WESTFIELD – Residents of Ward 4 will have the opportunity to vote for a ward City Councilor next Tuesday when the current field of three candidates is trimmed to two for the Nov. 5 General Election ballot. The polling place for Precinct B residents is Highland School, while Precinct A residents will vote at Juniper Park School. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Residents are instructed to vote for one of the three candidates with the two receiving the highest vote counts to be listed on the General Election ballot.
The Westfield News sent the same questions to each of the three candidates. The following profiles are based upon the responses from those three individuals.
Mike Burns
Michael J. Burns
19 Kylie Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 568-9619
[email protected]
What do you do for a living:
• Balise Motor Corporation – Wholesale Parts Consultant 2005 – Current
• Amelia Park Ice Arena – Program Manager 2001 – 2005
• Master Sergeant, U.S Air Force, Active Duty – 104th Fighter Wing 1981 – 2002
• Petty Officer 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, Active Duty 1977 – 1981
How long have you lived in Westfield:
I am a lifelong resident of Westfield, with the exception of my five years I served active duty in the US Navy. I have lived the past twelve years in Ward 4 and prior to that I was a resident of Ward 5.
Are you married:
Yes, to my lovely wife Lisa (Sunderland) Burns. We have four wonderful children: Kylie, Michael Jr., Jeffrey and Jason. One beautiful granddaughter, Brynn – age 1.
What else are you active in:
Westfield Water Resources Commission (2010-Current).
Siberian Husky Dog Rescue
Former Coach – Westfield Little League and Westfield Youth Hockey (25 years)
President, Westfield Youth Hockey (1998 – 2001)
Burns said that he sees the role of a ward councilor as “a promise of service and duty” that that he will draw on the core values “that I not only believe in but have exemplified my entire life,” including 25 years of military service and his tenure on the Water Commission.
“I feel that the greatest attribute a person should showcase is integrity,” Burns said, then paraphrasing from the oath of city council members take at the beginning of each term that “My promise to the residents (of Ward 4) is that I will ‘faithfully and impartially’ discharge and perform all duties incumbent on me.”
“I will accomplish things by working together with all stakeholders to fully research issues, review all pertinent information, and with a level of professional commitment, I will be able to act in the best interests of Ward 4 and the City of Westfield,” Burns said.
Burns identified city-wide and ward-specific issues that will be the focus of his tenure if elected. Economic development will have the greatest impact on the city and will “help stabilize the tax base and, hopefully, continue toward an enhanced Westfield.”
Burns identified Juniper Park Elementary School and the Western Avenue reconstruction project as the two most important issues to Ward 4 residents.
“We have a June 2015 requirement to vacate the (Juniper Park) School,” Burns said. “We need to ensure that our children have a school to go to. We need to work together to solve this and ensure that a transitional plan is not only developed, but also executed. I will be a constructive partner and play a positive role to ensure this is done effectively and professionally.”
Burns said that the state Department of Transportation is providing Westfield with an opportunity to improve Western Avenue through a $2 million grant.
“We should be thankful as communities across the Commonwealth are fighting for every dollar,” Burns said. “We need to get this project done in a manner that satisfies the majority of our residents. Open lines of communication are critical, everyone should have information shared with them in a timely and efficient manner.”
JOHN MICHALISZYN
John Michaliszyn
304 Sackett Rd Westfield, MA 01085
www.facebook.com/electjohnm
What do you do for a living? How long have you been doing it?
I have worked as a field engineer for 15 years. I then shifted to community based service positions for over 10 years then I founded Gauntlet Games as a sole proprietor. It began in 2005 and its main focus is family-friendly tabletop game development and distribution. It also features a service division bringing fun birthday and other activities to the customer’s location as well as subcontract services to area business.
How long have you lived in Westfield? Ward 4?
I have lived in Westfield, in Ward 4 for 13 years.
Are you married? Children? Grandchildren?
I’ve been married to the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, Ellen, for 20 years and we have two children.
What else are you active in?
I’m an avid athlete playing flag football, softball and tennis. I’m a current events junkie and enjoy watching all the local pro teams. I enjoy coaching and mentoring young people. I’m a member of the USTA. I’m a regional director for Redemption, the card game club.
Michaliszyn said he sees the role of a ward city councilor as a “representative” who “identified community needs and sets objectives to meet those needs” and who “establishes priorities between competing demands and responsibly allocates resources.”
