City of

Westfield
DANIEL M. KNAPIK
MAYOR

City Hall Telephone: (413) 572-6201

59 Court Street
Westfield MA Fax: (413) 572-6274
01085

Westfield – February 10, 2010

For Immediate Release
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

GOOD AFTERNOON FELLOW CITIZENS OF WESTFIELD. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME

TODAY AND TUNING IN AT HOME ON OUR COMMUNITY CHANNEL AS I HAVE THE
HONOR OF PROVIDING A REPORT ON THE STATE OF OUR CITY – WESTFIELD.

IT HARDLY SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO I WAS GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME – THE CHANCE TO SERVE AS MAYOR OF OUR
GREAT CITY. IT HAS BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HARD TO INSTILL THE
PUBLIC’S FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WITHOUT THEIR
CONFIDENCE THERE IS NO ROOM FOR CANDID CONVERSATIONS NECESSARY TO
PLAN WESTFIELD’S FUTURE. FROM MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, I WAS DETERMINED TO
RE-BUILD A GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC, WHILE BALANCING A VISION
WITH THE REALITY OF THE CHALLENGING TIMES WE LIVE IN AND TO MANAGE OUR
TEAM TO KNOCK DOWN BARRIERS RATHER THAN PUTTING THEM UP.

THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF EXCITING, HUMBLING,
ENGAGING AND YES, FRUSTRATING AT TIMES. BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO REPORT
THAT BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR RESIDENTS,
EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND OUR PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT, UNITED
STATES SENATORS KERRY AND BROWN, CONGRESSMAN OLVER, GOVERNOR
PATRICK, LT. GOVERNOR MURRAY, STATE SENATOR KNAPIK, STATE

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REPRESENTATIVE HUMASON, AND THE CITY COUNCIL THE STATE OF THE CITY IS –
SOUND!

UPON TAKING OFFICE, I WAS MET WITH A CITY BUDGET THAT HAD BEEN
HAPHAZARDLY CUT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WAS RUNNING A MASSIVE DEFICIT
AND CERTAINLY WASN’T CONSTRUCTED TO CONFRONT THE ENOURMOUS
CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF THE CITY. IT REPRESENTED THE GOVERNMENT’S
AGENDA NOT THE PUBLIC’S. I WENT TO WORK QUICKLY TO CORRECT THESE
PROBLEMS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR SO THAT THIS
GOVERNMENT COULD RESPOND TO YOUR PRIORITIES.

2010 WAS ANOTHER TOUGH YEAR ECONOMICALLY. LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY WE

CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE
GREAT DEPRESSION. IT IS SEEN ON THE STREETS, IN PEOPLES HOMES, ON FACES
AROUND TOWN – THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN HARD!

HOWEVER, WE ARE STANDING ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW ERA. OUR CITY

GOVERNMENT, ITS CITIZENS AND ITS BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE NEVER HAD A
MORE VIBRANT RELATIONSHIP. OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURES ARE INTERTWINED
MORE TIGHTLY THAN EVER AND TO SUCCEED WE NEED TO DEPEND ON OUR
ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARD COMMON GOALS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO
CONTINUE THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN 2010 AND TO PROSPER IN 2011.

WITH THESE EFFORTS, WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE WANT

WESTFIELD TO BE – WHERE CITIZENS CAN REALIZE THEIR DREAMS FOR THEIR
FAMILIES AND THEIR FUTURE AND BUSINESSES CAN STAKE THEIR CLAIM TO
PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS. IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT OF MY OPTIMISM, I PRESENT TO
YOU, THE STATE OF OUR CITY!

THOSE OF US WHO ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CALL WESTFIELD HOME, WE

KNOW QUALITY OF LIFE IS SECOND TO NONE. IN THE GREATER PIONEER VALLEY
AND ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, I ASSURE YOU – WE ARE SETTING THE
STANDARDS, NOT FOLLOWING THEM.

WE HAVE WORKED HARD OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS TO BUILD YOUR
CONFIDENCE SO THAT YOU WON’T HAVE TO BE BURDENED WITH WORRIES ABOUT

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YOUR GOVERNMENTS MOTIVES. IT SHOULD AFFORD US THE COMFORT TO GO
ABOUT OUR DAILY LIVES AND TRUST THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DO
WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY NOT JUST SPECIAL INTERESTS OF A FEW.

I AM ALSO PROUD TO TELL YOU, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OUR
GOVERNMENT IS BECOMING MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. COMPARED
TO OTHER CITY’S OUR SIZE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE IN THE
FOREFRONT FOR OUR CITY AND WESTFIELD IS SETTING THE STANDARDS, NOT
FOLLOWING THEM.

COMMUNITY BETTERMENT

OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS WE HAVE TAKEN GREAT STRIDES IN MOVING
COMMUNITY BETTERMENT PROJECTS FORWARD THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT
FOR YEARS IF NOT DECADES.

