WESTFIELD – The platform underlying David A. Flaherty’s bid for a fourth term as an At-large member of the City Council is basically the same as his three previous platforms, redefining the budgetary priorities of the city.
“My platform issues are about the city’s finances,” Flaherty said yesterday. “We have a lot of needs in this city, but we have a horrible budget, we have a ton of debt and no way to pay it down. It’s crazy.
“I ran for office six years ago to serve the community and to help make Westfield a great place to live, work and play,” Flaherty said. “Along these lines I donate more than half of my City Council pay to non-profit organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, youth programs, Westfield schools and other community organizations.”
Flaherty said that he sees his role on the City Council not only to votes on issues but to inform residents of what those issues are and how they affect residents.
“I make major efforts and spend the time necessary to fully investigate issues,” he said. “I take stands for what I believe is right, even when faced with strong opposition. I feel that residents have the right to know what’s going on in government and that you, as citizens of the city, should have all of the information you need to fully participate in the process. And, I make great effort to communicate with residents regularly with articles in newspapers, community forums, Facebook and other websites.”
Flaherty said that he sees the function of the City Council to be a counterbalance to the executive branch of city government.
“The City Council is supposed to be a second set of eyes, a separate branch of our municipal government that independently reviews finance plans, the hiring of key municipal employees, the implementation of programs and the development of laws that serve the best long-term interest of citizens,” Flaherty said. “I believe this independent thorough review is necessary. Asking hard questions and doing our own due diligence is critical to the check and balance system of government.”
Flaherty said he is also focused on the present, and future, financial aspects of city government.
“I am quite concerned about the long-term debt and unsustainable budget,” he said. “The city has a history of deferring obligations and passing bills to the next generation of taxpayers.”
“I don’t believe this is right, nor fair, to future taxpayers,” Flaherty said. “I am trying to work with others to develop fiscally-responsible sustainable budgets and long-term financial plans. I want to stop wasteful government spending and establish appropriate spending priorities that focus on roads, schools, public safety, utility infrastructure and adequate maintenance of existing city-owned buildings and facilities.”
Flaherty said that he will continue to maintain the current residential shift which taxes commercial, industrial and property at 1.8 percent higher than residential property. “Nobody is going to be happy with taxes, but residents want services,” Flaherty said. “The taxes are a complicated process because it involves the tax rate set by the City Council and property evaluations. Property values have been flat for the past several years, so the tax rate has gone up. If property values drop, we’d have to raise the tax rate even more.”
Conversely, if property values increase, the tax rates should drop or remain stable, Flaherty said.
Flaherty has served as a director of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization, as a volunteer leader and sponsor of the Western Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as a volunteer and sponsor of Junior Achievement and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
