Thank you to all those residents who attended the May 11, Ward 1 meeting at North Middle School and to City Engineer, Mark Cressotti for taking time to inform and answer questions regarding current and planned Ward 1 and city projects. Sewer lines, road repairs, multi-use trails, neighborhood specific issues, the Dog “Bark” at Arm Brook Park (there are rules for use on the City Website), the solar project on Russellville Rd, the medical marijuana facility on Sgt T. M. Dion Way and controlling traffic approaching road construction sites were among some of the issues discussed. As your ward representative, I appreciated hearing from all of you.
Thank you to Westfield State University graduates Michele Brooks, Michelle Coombs and Caleb Alford for their very thorough and informative presentation on Plastic Bag Use at the May 5, 2016, City Council meeting. They did a great job of sharing their research and concerns about the impact single-use plastic bags have on the environment, wildlife and public health. At the conclusion of their presentation, they made recommendations regarding the implementation of a plastic bag reduction plan for the city, encouraging residents, business owners and city officials to join communities across the state who are taking action to help combat plastic pollution.
If you missed their presentation, you can watch the video of the meeting which is available on the City Website at https://vimeo.com/channels/185778. Their presentation starts at 40:29 minutes into the meeting.
As Councilor Onyski mentioned in his Ward 6 update article, the Public Health & Safety Committee has already started reviewing the proposal related to single-use plastic bags. Discussions will continue at the next PH&S meeting to be held in room 315 at City Hall on June 2, 2016, at 5:30 PM. The committee hopes to hear from residents, business owners and city officials going forward. There are many examples of plastic bag ordinances from other communities available to help guide the discussion and the decision-making process. Once the type of change we would like to see happen in our community has been identified, we can move forward with next steps. The first step we can all take is to be informed. Anyone who has questions or concerns should definitely attend the PH&S discussions.
Combatting plastic pollution requires action! If you are among the many who feel it is time to consider reducing single-use disposable plastic bags in our community, let your voice be heard. Reducing plastic pollution in the city would help support the efforts of those who work diligently to protect our waterways and natural resources. On a larger scale, because plastic pollution is not only a local problem, when we take action locally, we have the opportunity to have a global impact.
Kudos to two “water warriors” who were recently recognized for their dedication and service to the City of Westfield. Congratulations to Charles “Woody” Darling on being recognized by the Westfield Water Department for his 25 years of service at the National Drinking Water Day Event held at the Granville Reservoir on May 7. The day was filled with tours, demonstrations and displays showcasing the work that has been down to protect this valuable drinking water resource. Woody, who will be retiring this summer, is also Westfield’s representative to the Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee where he plays an important role in protecting another valuable water resource on the north side of Westfield. The Barnes Aquifer supplies water to 4 municipalities within the Connecticut River Valley, including the cities of Easthampton, Holyoke, and Westfield, as well as the Town of Southampton. Currently it supplies 1.2 billion gallons of water per year to 60,000 people in these communities. A very important water resource indeed. Woody has always been willing and available to answer questions. Thank you, Woody.
Henry Warchol who was recently honored at the 2016 Westfield River Watershed Association Annual meeting held on Thursday, May 19. The event marked his 90th birthday and recognized his long time service as a WRWA board member. Henry’s service to the city also includes being an active member of the Flood Control Commission where he is often asked to draw upon his vast knowledge of all things related to water. He is most definitely an unsung hero for his activism and dedication to protecting Westfield’s natural resources, rivers and watersheds for future generations. Thank you, Henry.
On May 16, I had the opportunity to attend the dedication of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail Markers which were donated to the city by the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. They will be displayed at specific historical locations along the rail trail for trail users to enjoy. If you haven’t already done so, take a walk or ride along the trail. They are quite impressive!
The budget talks are in the works and I encourage residents to take advantage of any public budget hearings that will be scheduled at City Hall. This is an opportunity to add your voice to the discussions. The finance committee, city council, department heads and the mayor need to hear from you.
On Monday, June 13, 2016, I will be available to speak with Ward 1 residents in the Conference Room of Barnes Regional Airport from 11AM to 12:30 PM located at 100 Airport Road. Please come by and let me know what you are concerned about. Bring your list of concerns, the good the bad and the ugly!
Looking ahead, Tuesday, July 19, has been set as a tentative date for the next Ward 1 meeting. Stay tuned for further details. In the meantime, I encourage you to continue to reach out to me with your questions or concerns: [email protected] or 413-568-8562
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Babinski, Ward 1 City Councilor
