WESTFIELD – Bill Onyski, the Director of Customer Service and Field Operation at Comark Communications in Southwick, plans to bring his business customer service acumen to the floor of the City Council to represent resident of Ward 6.
“I’m new at this, so I’d like to hear what people are concerned about, get feedback from residents of Ward 6 and citywide,” Onyski said. Onyski was raised in Southwick and has lived in Westfield since 1992, where he and his wife Gina (Masciadrelli) have raised their daughters.
“My three daughters went through the Westfield School Systems from Fort Meadow School Paper Mill School to North Middle School to Westfield High School,” Onyski said. “This provided me a hands-on experience of the Westfield Educational System that is difficult to learn without having children in the school system.”
“My daughters were fortunate to have some of the finest teachers and guidance counselors in any school system. I’ve visited the schools many times for meetings, open houses, and conferences,” he said. “I have seen firsthand that the teachers need material resources to continue their excellent work. It is important to find a reasonable means to provide the teachers with the tools they require.”
Onyski was also active in youths sports, as his daughters participated in different events.
“I’ve had the opportunity to coach and volunteer with the Park and Recreation and Little League Softball for 15 plus years,” Onyski said. “These programs are important to teach the children – and adults – teamwork, volunteerism, and a sense of civic pride.”
Onyski has served on the Planning Board for 13 years, the last three as the Vice Chairman of that board.
“I was interested in doing something, getting involved in the community and there was an opening on the Planning Board,” Onyski said. “I’m very familiar with blueprints and site plans from my job, so it was an easy transition to the Planning Board.”
“The City Council seems like a natural progression,” Onyski said. “The timing is good for me. My youngest two daughters, twins, graduated from Westfield High School last June and are now in college, so I have more time to put into representing residents of Ward 6 on the City Council.”
“During the 13 years I’ve spent on the Planning Board, I was able to watch the growth of housing and business in the city and the decline due to the country’s economic conditions (following the Great Recession of 2009),” Onyski said. “As Ward 6 City Councilor, I will work to make Westfield a city where businesses want to locate.”
Onyski said the issues Ward 6 residents have raised during his campaign effort, knocking on doors of 1,300 residences, are the improvements for Papermill Road, the volume of heavy truck traffic and property taxes.
”I am an experienced candidate and I am committed to opening communication and common sense leadership,” Onyski said. “I will find ways to increase efficiency in city government and, as a new member, looks at issues from a different perspective.”
“I want to hear from my Ward 6 customers,” he said. “I will do the best I can to fix problems in my ward and in the city as a whole.”