WE HAVE SELECTED AN ARCHITECT WHO WILL DESIGN AND BUILD OUR NEW
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PART OF THIS PROCESS WILL BE DEVELOPING A TIMELINE,
BUDGET, LOCATION, DEVELOPMENT AND ULTIMATLEY OPENING THE DOORS TO
OUR FIRST NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN 20 YEARS. WE WILL BE ENGAGING THE
PUBLIC THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THEM AS
WE SET OUT TO BUILD THIS NEW STATE OF THE ART FACILITY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THIS SCHOOL WILL REPLACE SOME OF OUR OLDEST SCHOOLS IN THE DOWNTOWN
DISTRICT AND HOUSE OUR CHILDREN IN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT WILL
ALLOW THEM TO EXCEL AND ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACADEMIC
EXCELLANCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.

THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT THE COST TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN
IS SUSTAINABLE WELL INTO THE FUTURE. THIS PROJECT WILL RIGHT SIZE OUR
SCHOOL PHYSICAL PLANT SO THAT EVERY DOLLAR THE COMMUNITY INVESTS IS
WELL SPENT AND NOT THROWN OUT THE WINDOW IN PAYING FOR UPGRADES TO
OLD BUILDINGS, PAYING ENERGY COSTS ON INCREDIBLY COSTLY STRUCTURES AND
REDUCE OUR TRANSPORTATION COSTS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SUMMER 2013
COMPLETION DATE.

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THIS PROJECT IS SETTING THE STANDARDS FOR EDUCATING OUR
CHILDREN – NOT FOLLOWING THEM

IN DECEMBER I ANNOUNCED THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED NEW COUNCIL ON AGING

FACILITY, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED ON NOBLE STREET. AFTER DECADES OF
TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A CENTER WHERE OUR SENIORS CAN GATHER, ENJOY
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, I AM PLEASE TO SAY, WE ARE
GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE.

WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE NEW CENTER, IT WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE THE BASIC
AMMENITIES THAT MOST SENIOR CENTERS HAVE, BUT WILL ALSO BE THE HOME TO
MANY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR OUR SENIORS. AGAIN – WE ARE SETTING
THE STANDARDS – NOT FOLLOWING THEM

ANOTHER PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS IS THE COLUMBIA
GREENWAY RAILTRAIL. THIS PROJECT DESIGN HAS BEEN STALLED FOR OVER FOUR
YEARS. THIS INACTION ON THE CITY’S BEHALF RESULTED IN THE TOWN OF
SOUTHWICK FINISHING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DURING THIS PERIOD. THAT
KIND OF DELAY IN ADDRESSING YOUR PRIORITIES IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.

OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS WE HAVE OBTAINED FEDERAL FUNDING TO

BEGIN THE COMPLETION ON THE DESIGN WORK ON THE SOUTHERN LEG AND THIS
PAST SUMMER, I PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL A REQUEST TO FUND THE
DESIGN COMPLETION FOR THE MIDDLE AND NORTHERN LEG.

I AM PLEASED TO SAY TOGETHER, WE HAVE SECURED THIS FUNDING SO AFTER

MORE THAN A DECADE OF FITS AND STARTS, FULL DESIGN WILL BE ACHIEVED IN
THE NEAR FUTURE.

ADDITIONALLY, BEING PROACTIVE AND REALIZING WE NEED TO IDENTIFY

CONSTRUCTION FUNDING PARTNERS, I HAVE SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CONSVERVATION AND
RECREATION TO ALLOW A PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL LEVERAGE FUTURE FUNDING
FOR CONSTRUCTION.

ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL COMPARED TO OTHER
COMMUNITIES, IN SOME ASPECTS WE ARE, BUT BY FORGING THESE PARTNERSHIPS

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AND CREATING A REGIONAL RAIL TRAIL SYSTEM WE ARE NOW BACK ON TRACK –
WE ARE NOW ONCE AGAIN SETTING THE STANDARDS – NOT FOLLOWING
THEM

GREEN ENERGY

MANY OF OUR GREEN ENERGY PROJECTS HAVE BEEN MOVING THROUGH THE
PROCESSES THAT ARE REGIONALLY AND STATEWIDE - LEADING THE WAY.

WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OUT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR

ENERGY POWER FARM ON THE CAPPED CITY LANDFILL.

IN BUSINESS TALK THIS IS TAKING A FINANCIAL LIABILITY TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND

WHEN COMPLETED WILL ALLOW US TO NOT ONLY RECEIVE LEASING REVENUE BUT
WILL ALLOW US TO LOWER OUR ELECTRIC PURCHASING COST.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS A CITY WITH A MUNICIPAL GAS AND ELECTRIC

COMPANY, WE NEED TO SET THE STANDARDS FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES TO
FOLLOW. IT WOULD BE EASY TO SAY THIS IS TOO DIFFICULT AND WHY BOTHER AS
THE G&E PROVIDES US WITH A GOOD VALUE. THAT KIND OF THINKING HAS NO
PLACE IN OUR CITY ANYMORE.

