WESTFIELD—As budget season kicks into high gear, officials hope to bring back a position that could quell some residents’ complaints about lack of enforcement in the city.
Mayor Brian Sullivan is gathering budgets from each of the city’s departments, with many coming with little to no increases. According to Sullivan, his budget should be done by the end of the month and ready for city council review. And while budgets are coming in, city officials may have found a way to fund a code enforcement officer, giving them an additional person to fine for an array of code and ordinance violations.
Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan (WNG file photo)
“It’s planned in the budget currently for a code enforcement officer,” Sullivan said. “Peter Miller [community development director] has money in community development through block grants for code enforcement, and we will entertain the idea for fiscal year 2018.”
With the use of block grants, Sullivan said the position would not have to be funded through the general fund, which means it does not have to be directly paid for through the city budget.
Sullivan said that the potential position would be through the city’s police department, which previously had a code enforcement officer about five years ago. The position would be an appointed one, going to an as-of-yet-named person, possibly within the police department. The position would not be full-time Sullivan said, but rather he suggested it would work similar to an overtime position.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Sullivan said.
The position would be able to enforce a number of ordinance and code violations, ranging from the health department to zoning to animal control to building. This potential could help ease residents’ concerns, who in public meetings at times have asked for increased enforcement of existing rules and regulations.
Regarding the budget overall, Sullivan said that he is hoping for a balanced budget that is on the level of last fiscal year’s budget.
“The department heads were saddled with giving me 0 percent increases and in most cases that’s what we’ll have,” Sullivan said.
However, he noted that exceptions to that are expected to occur. Ones that may be excepted are “project-based,” he said.
“Like the Department of Public Works infrastructure projects,” he said. “Numbers aren’t set in stone but that’s where we are leaning.”
He also said that the city would is not expected to lay off any workers, “but there will be unfunded positions based on attrition.” One such example of this is the combined job of treasurer-collector for Westfield that previously occurred. This will happen through an anticipation of retirements and other departmental changes, he said.
Mayor Sullivan is scheduled to be a guest on The Westfield News Radio Show Thursday June 1st to discuss the city’s budget. The Westfield News Radio Show happens every Thursday from 6-8am on WSKB 89.5fm live from the Press Room coffee shop on School St.
