Dear Editor,
Much discussion and speculation has been circulating as the result of a recent petition to dissolve the Westfield BID. On behalf of the WBID Board, I would like to share a bit of the WBID history and review the very real consequences if the WBID is voted to dissolve.
In August 2012, amendments to M.G.L. Ch. 40O, the governing legislation for BID’s were signed into law. Those amendments require business improvement districts to hold “renewal votes” periodically to review their activities, to propose updates to their improvement plans and to consider whether to continue their operations. These “sunset” provisions give members the opportunity, at least every five (5) years, to decide whether to continue the BID. As mandated by the statute, the Board of Directors invited all eligible members in good standing to participate. The vote to renew the WBID for another 5 years was affirmed by almost all eligible members voting either in person or by proxy. The amendments to M.G.L. Ch. 40O also provide that upon the approval of the vote to renew, all eligible property owners within the BID district that had previously elected not to participate in the WBID automatically become full participating members. Members who had previously chosen to opt out of the WBID prior to the renewal vote did not have the right to vote, because they were not members as of that time. They will however have voting rights for the next reauthorization.
Prior to 2006 there was no cohesive effort to revitalize our downtown. I can personally attest to this as it was at this time that my former business partner and I, chose downtown Westfield to be the site for our new micro business. It was, to put it mildly, a disaster. The sidewalks were a mess; graffiti was everywhere; we even had a drug deal “go down” on our front step days after our grand opening, right on Elm Street! Despite this we chose downtown Westfield because we could see and feel the potential just waiting to burst forth! As soon as WBID services began, we noticed a striking difference in the maintenance, beauty and safety of downtown. We never regretted that important business decision.
There seems to be some confusion being generated as to who is and who is not assessed an annual WBID fee. All nonprofits, residential condominium and residential properties with three (3) or fewer units are not assessed WBID fees, nor will they be. Although our nonprofit members are not assessed a cash fee, they do contribute through In Kind services which is of great help to the WBID.
Although we respect the differences of opinion as well as the democratic process, we would like to share with you what could be very stark and real ramifications if the WBID were in fact to dissolve.
The events that you have all grown to love will end as you have come to know them. For example, Music Fest and the Run Westfield 5k Kooldown will not be able to sustain the magnitude to which they have grown. Perhaps there is an organization or two which may continue with some version of these events. However, without a full time staff, the planning, execution and procuring of permits/licenses would not be possible. Small Business Saturday (The Village Stroll) and the Farmers Market would simply disappear. In addition to the ending of these events, the sustainability of partners connected to those events, would be significantly impacted and make their efforts far more difficult.
Funding of the Community Development Block Grant programs would stop. We currently manage three (3) programs- Best Retail Practices, Restore Westfield and Creativity for Business Workshop. Best Retail Practices alone has helped just under 30 micro enterprises with a $1,900 grant to each. Those dollars would be redirected to other nonprofit organizations (whom all do important work). The idea that the City would be able to administer those existing programs is false due to the lack of City resources. In addition, there would be no researching of or applying for any new funding that currently gets focused right into the heart of the Downtown District.
An additional misconception is that the City will pick up all the services the WBID provides. The City will not take on sidewalk snow removal that is the responsibility of the property owner. The City will also not take on graffiti/gum removal, parking lot/sidewalk trash removal, and planting/nurturing/and maintaining of flowers. It simply does not have the resources of time or funding to fill that void. It will become just that… a void. Although these services may seem minor or incidental, they affect the first impressions and observations of visitors and customers. A clean, attractive and safe environment is directly related to people and their desire to pursue goods and professional services; it has a direct effect on the economic health of our downtown.
These are very precarious times. If you value at least a part of what we have outlined, it is at risk of coming to a very abrupt end. If you have signed the circulating petition, we urge you to reconsider. If you decide you would like to remove your name, please put that in writing, and send to the address below, so that we may submit on your behalf. If you have not signed the petition, we urge you to join us when we have the opportunity to make a presentation to the City Council. The time is now!!
Respectfully, I thank you for your time,
Maureen Belliveau
Executive Director
PO Box 593
Westfield MA 01086