WE ARE GLOBAL CITIZENS AND WE NEED TO DO OUR PART RIGHT HERE IN

WESTFIELD. ONCE THE TWISS STREET LANDFILL SOLAR PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY,
I INTEND TO DEVELOP SOLAR STATIONS ON OUR VACANT MUNCIPAL PROPERTIES
AND OUR BUILDINGS.

ANOTHER “GOING GREEN” INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE ENCOURAGED WITH OUR GAS
AND ELECTRIC DEPARMENT TO DEVELOP, IS A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR OUR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS TO
ADD TO THE ALREADY EXISTING RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.

DURING THE PAST YEAR I VISITED MANY OF OUR CITY BUSINESSES AND THE
MESSAGE I RECEIVED WAS THE SAME. THEY NEED TO BE PROVIDED WITH SIMILAR
ENERGY PROGRAMS AND PRICING THAT IS AVAILABLE FROM INVESTOR OWNED
UTILITIES.

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I QUICKLY PARTNERED WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE G&E, DAN HOWARD
AND ASKED FOR HIS ASSISTANCE IN CREATING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD HELP OUR
BUSINESSES COMPETE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

I AM VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT DAN AND THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD ACTED
SWIFTLY AND REACHED OUT TO THESE BUSNESSES AND HAVE IN PLACE QUALITY
EXPERTS ON THEIR STAFF AND SUSTAINABLE POLICIES FOR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
SO THAT OUR WESTFIELD COMPANIES CAN COMPETE.

ONCE AGAIN – WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARDS, NOT FOLLOWING THEM.

ONE OF THE QUIET SUCCESS STORIES WE HAD THIS YEAR WAS THE CREATION OF A
CITY OWNED DOG SHELTER. LIKE MANY THINGS IN OUR CITY THAT WE INHERITED,
THE SHELTER SITUATION HAD GONE LONG IGNORED WITH THE OLD THINKING THAT
IT WILL SIMPLY GO AWAY.

THE SAFE HOUSING OF OUR STRAY CANINE CITIZENS COULD NO LONGER BE

IGNORED. I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS WE WILL BE ABLE TO
ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL AGREEMENT THAT WILL SUBSTANTIALLY
LOWER OUR COST OF OPERATIONS.

I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE DONE IN GETTING THIS
FACILITY OPERATIONAL.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE BY TAKING

DECISIVE ACTION TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND DO THE RIGHT THING AS OPPOSED
TO INGORING OUR OBLIGATIONS BOTH LEGALLY AND MORALLY BY LEAVING THEM
FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO ADDRESS.

ONCE AGAIN WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARDS, NOT FOLLOWING THEM.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN HAS US FOCUSED ON ONE GOAL – RETAINING,

ATTRACTING AND CREATING JOBS. WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH MANY
DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO ATTRACT NEW JOBS, CULTIVATE EXISTING BUSINESSES
AND CAPITALIZE ON WESTFIELD’S STRENGTHS.

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WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
NEITHER CITY GOVERNMENT NOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALONE CAN ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES WE FACE. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE EACH BRING UNIQUE
RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ONE POWERFUL TOOL THAT THE CITY OF WESTFIELD HAS STARTED TO UTILIZE IS
MARKETING. THIS PAST YEAR I PUT MONEY INTO A MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT
REALLY SHOWED THE TRUE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND AN INNOVATIVE
PUBLIC, NOT FOR PROFIT, AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT

DISTRICT AND THE WESTFIELD GAS & ELECTRIC TO POOL OUR LIMITED FINANCIAL
RESOURCES SO THAT TOGETHER OUR MONEY COULD BE UTILIZED FOR A GROUND
BREAKING MARKETING CAMPAIGN.

BUT THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING. WE THEN ASKED ONE OF OUR MOST
RESPECTED CITY BUSINESSES, WESTFIELD BANK, ABOUT MATCHING OUR
MARKETING EFFORTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK JIM HAGAN AND WESTFIELD BANK FOR
TRUSTING IN OUR CITY FOR OVER 157 YEARS AND WORKING WITH US TO BUILD
ANOTHER 157 YEARS OF LOCAL COMMUNITY BANKING.

BUT WE WEREN’T DONE YET. WE THEN APPROACHED THE WESTFIELD EVENING

NEWS, THE REPUBLICAN AND CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT HELPING
US GET OUR MESSAGE OUT.

EACH OF THESE CORPORATE CITIZENS RESPONDED TO OUR REQUEST AND

GENEROUSLY PROVIDED YET EVEN MORE ASSISTANCE.

