season will be over. We’d be paying a premium for something we might not get that much use out of,” Allie said.
“I believe that’s where the administration is going. Hence, we did not award anything, and are stepping back. The Mayor is managing those resources. I was surprised at tonight’s agenda; I thought you had tabled it until we had more information,” Cressotti said. The request was tabled with no action.
The appropriation of $400,000 from the DPW Stormwater Division undesignated funds to the construction account for work on North Road was discussed next. Cressotti said this appropriation is approximately half of a bigger project on North Road from Southampton Road to Wyben Road.
Cressotti said the appropriation would be “to basically set up a train (of road machines) to chew up the road on one side and spit it out on the other.” Another $300,000 from Chapter 90 will be for a new road surface, and $100,000 for adjustments. He also said that the state is already working on Southampton Road.
When asked what the time frame for the project is, Cressotti said with the Finance sub-committee’s recommendation to the City Council, this part of the work would be done by July 1, and the topping in this calendar year (2018).
Emmershy asked whether the 20 inch water mains to Holyoke stretch under this road. Cressotti said they do cross the road.
“I drive North Road every day. It’s badly in need of this work,” Surprise said. A motion to approve the appropriation was made and the vote in favor was 3-0.
At the end of the meeting, Court St. resident Corey Poulin, who introduced himself as a communications major at Westfield State, asked the Finance sub-committee what were the rules for public participation at meetings. Allie said that 3 minutes are allowed during the public participation section at the beginning of meetings, which can be extended with the vote of the committee or City Council. He was also told the next City Council meeting is Thursday, May 17, which he said he would attend.
“I’m kind of disappointed with the Council decision. This water stuff has caused me to have gastro stuff,” he said. “I’m ashamed of the City Council and what has happened. This shouldn’t be a political thing; it’s a people thing. There are a lot of people quite angry with the people who voted against this,” Poulin said.
After the meeting, Poulin added, “Water isn’t democratic or republican. It’s a life source, something that everyone needs to live.”
