WESTFIELD – Sub-committee chairs did a little sparring at Thursday’s City Council meeting over which committee should review items on the City Council agenda.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy, who chairs the Legislative & Ordinance sub-committee, brought forward the majority of items from the L&O meeting on Tuesday.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy
When Figy introduced the request to allow bond orders within the Treasurer’s department to be rescinded or cancelled as the projects for which the bond orders were passed had been cancelled or completed, he said the bonds amounted to $9 million not borrowed, including a $7 million bond for Westfield Gas & Electric. Figy said it was a matter of housekeeping for the treasurer, and the L&O committee recommended in a 3-0 vote to grant the request.
‘What isn’t clear is whether there’s been spending that will be charged later to the bond,” said Finance sub-committee chair Robert A. Paul, Sr.
Figy repeated that the projects for which the bond orders were passed had been cancelled or spent.
“My issue is all of the bonds should not be removed at the same time,’ Paul responded. He asked that the matter be referred to the Finance committee.
Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr.
Ward 4 Councilor and L&O committee member Mary O’Connell said this item was presented at the last City Council meeting, and should have been referred to Finance at that time. She said most of the department heads in the city were present at the L&O meeting. “You either have faith in the city treasurer or no. These are dead projects,” O’Connell said.
A roll call vote was taken on the referral to the Finance committee, which won by a majority vote.
“In the future, if you’re interested in a topic, then you take it. Don’t waste our time,” said Figy to Paul.
The next item, a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept the five-year lease of six vehicles was also brought forth with a positive recommendation from L&O.
“This does have financial consequences. In the future, we should send it to Finance first, then to L&O,” said At-large Councilor and Finance sub-committee member Dave Flaherty.
Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell
O’Connell said the airport manager, who will be getting two of the vehicles, the treasurer and the purchasing agent all attended the L&O meeting on Tuesday. Then, referring back to the prior matter of the bonds, “you’re going to drag all those department heads back,” O’Connell added.
Figy said the resolution doesn’t have any money attached to it. A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Council president Brent B. Bean, II said that the discussion had been a question of process. “We can try to get a little better at that,” Bean said.
Ward 6 City Councilor William Onyski (WNG file photo)
Ward 6 Councilor and L&O Committee member William Onyski then brought forth the recommendation from L&O to have the city exercise its option under Chapter 61A to purchase land on Furrowtown Road owned by William Reed. Onyski said the land abuts a very large parcel near the high school. He said his recommendation would be for the mayor to purchase the larger lot, “In my personal opinion,” Onyski said. He also said he would be voting no on the question.
“I do feel this is a lousy way to purchase the property, two lots at a time. This is a prime piece of real estate,” Figy said. He also said that Reed had already sold off two lots on Furrowtown and Montgomery Road. The Council then voted 11-2 for the city to exercise its option to purchase, with Onyski and Allie dissenting.
In the second Chapter 61A matter, Onyski said that the L&O had recommended refusing the first right of refusal for six acres of land owned by Timothy and Susan Crane, which they had gifted to their daughter and son-in-law to build a house on it. Onyski said the conversion leaves 5 acres of open space which is unbuildable. A vote to refuse the city’s option passed 12-1, with Mary Ann Babinski dissenting.
In the matter of a zoning change for 95 Main Street and 4 Taylor Avenue, Figy said neighbors who had initially objected to the zone change were changing their minds, as evidenced at the public hearing of the August 24 Council meeting. “Everyone seems encouraged to have Dunkin Donuts (replace) the liquor store,” Figy said. He said the zone change would be from Commercial A and Residence C to Business A.
Earlier in the meeting, the Zoning, Planning and Development sub-committee chair and At-large Councilor Stephen Dondley said his committee had also recommended 2-0 for the zone change. “They’re happy to see the liquor store go,” Dondley said. Dondley also said the question of a drive through at the restaurant, which did not have unanimous support at the public hearing, will be addressed in the site plan.
The zone change passed on its first reading. Figy then made a motion to move to a second reading and final passage of the changes.
At the end of the meeting under announcements, Figy said there will be neighborhood meeting on Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. at Baystate Noble, Room 201, on the creation of a medical district zone.