AND ONCE AGAIN, BEING PROACTIVE AND THINKING TO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE
HAD A NUMBER OF OFFERS FROM OUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS AND OTHER
RADIO OUTLETS TO HELP IN OUR NEXT EFFORT.

ONCE AGAIN - WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARDS FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW

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ONE OF THE MAJOR EFFORTS THAT YOU WILL SEE AND HEAR A LOT ABOUT THIS
YEAR IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LONG DORMANT ELM STREET DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT THAT SPANS THE AREA FROM CHURCH STREET TO ARNOLD STREET.

FOR THE PAST DECADE THE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED LOOKED AT IT AS
A MAJOR INTEMODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER. WELL, TODAY I AM ANNOUNCING
THAT WE HAVE OBTAINED A GRANT TO FINISH THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK THAT
WAS NEVER FINISHED ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. THIS WORK HAS BEEN UNDERWAY
FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS AND I EXPECT THE RESULTS SOON.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WHILE THERE WILL BE A PORTION OF THE
SITE DEDICATED TO TRANSPORTATION; I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE
SITE WILL BE DESIGNED FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THIS SITE SEES OVER 30,000 CAR TRIPS A DAY. THIS IS A PREMIER LOCATION FOR
A COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL STYLE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS PROJECT THOUGH, WILL NOT BE EASY BUT AGAIN WITH HARD WORK, A PLAN
FOR SUCCESS AND ENLISTING THE COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT, I AM CONFIDENT WE
WILL, AFTER A QUARTER CENTURY, OF FAILED STARTS AND FAILED DREAMS, SEE
THIS SECTION OF ELM STREET COME ROARING BACK TO LIFE AND BE A ROBUST
ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR OUR DOWNTOWN ONCE AGAIN.

OUR ECONOMIC TEAM HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THE TEAM FROM THE PIONEER
VALLEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF AN AGREEMENT THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO DEVELOP A PROJECT DESIGN FOR THE SITE AND THEN SHARE IT
WITH YOU AND TO PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPERS.

WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE,

THE TRANSPORTATION SEGMENT OF THE PROJECT, HAS ATTACHED TO IT, NEEDED
FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS THAT WILL TO A LARGE EXTENT COVER A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF ANTICIPATED COSTS IN AN AREA OF THE PROJECT SITE THAT IS MOST
COSTLY TO DEVELOP.

IN THESE TOUGH TIMES WE NEED TO GARNER AS MANY SOURCES OF FUNDING

THAT WE CAN. THE FACT IS THAT WITH HUNDREDS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
LIVING DOWNTOWN THAT COME TO US FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION AND SPENDING

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OVER $120,000 A MONTH IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND A SIGNIFICANT LOCAL
RIDERSHIP ON THE PVTA THAT DEPEND ON THE PVTA TO GET TO WORK AND
GET TO THE PLACES MOST OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED, WE NEED TO INVEST IN A
FACILITY THAT PROVIDES A SAFE AND MODERN ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR BUS
RIDERS.

TO SAY WE DON’T NEED THIS FACILITY IS ONCE AGAIN, THAT THINKING FROM
THE PAST, WHERE WE SIMPLY IGNORE THE REALITY THAT IS IN FRONT OF US. I
HAVE PLEDGED TO TAKE ON CHALLENGES HEAD ON, MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON
FACTS, DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION AND THEN TAKE THAT ACTION.

AS I ENVISION THE NEW FACILITY, IT WOULD OCCUPY APPROXIMATELY 2000

SQUARE FEET OF SPACE AND BE SITUATED ON AN ENLARGED PORTION OF ARNOLD
STREET. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS FACILITY WILL BE THE MAIN STOP FOR THE
EAST/WEST AND NORTH/SOUTH PVTA BUSES, PROVIDE A BIRTH FOR INTERCITY AND
TOUR BUS VISITS AND A SHUTTLE SERVICE FOR OUR SENIORS AND STUDENTS.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?

WELL THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT LEAVES US WITH A LARGE PIECE OF THE TOTAL
ACREAGE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ALMOST ALL OF THE PROPERTY THAT FRONTS
ELM STREET AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THIS YEAR I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PUBLIC IN AN

ORDERLY AND RESPECTFUL MANNER AS TO WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
ON THIS SITE.

IN SPEAKING TO PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPERS FROM AROUND NEW ENGLAND ONE

CONCEPT THAT SEEMS TO HAVE SOME INTEREST IS SOMETHING OF A
MARKETPLACE, SIMILAR TO THORNES MARKET IN NORTHAMPTON.

A FOUR OR FIVE STORY BUILDING WITH AREA FOR MANY DIFFERENT SHOPS AND
OFFICE SPACE. I AM DRAWN TO THE IDEA OF HAVING A RETAIL, OFFICE, AND
RESTAURANT COMPLEX TO PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS AND VISITORS WITH A MULTI-
DIMENSIONAL CONSUMER EXPERIENCE.

