BRENT BEAN II
WESTFIELD – Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, City Council and School Committee members were sworn into office this morning for the 2014-15 municipal term, a ceremony that marks the start of the third term for Knapik as the city chief executive.
That ceremony also ushers in the first term of six City Council members as nearly half of the city’s legislative branch begins to adopt to new responsibilities. The new council members, Daniel Allie, Ralph Figy, Cindy Harris, Brian Hoose, Robert Paul Sr., and Matt VanHeynigen, will quickly be involved in council business.
The council typically meets on the first and third Thursday of each month. The Jan. 2 meeting was rescheduled to after the new members were sworn into office and will be held tonight to begin the new two-year term in office.
The meeting will be opened by City Clerk Karen Fanion in the absence of a council president. The members will select a president pro tempore, who begins the formal session by taking nominations for the member who will sit as president for the next year.
Several councilors, including the most two recent presidents, Brian Sullivan and Christopher Keefe, have indicated they have no desire to hold that office. A number of councilors contacted Sunday indicated that they plan to support the nomination of Brent B. Bean II.
“It takes a strong will to do it,” Keefe said. “Brent is a smart guy. He will be a good president because he has experience.”
“With six new councilors coming on board it will be crazy,” Keefe said. “He’ll have to appoint members to committees based on reputation and not personal knowledge of those people. There will be no hiding in corners for the senior members who will have to be leaders.”
In addition to Keefe and Sullivan, Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Crean, and At-large Councilor James R. Adams also said they plan to support Bean tonight.
After the presidential selection, the business of the council for the year begins with adoption of council rules and items remaining in committee have to be brought forward to this council. Members will then draw seats by lottery to decide where they will sit for the rest of 2014 before the meeting is adjourned.
To see this morning’s video, click here.
