Westfield Ward 6 City Councilor William (Bill) Onyski (WNG file photo)
Good morning Westfield. I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.
This will be the last of my articles until after the November election. The Westfield News has a window of time during the election season where City Councilors’ articles will not be printed. This is done so the incumbent candidatesdo not have an unfair advantage over newcomers. It helps to level the playing field when it comes to elections.
The City Budget has been the big news, as of late. I won’t discuss all of the dollars and cuts—this has been sufficiently detailed in the Westfield News. I will say that there have been numbers and percentages discussed prior to the budget votes but the fact is that the tax rate wasn’t set during the budget meetings. The tax rate will be set later in the year and factors in how much free cash (money left over from this year’s budget) will be used and what the tax shift (residential versus commercial rates) will be. Without having all of the pieces of the puzzle, it is impossible to know the true impact on residents at this time.
There was some great input from residents during the budget meetings. There were also some heated debates by City Councilors during the meetings. This helps to shape the decisions and the votes. If all of the City Councilors had the same opinion on all of the subjects, nothing would change. Hearing differing opinions spurs new ideas and makes for a better city. When this City Councilor listens to opposing viewpoints on issues, I’ve learned that many times, both sides are right. This certainly makes for difficult choices and votes but it is all part of what our country was founded on—Democracy and Freedom of Speech.
One of the budget cuts that I proposed, and had a positive Council vote, was a $250,000.00 cut from the Engineering budget for the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, which was brought up in earlier budget hearings. The cut was proposed with the caveat that the city apply for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding in the amount of $500,000.00 to help bring the Rail Trail through the downtown area. A total of $750,000.00 of city money, in addition to State and Federal funding, will be required over the next three years to make this happen. After later discussions with city officials, it was decided it would be best to apply for $250,000.00 in CPA funding this year and apply for more when it is actually needed. This is on the agenda for the CPA meeting which will be held on Thursday, July 13, 6:30 PM in Room 201 at the City Hall. The time and date of the meeting are accurate as of this writing but please check the city website to see if there are any changes.
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was accepted by Westfield and is used to support four different types of projects; Historic Preservation, Open Space, Outdoor Recreation, and Community Housing. CPA money can only be used for these categories. Residents pay for this as part of their tax bills and the state matches some of the money, although the match has been reduced over the years. The City formed the Community Preservation Commission (CPC) to oversee the account, review and study applications for funding, and vote on the whether to recommend a project. If a project is recommended by the CPC, the City Council must approve, or disapprove, funding for the project. Notable past funding includes the renovation of City Hall, renovation of the old Whip Factory on Elm Street, and many open space purchases. The CPA funding would be a perfect fit for the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail and I am hopeful for a positive recommendation from the CPC on July 13.
I made a visit to the Barnes 104th Air National Guard Base last month for the main purpose of checking to learn how chemicals and hazardous substances are handled to minimize chances of a dangerous spill. I learned a lot more than that. Any chemical, including paint thinners, oil, and even household chemicals that one would have under their sinks at home, are handled with strict protocols. These materials are contained in a segregated building dedicated to storage and distribution. This building is clean and well organized. The fuel storage on site is located in containment areas so even in the unlikely event a tank were to spring a leak, it would be contained in a secondary storage area. The Fire Department on base is well prepared with their own Hazmat truck to handle emergencies. Many may not know that the 104th Fire Department also provides back-up support to the Westfield Fire Department and recently utilized their tanker truck for a fire in the city. I am by no means an expert, or even an amateur, on military bases but it is clear to me that the 104th Air National Guard Base is extremely clean, well-organized, and efficient. Thank you to Colonel Green and the entire staff for their warm welcome, tour of their facility, and service to our country.
You will be able to see part of the base during the Air Show on August 12th and 13th. I’m sure you will be equally impressed.
The Joseph Avenue sewer project is progressing. There are always road closings and other disruptions during these projects and this one is no exception. However, the end result for the neighbors will be positive.
Truck traffic on Paper Mill Road has always been a serious issue for the neighbors. The street receives an inordinate amount of dump truck traffic from two local facilities as well as tractor trailer traffic, although no one could ever figure out why tractor trailers would want to access Paper Mill Road. The homes are close to the road causing disruption and sometimes damage during any hours of the day or night. There is an elementary school with students walking to school as well as a busy playground on the road which adds to the danger. I have worked closely with neighbors and Traffic Commission to try to remedy the situation.
There are steps being taken to exclude large commercial vehicles from most of Paper Mill Road. The Traffic Commission has gone forward to make a recommendation that heavy commercial vehicles be excluded on most of Paper Mill Road. This recommendation was passed on to the City Council Thursday and was transferred to the Legislative and Ordinance Committee for further review. If the City Council approves the change, additional work is needed for an application to the state for the truck exclusion. Ultimately, it is the decision of the state as to whether or not to exclude trucks on Paper Mill Road. I will do my best to move this proposal forward.
Hampton Ponds held their annual Fourth of July Parade this week and it was another success. The Hampton Ponds Association does a great job sponsoring and organizing this event every year. Parade goers were treated to old and new fires engines, bands, old tractors, and children with their bicycles decorated for the holiday. I was happy to march alongside the City contingent of Parade Marshall Mayor Sullivan, Senator Humason, and Representative Velis.
Have a great summer!
Thank you for taking time to read this. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 413-568-7747.