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OVER THE LAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IT HAS BEEN SAID MALLS HAVE BEEN THE
DEATH OF DOWNTOWNS AND I THINK THIS IS A WAY TO BRING BACK RESIDENTS
AND VISITORS TO OUR DOWNTOWN.

FOR THIS SEGMANT OF THE PROJECT TO BECOME A REALITY LOCAL FUNDING

WOULD HAVE TO BE OBTAINED TO CLEAN THE SITE, ASSEMBLE THE SITE,
RELOCATE THE CURRENT TENANTS AND CLEAR THE SITE.

BUT FOR OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO THIS SITE IN
THE HEART OF OUR BELOVED DOWNTOWN AND I THINK IT’S ABOUT TIME THAT
WE STOP WAITING FOR A SAVIOR THAT’S NOT GOING TO COME AND TAKE OUR
FUTURE INTO OUR HANDS BY CREATING OUR OWN DESTINY.

ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF UTILIZING THE FEDERAL AND STATE

MONEY TO DEVELOP THE TRANSIT CENTER AREA AND PARKING WE WILL THEN
HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT OUR COST WILL BE.

WE WILL BE AS CONSERVATIVE AND CAUTIOUS AS YOU EXPECT US TO BE, YET WE

WILL BE AS CREATIVE AS WE NEED TO BE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. WE WILL LOOK
FOR SUPPLEMENTAL STATE/FEDERAL FUNDING, PRIVATE PARTNERS AND EXHAUST
EVERY RESOURCE FOR FUNDING BEFORE WE PRESENT A FINANCIAL PACKAGE TO
THE PUBLIC.

ONE THING TO REMEMBER, IF DONE RIGHT, EVERY DOLLAR WE INVEST LOCALLY

ON THIS SITE, SHOULD BE PAID BACK HANDSOMELY, – THROUGH BUILDING FEES,
FUTURE ENHANCED PROPERTY TAXES, AND MANY NEW JOBS.

BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A DOLLAR VALUE TO, A

“MARKET PLACE WESTFIELD” CONCEPT WILL PROVIDE US ALL WITH A
DOWNTOWN WE CAN BE PROUD OF. TO ME, THAT’S PRICELESS.

OTHER ECONOMIC INITIATIVES WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON INCLUDE THE FUTURE

FATE OF OUR ONCE ENVISIONED LANDFILL SITE OFF OF CABOT ROAD.

PRIOR TO TAKING OFFICE, I SPOKE OF DEVELOPING THE APPROXIMATELY 66 ACRES

OF CITY OWNED LAND THAT ABUTS TURNPIKE INDUSTRIAL WAY. THE TAXPAYERS
PAID OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS SITE IN THE LATE 1980’S AND I

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BELIEVE IT’S TIME TO GET OUR MONEY BACK AND THEN SOME ON THIS
INVESTMENT.

CERTAINLY NO ONE WANTS TO SEE A NEW LANDFILL BUILT THERE AND IT’S VERY
LIKELY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WILL
NEVER ALLOW A NEW LANDFILL THERE.

MY PLAN IS TO TURN IT INTO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUSINESS PARK. A

FUTURE PARK WOULD BE HOME TO UP TO A DOZEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND
HUNDREDS OF GOOD PAYING JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS.

AS ENVISIONED THIS PARK WOULD BE CREATED IN A SENSIBLE MANNER THAT IS

RESPECTFUL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NEAR IT. THE FIRST STEP IN THIS
PROCESS, A REQUEST FOR A NEEDED ZONE CHANGE, WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY
COUNCIL LATE LAST YEAR AND CURRENTLY SITS WITH THEM, WAITING FOR ACTION.

SOME WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER 60 OR MORE HOMES PUT THERE, BUT AT AN
ESTIMATED ANNUAL TAXATION OF $5000.00 PER YEAR IN PROPERTY TAX AND IF
HALF THE HOMES HAD TWO CHILDREN, THAT COST OVER $15,000 A YEAR TO
EDUCATE, YOU CAN THEN SEE THAT THIS USE WOULD BE A DRAIN TO THE
TAXPAYERS.

INITIAL TAX ESTIMATES TAKEN FROM A REVIEW OF TAX BILLS OF SIMILAR EXISTING
BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE THAT COULD BE HOUSED
IN THIS PARK, SHOWED THAT WE COULD SEE ANNUAL TAX PAYMENTS PER
BUSINESS RANGING FROM $30,000 to $80,000 PER YEAR PER BUSINESS DEPENDING
ON THEIR SIZE. IT IS THEN EASY TO SEE WHY THIS PROJECT SHOULD MOVE
FORWARD.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE VAST

MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL VACANT LAND IS ON THE NORTH SIDE AND IS OWNED BY
PRIVATE CITIZENS.