Michaliszyn said he sees two major issues facing the city, fiscal planning and providing a quality education in the city’s school district.
“I have heard from many residents who are very concerned about the taxes and fees and the overall fiscal direction of the city,” Michaliszyn said. “The other issue is the importance of a quality education.”
Michaliszyn said that he sees the ward issues of further Westfield State University expansion and the Western Avenue improvement project.
“Ward 4 residents are concerned with how the WSU expansion will impact the community,” Michaliszyn said. “I would engage the university to proactively address the residents’ concerns and offer alternatives that create a win-win local partnership” with WSU.
“The Western Avenue project will precipitate traffic delays and congestion headaches,” Michaliszyn said, adding that he would pursue an alternative project to reduce Western Avenue traffic congestion.
“I would create a new main entrance to the University from Route 20,” Michaliszyn said. “This would alleviate 90 percent of the traffic from that area. Then we could proceed with the Western Avenue project in a much less aggravating manner to the neighboring residents.”
Michaliszyn said he would support action to stimulate private investment in the city to address the issue of tax rate and expand the city’s tax base.
“Westfield needs tax relief by fostering a business-friendly environment,” Michaliszyn said. “We have an attractive north side with prime access to highways. We need to invite businesses to settle here and create good-paying jobs.”
Michaliszyn said said that he would oppose the closing of Juniper Park Elementary School “until a more preferential and modern school can be built to replace it. WSU should partner with the city to share costs of the new school, because undoubtedly, they will seek to get WSU teaching candidates to aid in our classrooms.”
MARY L. O’CONNELL
Mary O’Connell,
25 Old Park Lane,
Westfield, MA 01085
campaign cell 642-1246
[email protected]
What do you do for a living? How long have you been doing it?
I am a City Councilor for the City of Westfield representing Ward Four. I am a co-owner of Wolcott Realty and a licensed Realtor.
How long have you lived in Westfield? Ward 4?
I have lived in Westfield for 59 years. I grew up on Granville Road, moved to Western Avenue and now live on Old Park Lane. I have always been a resident of Ward Four.
Are you married? Children? Grandchildren?
I have been married to my husband Martin, an Attorney with offices in Springfield and Russell for 35 years. We have two children and two grandchildren.
What else are you active in?
I have been very involved in this community for many years. Currently I serve on the Board of Directors for the Westfield Woman’s Club, the Grandmother’s Garden Tour Committee, and the Stanley Park Annual Gala Committee. In the past I have served on the Board of Trustees for Noble Hospital, the Westfield State University Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) (charter member), the Board for the Shurtleff Foundation, the Zonta Club of Greater Westfield, the Westfield Redevelopment Authority (chair), the Stanley Park Playscape committee (co-chair), and I was on the Board for the Business Improvement District (BID) (charter member).
O’Connell , who is seeking her fifth term in office, said “Ward councilors are responsible for promoting their ward, answering and responding to constituents request for services, and garnering as much help to their ward (in terms of such things as infrastructure improvements, schools upgrades and public safety services) as possible.
I have always felt that, in addition to their Ward responsibilities, Ward Councilors must look at the bigger picture in the City and concern themselves with budgetary, educational, legislative and zoning, and public safety issues.”
O’Connell said her relationship with Westfield State University allows her to work with that institution to resolve citizens concerns related to the university.
“I am a charter member of Westfield State’s Neighborhood Advisory Board, a group created to address resident’s concerns,” O’Connell said. “My regret is that this is an advisory board only.”
O’Connell said the Western Avenue project is still in a state of flux as the engineering design continues.
“The actual plans are fluid-they have been changed many times (we have spent over $300,000 in design work to date),” O’Connell said. ” The most recent plans are not set in concrete. According to our city engineer they will be finalized by mid-October.
“At that point there will be a copy of the plans available at the Westfield Athenaeum and there will be plans put on line (under the Engineering Departments site).
“I have not personally seen the newest plans but I will say that I don’t like the idea of multiyear disruptions in this area,” O’Connell said. “Nor do I like the thought of the destruction of a large amount of trees along our Avenue or the placement of three median islands along Western Avenue. I would like to see improved drainage and repaired sidewalks along Western Avenue. There will be an informational meeting held at South Middle School at 6:30 on Oct. 23 on this proposed project.”
