Spring is upon us, and thankfully we had a very mild winter. This means our roads won’t be as ravaged as usual this year, but it also means we have unused snow maintenance funding. My hope is that this funding can be used to offset “Free Cash” spending, which is set to be used up fairly quickly. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, “Free Cash” is the term used for unused appropriations from a previous fiscal year, which means it is essentially unspent money. Westfield is on a tight budget currently, and the city should be looking at as many ways as possible to save taxpayers from an ever increasing burden.
As to our road conditions, I am happy to report that the Mayor put forward a request, which the City Council approved, for purchase of the first of several new infrared pothole patching machines. This equipment is vital in our efforts to ensure Westfield’s roads are properly maintained. The equipment heats up the asphalt surrounding a pothole, which allows a hot patch to be laid at any time of year, dependent on weather. These patches are strong and should last at least 5 years. This will reduce the costs to the city in funding, time, and manpower in having to lay down quickly disintegrating cold patches in the winter. It will also allow Westfield to catch up on regular road maintenance. These machines will also save our residents money, in that they will not have to frequently repair damages to their vehicles, due to the dangerous disintegration of our roads. This equipment is slated to be received around June 2016.
Specific to Ward 3, Western Avenue reconstruction is moving forward, albeit at a slow pace. The construction isn’t slated to start for almost two years. Westfield was lucky this year with the mild winter, but next year, Western Avenue could again be in terrible condition if we have a normal winter season. The primary causes of the delay are funding, and the design of the bike lane addition, which is slated for the north side of the street. It is set to be separated from the street, and run alongside the north sidewalk. This delay is of concern, however understandably the city does not want to repave the road, only to have to go back and make changes when the bike lane is ready to be installed. The city is still trying to determine if the city or residents of adjacent properties have responsibility for snow removal maintenance of the bike lane. I would hope the city will take on the responsibility, or at the very least provide a tax credit so that residents of Western Avenue can hire a contractor for snow removal.
I am pleased that the pawn shop, which applied for a license to operate on Court Street, was rejected by the License Committee and the City Council. I heard from numerous residents in the neighborhood about the issue, and it was great to see they took my advice to show up to those meetings to express their disapproval to the Council. I believed and continue to believe, a pawn shop at that location, which was right across from the YMCA and daycare center, was a bad location for such an establishment for a variety of reasons, traffic and parking issues being at the top of the list.
The Westfield Arts and Cultural Forumis in the process of creating a formal group to bring arts, cultural, and entertainment events back to Westfield. As of this writing the group is planning it’s first event called Articulture – A Day of Homegrown Artistic Expression for April 30that the Westfield Woman’s Club. All kinds of acts will be scheduled, including events for children, families, and residents of all ages at various times during the day. Many local artists from all creative forms are involved, and I am hopeful that this is a solid first step in helping to revitalize downtown Westfield. I would like to thank Bill Westerlind, Cheryl Crowe, and the dozens of other people involved with helping get this group off the ground. I also want to thank Westfield on Weekends, as well as WOW board members Bob Plasse and Diana McLean for their assistance in getting this group started. They have been very helpful in giving advice to the large group of artists, and regular citizens which are at the core of this group.
Lastly, I want to thank Principal St. Peter-Sanft, the staff, and kids at Franklin Ave. School for the wonderful visit I had there a few weeks ago. I got to meet some of the kids, and they were kind enough to tell me all about their HEART program, where they earn rewards for good work and good deeds. We were also visited by one of the dogs involved in their K-9s for Kids program. That program helps children with reading issues by allowing them to read to dogs! I think it’s a great program, and the staff advised it really is beneficial to those kids that need the help. Franklin Ave. School is in need of some updates in facilities and equipment. I will work with the city to see what can be accomplished in that regard on our limited budget.
Thanks for your time Ward 3, I am happy to be representing your interests at city hall. If you have any issues, questions, or concerns please contact me at (413) 570-0899, or [email protected].
Happy Spring!
Andrew K. Surprise
City Councilor – Ward 3
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