I HAVE ANNOUNDED LOUDLY AND CLEARLY, THAT I AM WORKING TO CHANGE

THE ECONOMIC MODEL ON THE NORTH SIDE FROM BIG BOX WAREHOUSING
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AND HELD OUT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE OVER TWENTY
YEARS AGO TO A NEW ECONOMIC REALITY:

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SMART, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, SMALL MANUFACTURING,
TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICE COMPANIES THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE
RESIDENTAIL EXPERIENCE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE A CHOICE, DO THE USUAL THING AND IGNORE THE PLEAS
OF OUR RESIDENTS AND ALLOW OUR FATE TO BE DETERMINED BY OTHERS, OR WE
CAN MOVE BOLDLY, BASED ON A SUSTAINABLE PLAN, THAT DETERMINES THE FATE
WE ALL WANT.

WE HAVE WORKED DILIGIANTLY OVER THE YEAR WITH BARNES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
MANAGEMENT TO START A NEW MARKETING INITIATIVE AND A DEVELOPMENT PLAN
TO START TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO OUR AIRPORT AND IDENTIFY EXISTING
BUSINESSES THAT ARE READY TO EXAND IF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE RIGHT MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS,
THE AIRPORT AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WILL BE BROUGHT INTO OUR NEW
DECADE WITH A PROMISE OF NEW JOBS, STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH BUSINESS
PARTNERS AND A SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT PROVIDES GOOD JOBS IN
THE AREA OF THE CITY THAT I CONSIDER OUR HIDDEN, CROWN JEWEL.

IN CONCERT WITH TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES, MY OFFICE IS WORKING

EVERYDAY TO ENSURE THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE HERE ALREADY ARE
OPERATING TO THE BEST THEY CAN BY ENSURING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT
HINDERING THEM.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, WE ARE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY AND AN

EXTREMELY COMPETIVE ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE WORKED TO BE PROACTIVE,
BY REACHING OUT TO THEM, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.

WE ARE ENGAGED IN DEVELOPING A MARKETING AND BRANDING PLAN TO ALLOW

US TO TELL OUR “WESTFIELD” STORY. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PUBLISHING A
NEW WEBSITE DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I LOOK
FORWARD TO RELEASING BOTH OF THESE INITIATIVES WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR, I WILL LOOK AT RE-DESIGNING OUR CITY OF WESTFIELD
WEBSITE IN ITS ENTIRETY. WHILE IT HAS SERVED AS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR MORE

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THAN 10 YEARS, WE CAN MODERNIZE IT AND MAKE IT MORE VIBRANT AND USER
FRIENDLY.

TRANSPARENCY IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND BUDGETING

JUST AS IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE EFFORT UNDERTAKEN TO INCORPORATE OUR

CITIZENS INTO THE DECISION MAKING OF OUR GOVERNMENT. I HAVE REACHED
OUT BY HOSTING A NUMBER OF PUBLIC MEETING FORUMS, A MONTHLY TV SHOW, A
MONTHLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, AND FACEBOOK UPDATES ON A REGULAR BASIS.

A NEW ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER WILL START THIS MONTH.

BUT MOST IMPORTANLY, I REOPENED THE MAYOR’S DOOR TO YOU, AFTER

BEING CLOSED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WITH GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTIBILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS IN MIND, IN 2010, I

STARTED THE MOVE TO MODERNIZE OUR CITY GOVERNMENT BY BRINGING THE
TOOLS OF OUR MODERN SOCIETY TO CITY HALL SO THAT WE CAN MOVE
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

I INVITED THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE INTO YOUR CITY HALL

TO REVIEW OUR FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND PROVIDE US WITH IDEAS FOR
IMPROVEMENTS AND PROVIDE ME WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT OUR CITY FINACIAL
OPERATIONS ARE SOUND SO THAT YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOUR TAX
DOLLARS ARE BEING MANAGED PROPERLY.

WE HAVE INSTALLED GPS UNITS IN MANY OF OUR CITY VEHICLES NOT ONLY AS A
SAFETY TOOL BUT ALSO A MANAGEMENT TOOL TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK WE
ALL NEED TO GET DONE, GETS DONE.

THIS SPRING WE ARE ROLLING OUT OUR CITISTAT INIATIVE THAT WILL BEGIN TO
TRACK OUR EFFORTS, IDENTIFY OUR SHORTCOMINGS AND HELP INPLEMENT
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, AGAIN SO THAT YOU THE CITIZENS ARE GETTING THE BEST
SERVICE WE CAN PROVIDE.

CITISTAT IS USED WIDELY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN OTHER CITIES. IT HAS BEEN
FOUND TO BE ENORMOUSLY SUCCESSFUL IN OPTIMIZING DELIVERY OF CORE
SERVICES TO CITIZENS, IN AN ERA OF INCREASING FINANCIAL REDUCTIONS.

