Mayor Brian P. Sullivan speaking to the City Council at an earlier meeting. (WNG File Photo)
WESTFIELD – At the start of Thursday’s City Council meeting, Council President John J. Beltrandi, II read a letter from Mayor Brian P. Sullivan announcing that he will no longer hold briefings prior to the City Council meetings:
“I am writing to inform you that per the request of a certain City Councilor, I will no longer appear before your body to offer a briefing. It was mentioned many times by more than one councilor that they did not see a value added in having me there to discuss or explain topics that were either in Council or on the evening’s agenda.
“Respectfully, I do not want to waste my time or theirs if the original intent of this exercise, which was to provide background on incoming agenda items and provide an opportunity to meet face-to-face in a public setting, is not deemed productive,” began the letter. No mention was made to which City Councilor he was referring.
Sullivan began the practice at the first City Council meeting following his inauguration on January 7, 2016. He was the first Mayor in Westfield to hold the briefings, which he said at the time were intended to highlight and to clarify orders on the council’s scheduled agenda. “We’re going to attempt to do something different and unique and, hopefully, informative and successful here tonight,” Sullivan said at the time.
One month before the election on Oct. 7, 2017, Sullivan expressed frustration with the response, or lack thereof that he was getting from councilors during the briefings. “And yet, I stand before you every two weeks with zero questions. I offered to come here, which is new, and you won’t look me in the eyes. I have been open, transparent. I have brought more to the City Council than I ever got in 18 years,” he said at the time.
Several councilors expressed regret at Thursday’s meeting about the Mayor’s decision.
“I’ve always found his briefings informative,” said At-large Councilor Cindy C. Harris.
“The Mayor was open with the Council; he really helped us move through the city business. It’s a shame,” said Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy commended the Mayor for trying something that hadn’t been done before, and for “thinking outside the box.”
“I did appreciate the Mayor’s briefing. I understand it didn’t have a lot of value,” commented At-Large Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli.
“I appreciated the Mayor being here. Yes, it was often repeated, but I am somewhat disappointed. I hoped it would continue, especially leading into budget season,” said At-Large Councilor Dan Allie, who chairs the Finance sub-committee.
Later in the meeting, during the discussion of moving the City Council start time to 6:30 p.m., which ultimately was voted down 7-6. At-Large Councilor Matthew Emmershy said he had concerns whether the Mayor’s decision to end his briefings was “a means of pushing this through. Now there’s talk that he’ll come back with 6:15 p.m.,” Emmershy said.
Beltrandi responded to this statement by saying, “I don’t think any of us knew before tonight about the Mayor’s decision.”
Mayor Sullivan ended his letter by saying he still intended to brief the public on the issues he will be bringing to the City Council.
“In replacement of the briefing, I still feel a sense of desire from the public to learn more about items being submitted to the Councilor for consideration. As such, starting in the spring, I will be having a Mayor’s television show on the local access channel in order to satisfy such requests,” he wrote.
