WESTFIELD – The City Council is expected to vote on naming former councilor Peter J. Miller, Jr. as Westfield’s new community development director during tonight’s meeting.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik submitted Miller as his nominee at the last meeting and said he hopes Miller is confirmed tonight.
Miller served as the ward three councilor for eight years and was one of two finalists on a short list presented by a screening commit- tee to Knapik prior to the holidays. The other finalist was former West Springfield Mayor Edward Gibson.
Assistant Personnel Director Jeff Krok said that the city received 10 applications for the position and that a screening committee, composed of Krok, City Advancement Officer Jeff Daley and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) coordinator Diana McLean, interviewed six of the candidates before sending the short list of finalists to Knapik for his selection.
“All six candidates fared well, some having better scores on managerial style while other score well in subject matter expertise. However, two candidates scored noticeably well in the interview, and their names were passed along for the Mayor to consider,” said Krok. “Obviously, one of the candidates was Peter Miller who was later selected by the Mayor for confirmation.”
Daley said that Miller interviewed well during the screening pro- cess.
“He did his homework,” Daley said. “He is everything you’d look for in a candidate.”
The community development director, according to the job description, is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the city’s economic development, redevelopment and business assistance activities; overseeing capital improvement programs and planning documents.
The director “is expected to operate within the parameters of good judgment, established business practice, and the law and in accordance with bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the City. Confers with the Mayor or his/her designee on policy review questions or to brief him/her on progress regarding various projects or programs.”
The job calls for the director to exercise “a high degree of inde- pendent judgment and initiative in making decisions, rendering advice and representing the City to increase and manage the City’s involvement and coordination of community development activi- ties.”
Knapik said that Miller “stood head and shoulders above the other candidates” because of his experience in government service, both as a City Council member and as a Chief of Staff for state Senator Michael R. Knapik, (R-Westfield) since 1995. Sen. Knapik is a minority leader in the Legislature and the mayor’s brother.
Mayor Knapik said that Miller’s tenure representing Ward 3 gave him a unique perspective of the city.
“He’s a guy who understands neighborhoods, that they are the fabric of our community,” he said. “He is a very communi- ty-development minded individual.”
“He likes to get things done,” Mayor Knapik said. “He has a track record of getting issues over the finish line.”
The position called for a broad knowledge of city mission, vision, strategic direction, goals, objectives, policies, proce- dures, priorities and departmental operations.
As Chief of Staff for Sen. Knapik, Miller supervised and directed legislative staff on public relations, constituent affairs, fiscal affairs, and all matters pertaining to the operation of a legislative office. He also served as Sen. Knapik’s liaison to state agencies on district initiatives, relaying local concerns to agency officials.
His time on the council provided the opportunity to acquire extensive knowledge of local zoning regulations and municipal government.
Mayor Knapik said that Miller “has a predilection to keep doors open to work deals, a behind-the-scene guy, very easy going, steady. That what this job requires.”
Miller is a life-long resident of Westfield, which was another factor in Mayor Knapik’s decision to select Miller.
“To be successful at some jobs you really need to be a resi- dent. I feel that this is one of those jobs,” he said. “You just don’t work nine-to-five, call it a day, and go home. You have to part of the fabric of the community.”
Miller has a degree from the College of the Holy Cross and is pursuing his Master’s in public administration at Westfield State University, with an expected graduation date of 2014.
