Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik, left, addresses a group of residents during a State of the City informational meeting at the Westfield Atheneum last night. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – Mayor Daniel M. Knapik held his “State of the City” informational meeting for Wards 2 and 3 last night, in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum. Over 35 city residents attended this event, and City Engineer Mark Cressotti, City Advancement Officer Jeff Daley, and City Community Development Block Grant Coordinator Diana McLean were also in attendance.
The agenda for the meeting included going over financial challenges and the fiscal year 2014 budget, strategic capital investments in the city’s infrastructure, planning for the future, and economic development.
Daley gave a presentation on the Elm Street Redevelopment Project, which includes a construction of a 130,000 square-foot, six story commercial use building, a 2,000 square-foot glass transportation building and a five-story parking garage that may have up to 500 parking spots.
Cressotti spoke about current projects including the Gas Light District Infrastructure Improvement Project, Columbia Greenway, the Sanitary Sewer Infiltration and Inflow Remediation, and the Old Town project. McLean gave a presentation on the Community Development Block Grant program. One accomplishment she highlighted was the program’s 2011 “Best Retail Practices” effort that impacted 23 small businesses within the city of Westfield.
Residents were able to ask questions after the presentations were made and concerns raised included proper planting of new trees, determining which projects may positively impact the city’s youth, and what may be going into the building where the former School Street Bistro was located.
“There was a lot of information presented,” said resident Gary Wolfe. “It’s important to learn what the city’s doing and where your tax dollars are going – people complain but they don’t get involved”.
“The reason why we do this is there are a lot of misconceptions out there and we try to debunk those things here,” said Knapik. “We try to demonstrate to the folks that the city’s on its way to a Triple Bond Rating (AAA)”.
Residents are encouraged to attend future “State of the City” presentations, which all will be held from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Ward 4 meeting will be held on Monday, March 11 at Highland Elementary School, Ward 1 will be held on Tuesday, March 19 at Southampton Road Elementary School, Ward 5 will be held on Monday, March 25 at Munger Hill Elementary School, and Ward 6 will be held on Tuesday, March 26 at Paper Mill Elementary School.