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LIKE YOU, I BELIEVE THAT POLITICIANS FIND IT TOO EASY TO TURN TO YOU FOR
MORE MONEY AS OPPOSED TO MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS TO LIVE WITHIN
THEIR MEANS.

I FELT THAT YOU, THE CITIZENS, DESERVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT OTHER CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING. THAT IS EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT IN AN ERA OF REDUCTIONS IN STAFF, AND COST CUTTING WHEN YOUR
PRIORITIES ARE THE ONES THAT USUALLY GET CUT.

ADDITIONAL MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES FOR 2011 INCLUDE, A CITIZEN’S SELF

SERVICE FEATURE ON OUR WEBSITE. CITIZEN SELF SERVICE WILL ALLOW YOU TO
TRANSACT NEEDED BUSINESS ON YOUR SCHEDULE NOT THE GOVERNMENTS.

CITY HALL CLOSES AT 5, I GET THAT, TODAY YOU EXPECT 24 BY 7 ACCESS FOR
YOUR COMMERCE NEEDS. I’M TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

MOVING FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE, I AM LOOKING AT PROVIDING A CITYWIDE 311

INFORMATION CALL AND WEB SERVICE TO BE A ONE STOP SERVICE CENTER FOR
YOUR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, AND REQUESTS FOR SERVICE.

THIS SERVICE USED IN HUNDREDS OF CITIES ACROSS AMERICA ALLOWS YOU TO

PUT IN A REQUEST FOR SERVICE, SAY A POTHOLE REPAIR. YOU THEN WILL BE ABLE
TO FOLLOW THE WORK REQUEST THROUGH UNTIL IT’S COMPLETED. THIS ALLOWS
YOU TO MEASURE YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT’S EFFICIENCY IN RESPONDING TO
YOUR NEEDS.

ALL OF THESE EFFORTS HAVE SHOWN TO BE INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE IN OTHER

CITIES TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT, MORE RESPONSIVE AND
MORE PLEASANT TO INTERACT WITH.

BUDGETING

THE BUDGET WILL CONTINUE TO SEE VERY LEAN TIMES. IN FACT, IN FISCAL YEAR
2009 TO FISCAL YEAR 2011, YOUR CITY BUDGET INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY
$274,000.

THAT’S NOT MUCH ON AN APPROXIMATELY 106 MILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATION.

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AND SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2007, WE HAVE SEEN AN APPROXIMATE DECLINE OF OVER
4.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE AID.

BY USING THE BUDGET PLANNING PUBLIC FORUMS, I CAN HEAR FROM YOU
DIRECTLY, AS TO WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE CITY BUDGET, THE DOCUMENT
THAT DEFINES WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY BY SETTING OUR FUNDING
PRIORITIES.

FOR INSTANCE, LAST YEAR, I HEARD THAT YOU WANTED BULK PICKUP RE
INSTITUTED. SO I DID IT.

YOU WANTED A MORE AGGRESSIVE ROAD REPAIR EFFORT.

WE DID IT BY PAVING AND REPAIRING MORE ROADS THAN WE HAVE IN YEARS.

WE CLEARED A HUGE BACKLOG OF DEAD TREES, STUMPS AND LONG PERSISTENT

NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. ALL IN INCREDIBLY TOUGH ECONOMIC
TIMES.

I DID THIS BY AGGRESSIVELY MANAGING CITY OPERATIONS TO ENSURE THAT YOUR

PRIORITIES WERE ADDRESSED.

FAR TOO OFTEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE, FULL TIME, PAID PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS
ARE PARALYZED TO IMPLEMENT NEW AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO SOLVE OUR
PROBLEMS. THAT TYPE OF THINKING IS APPALLING TO ME. I CHOSE A DIFFERENT
PATH AS MAYOR.

LIKE YOU I AM TIRED OF SEEING GOVERNMENT TAKE CARE OF ITS OWN INTERESTS
AT YOUR EXPENSE. I WAS TIRED OF HEARING THE PHRASE, “MAYOR, WE CAN’T
DO THAT THERE’S NO MONEY.” OR THE OLD TIME FAVORITE PHRASE, “WE
CAN’T DO THAT, WE’VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.”

THE NEW SPIRIT OF YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS YES WE CAN DO IT. THERE’S NO
MORE, “NO MONEY EXCUSES”. WITH APPROPRIATE PLANNING WE’LL GET IT
DONE.

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AS AN EXAMPLE, MANY MAYORS’ STATEWIDE ARE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO ASSIST US WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROBLEM THAT HAS
ENVELOPED OUR EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PROGRAMS.

THE PROBLEM IS REAL SIMPLE; OUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ARE
TOO HIGH AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO COMPETITION.

I WAS NOT GOING TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND WAIT FOR BEACON HILL
POLITICIANS AND THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS TO COME TO THE RESCUE, BECAUSE IF
THEY WERE, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT BY NOW.

