WESTFIELD – Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce welcomed members of the Chamber and the public to the Mayor’s Coffee Hour at McDonald’s on North Elm Street on Monday morning.
Phelon said Chamber members always host the Mayor’s Coffee Hour.
“It gives the Mayor access to the business community, and is a nice way to make those introductions,” Phelon said, adding that the public is also invited.
She said that the Chamber has tried to hold the event at this McDonald’s for the past several years, but it was canceled two years in a row in February due to snow, and more recently got caught up in road construction.
Phelon then introduced Thomas Kirby, supervisor and Michael Dube, operations manager of the McDonald’s, saying that she was sorry that Wayne LeBrun, the owner/operator of this and eight other restaurants, was unable to attend.
Kirby and Dube welcomed everyone, and said all of their McDonald’s restaurants are committed to giving back to the communities they do business in. Dube encouraged the group to have a muffin, a new feature at the restaurant.
Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce members gather at McDonald’s on North Elm Street on Monday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Stepping to the front, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan said the road construction on North Elm Street is almost done, and that City Engineer Mark Cressotti would be going to do a final check on Tuesday. Cressotti said they will be doing the final timing on the traffic lights and putting in textured crosswalks Tuesday evening.
More road questions for the two followed. Among the roads mentioned for milling and paving in the near future were Southwick Road, Notre Dame, North Elm and Montgomery Street. Regarding the latter, Cressotti said the city will only be addressing paving conditions on Montgomery Street at this time. He said the town of Montgomery is looking at a complete redesign of Montgomery Road from their end.
City Councilor Stephen Dondley asked if North Road was on the radar.
“The nice thing about using the Department of Public Works is they’re able to do short stretches,” Sullivan said, adding that North Road will be done in-house, while the city uses Lane Construction for mile-long projects.
Regarding other improvements on North Elm, Sullivan said that Prolamina would be holding a ribbon cutting for their new building on Tuesday, and Mestek is putting in a parking lot.
Turning to the airport, Sullivan said the city is two weeks into the process of filling the airport manager’s position. He said it will be a more expensive search than most, because they are looking for airport and business background.
He also said the city is getting calls weekly to look at properties at the airport.
“We’re entertaining everything that comes in the door,” Sullivan said, adding that they are looking to hire an airport manager as soon as possible. He said in the meantime, they will be hiring a management firm.
City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell said currently the airport is looking at solar development. He said the Airport Commission sees it as “very advantageous,” and will be going before the Conservation Commission Tuesday night regarding the wetlands question.
Mitchell said in FY2018, the Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing will be putting in a new, more secure entrance on Routes 10 & 202, north of the Middle School. He said the city will lease that land to the Guard.
He also said that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will be looking at the whole stretch for another traffic signal, which might be at the ANG gate or at the entrance to the Middle School.
Mitchell said manufacturers are very interested in Barnes due to the Westfield Technical Academy’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program. He said there is also interest from a helicopter tenant.
Sullivan called the airport an “economic engine,” saying that over the weekend with the Basketball Hall of Fame, numerous aircraft from VIACOM used the airport.
When asked what fees were generated by the aircraft over the weekend, Mitchell said the city made from $5,000 to $7,000 from landing fees, pumping gas, and parking fees for overnight stays. He said the ramp was full.
A chamber member asked about fire response at the airport.
Mitchell called it a Part 139 (Crash rescue) airport, due to its relationship with the ANG.
“They (ANG) have firefighting equipment and foam. That’s one of the things that attracts businesses we’re talking to,” Mitchell said. He said the Westfield Fire Department also responds to the airport.
Mitchell also gave a quick update on the progress of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority on Elm Street. He said they’ve stopped digging, and have started pouring concrete. The steel is going up, and glass will go up.
“They are on track for a March ribbon cutting,” he said.
Sullivan said the PVTA construction is starting to generate calls downtown. As an example, he said they are getting calls regarding the Bentley Billiards building across the street.
Sullivan said the city has just put out an RFP for privatizing the transfer station, with a lease agreement in it. He said the transfer station costs the city roughly $1 million a year.
“Towns want to get out of the trash business,” Sullivan said. He said in the RFP there is no change whatsoever to curbside pickup, and they would keep the barrels and single stream recycling, which he said is saving money on trash hauling.
He said any company that comes in would buy the city’s fleet, and probably “no pun intendent – trash them,, and buy a whole new fleet.” Right now, Sullivan said the city can take 45 tons a day, but with expansion the site could handle 100 tons. He said companies would be looking to double it, and maybe regionalize.
“We’re at the top of the list, because we own the site,” Sullivan said.
Another member commented that the fireworks at the Middle School were “great,” and asked if they would be held there again.
Sullivan said the South Middle School “has become the place to do things,” and both Police Chief John Camerota and Fire Chief Mary Regan said the location was good.
He also noted that Community Outreach Coordinator Amber Danahey will be in charge of the city’s 350th birthday party in less than two years.
Wrapping up at 9:05 a.m., Kate Phelon thanked the mayor and said that next month the Mayor’s Coffee will go over the city line to the American Inn in Southwick on October 3.
Phelon also thanked the McDonald’s staff, adding, “so glad we finally got here.”