USING LESSONS LEARNED FROM OVER 20 YEARS IN PRIVATE BUSINESS, I WENT

OUT AND AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED A NEW NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PARTNER FOR
OUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE PROBLEM.

I NOW HAVE AN OFFER READY TO PRESENT TO THE EMPLOYEE UNIONS, WHO

MUST AGREE TO THIS CHANGE, THAT WILL SAVE US APPROXIMATELY 1.2
MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, PROVIDE AT LEAST $150,000 IN
PRESCRIPTION DRUG REBATES PER YEAR AND PROVIDE IMPROVED EMPOYEE
SERVICE WHILE ENSURING VIRTUALLY NO DISRUPTION IN EMPLOYEE MEDICAL
PROVIDERS.

HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ARE THE LARGEST ITEM IN THE BUDGET OUTSIDE OF
SALARY ACCOUNTS.

THE OLD THINKING OF DOING NOTHING CAN’T BE TOLERATERED. THE DAYS OF

LARGE INSURANCE PROVIDERS SUCKING OUR MONEY AWAY WITH BLOATED
DEMANDS FOR PREMIUM INCREASES WHILE BEING INCREDIBLY ARROGANT WITH
THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY NEEDS TO END.

WE DON’T HAVE TIME ANYMORE TO WAIT FOR BEACON HILL, WE CAN DO IT THIS
YEAR ON OUR OWN IF OUR EMPLOYEE UNIONS AGREE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE STATE CAN MAKE UNILATERAL CHANGES TO THEIR

HEALTH CARE PROGRAM. WITHOUT THAT AUTHORITY OR WITHOUT COMPETITION
THERE IS NO INCENTIVE FOR OUR PRESENT MAJOR INSURER TO LOWER COSTS.
THEY KNOW THEY HAVE US OVER A BARREL.

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AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE, WE HAVE FOUR CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH A COMBINED
PROJECTED EMPLOYEE SEVERANCE LIABILITY APPROACHING 2 MILLION DOLLARS
FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. AND A SIMILAR NUMBER IS PROJECTED FOR THE FUTURE
YEARS. I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE I ARRIVED IN SENDING THE MESSAGE,
THAT EVEN IN A GOOD ECONOMY THAT KIND OF PAYOUT IN ONE YEAR WOULD BE
DIFFICULT TO AFFORD.

LAST YEAR I ASKED OUR EMPLOYEE UNIONS TO AGREE TO A ONE YEAR RETIREMENT
NOTIFICATION AND A MULTI YEAR SEVERANCE PAYOUT SCHEDULE. WE HAD
LIMITED SUCCESS ACHIEVING THAT REQUEST.

I WILL ONCE AGAIN ASK FOR THE SAME AGREEMENT.

WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE DEDICATED, HARD WORKING EMPLOYEES, WITH THEIR

HELP, BY WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND CORE CITY SERVICES;
EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS SO THAT
YOUR PRIORITIES ARE ADDRESSED.

CLOSING REMARKS

AS WE FORGE AHEAD THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR IN OUR CITY, OUR OPPORTUNITIES

AND CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEFORE US WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE IN
SETTING THE STANDARDS AND NOT FOLLOWING THEM.

CITIES AND TOWNS FROM AROUND MASSACHUSETTS AND FAR BEYOND OUR STATE
BORDERS WILL LOOK AT WESTFIELD AS A CITY THAT CHALLENGED THE STATUS
QUO AND THE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES BY BEING INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE AND
UNITED TO BETTER OUR CITY.

IN THE COMING YEAR, I COMMIT TO THE CITIZENS OF WESTFIELD, TO CONTINUE TO

ADHERE TO THESE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES:

• CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO

OUR CHILDREN

• MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND SECURE

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 • CONTINUED OPENESS AND TRANPARENCY THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM

• CONTINUE TRUTH IN BUDGETING TO FUND YOUR PRIORITIES

• THINK AND ACT WITH CREATIVITY ABOUT BUSINESS GROWTH AND

RETENTION, AND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

• CONTINUE TO REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE

• SUPPORT CULTURAL ART AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES

• PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICES AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT BASED

ON BEST PRACTICES

FOLLOWING THESE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES, I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN OVERCOME

ANY CHALLENGE BEFORE US.

I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL, TOGETHER, MAKE WISE CHOICES FOR OUR

GROWTH AND HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL, AS A GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY CONTINUE

TO INVEST IN EDUCATION, OUR INFRASTUCTURE AND EMBRACE INNOVATION.

WE CANNOT AFFORD POLITICAL OR PERSONAL SELF INTEREST OR

UNPRODUCTIVE RHETORIC.

WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A

RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE MANNER!!

WE CAN DO THIS!

WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER!

AND WE CAN DO THIS IN 2011!

THANK YOU!

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