From: John Bennett
To: West Springfield Taxpayers
Subject: Great News
At long last on November 4th, in addition to voting for political candidates, you will have the opportunity (on the ballot) to vote Article 4 which is the Community Conservation Act. I enthusiastically support this act and hope you will too!!! Other venues will specifically articulate all the outstanding projects that can be accomplished like acquiring open space, protecting historical sites and many others. While this may seem a small increase in taxes about $34 per family per year the matching funds may actually reduce the levy.
Vote YES for article 4 on the ballot.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
WEST SPRINGFIELD HAS A FUTURE
This past weekend my wife and I were privileged to attend both the Turkish Festival on the Common in West Springfield and the Armenian Festival in Springfield. The Town Common is a great asset for West Springfield in as much as it is the center of the Town and the center of Town activity. We here in West Springfield have significantly large populations of Russian and Viet Nam immigrants. West Springfield can put this diversity on display by encouraging these recent immigrants to host festivals on the Town Common as did the Turkish Community. If we have an asset worth talking about, we should put it on display. Let us be more of a welcoming town then we now are. West Springfield is not the center of the universe but it has many assets that can be put on display for all in the Pioneer Valley to take note.
As the center of commercial and industrial traffic West Springfield is in an enviable position by being located at the crossroads of New England---truck and auto traffic running north and south, east and west make West Springfield attractive as a strategic center of commerce. West Springfield is the center of rail transportation with The Boston and Albany RR running east-west through the Town and the New York Central running north-south through the Town in addition to one of the largest trucking terminals in western Massachusetts. The trouble lies with both the Planning Board and the Town Administration to capitalize on these assets. We don’t need any more 55 or older retirement communities—we need industrial parks and commercial areas that will provide jobs for our citizens and Tax income for the Town. Today, West Springfield, and specifically Riverdale St and Westfield St commercial areas, feature FOR RENT and FOR SALE signs; what is the Administration doing to encourage businesses to come to West Springfield? According to today’s paper it has taken BMW 2 years to move from the east side of Riverdale St. to the west side---this is hardly welcoming and accommodating to local businesses.
As for being a Welcoming Community on July 21 I wrote the Mayor’s office regarding a meeting place for the West Springfield Taxpayers Assoc. I received a prompt reply July 23 from that office informing me that the MOB will be undergoing repairs through the end of October. In a letter dated July 26 I acknowledged the Mayor’s letter and requested any available space in the MOB the last Tuesday of each month for 1.5 hours. No reply, August 12 I phoned the Mayor’s Office and requested a reply. The secretary said she would relay the message, but still no reply. We subsequently scheduled the President’s Conference Room at Holyoke Community College for the rest of the year and, if we needed, the space for the year 2009. So much for accommodating taxpaying citizens of West Springfield that do not always agree with the Administration. In addition I assure you and the Administration we are not a terrorist organization.
The West Springfield Taxpayers Association now has a web site www.wstaxpayers.com. We welcome all citizens of West Springfield to visit us at that site and share their ideas regarding West Springfield’s Administration with us. The main thrust of the web site is to create a media whereby the everyday resident of West Springfield can participate in Local Civics 101. Remember, under the present strong mayor form of city government only one mayor and 4 city councilmen are needed to make ALL decisions. West Sringfield is more citizen oriented then the present form of government provides. We need changes in the way we conduct town business. A good start is to examine our present form of government.
Victor Thomas, 67 Riverview Ave. WS
As the center of commercial and industrial traffic West Springfield is in an enviable position by being located at the crossroads of New England---truck and auto traffic running north and south, east and west make West Springfield attractive as a strategic center of commerce. West Springfield is the center of rail transportation with The Boston and Albany RR running east-west through the Town and the New York Central running north-south through the Town in addition to one of the largest trucking terminals in western Massachusetts. The trouble lies with both the Planning Board and the Town Administration to capitalize on these assets. We don’t need any more 55 or older retirement communities—we need industrial parks and commercial areas that will provide jobs for our citizens and Tax income for the Town. Today, West Springfield, and specifically Riverdale St and Westfield St commercial areas, feature FOR RENT and FOR SALE signs; what is the Administration doing to encourage businesses to come to West Springfield? According to today’s paper it has taken BMW 2 years to move from the east side of Riverdale St. to the west side---this is hardly welcoming and accommodating to local businesses.
As for being a Welcoming Community on July 21 I wrote the Mayor’s office regarding a meeting place for the West Springfield Taxpayers Assoc. I received a prompt reply July 23 from that office informing me that the MOB will be undergoing repairs through the end of October. In a letter dated July 26 I acknowledged the Mayor’s letter and requested any available space in the MOB the last Tuesday of each month for 1.5 hours. No reply, August 12 I phoned the Mayor’s Office and requested a reply. The secretary said she would relay the message, but still no reply. We subsequently scheduled the President’s Conference Room at Holyoke Community College for the rest of the year and, if we needed, the space for the year 2009. So much for accommodating taxpaying citizens of West Springfield that do not always agree with the Administration. In addition I assure you and the Administration we are not a terrorist organization.
The West Springfield Taxpayers Association now has a web site www.wstaxpayers.com. We welcome all citizens of West Springfield to visit us at that site and share their ideas regarding West Springfield’s Administration with us. The main thrust of the web site is to create a media whereby the everyday resident of West Springfield can participate in Local Civics 101. Remember, under the present strong mayor form of city government only one mayor and 4 city councilmen are needed to make ALL decisions. West Sringfield is more citizen oriented then the present form of government provides. We need changes in the way we conduct town business. A good start is to examine our present form of government.
Victor Thomas, 67 Riverview Ave. WS
Friday, August 22, 2008
GOOD NEWS----BAD NEWS
WS CITY COUNCIL----AUG. 18, 2008
The WS Taxpayers Association and specifically myself have for the past number of years have been critical of the spending habits of this administration, the system of checks and balances that are supposed to make city government function, and the lack of effective influence that the common taxpayer-voter has over the conduct of town business. Unfortunately, good news does not dominate the press. The news journals in general, thrive on reporting bad news. Well, maybe I can begin by singling out some of the good things that have happened in West Springfield over this past year.
(1) The Community Development Office, and specifically Joe Laplante (a one man office) has quietly applied and received grants for West Springfield over the past number of years and specifically this year began transforming the old railroad property into an industrial park that will be an asset to West Springfield.
(2) The Veteran’s Service Office and specifically Jim Barrelli (another one man office) has quietly and most effectively assisted hundreds of veterans of all the wars since WWII in an office that can best be described as less then ideal.
(3) The Park and Recreation department’s summer program featuring a well attended water park at the Piper Reservoir area, summer baseball, swimming and other events for the school children during their summer breaks.
(4) The School Dept and specifically the High School orientation day for new incoming students. This is where new students meet their teachers, find their assigned lockers and become familiar with what is to become their new surroundings. On a personal note, I have 6 children who all graduated from WS High School. All 6 went to HCC, 6 eventually received their BA degrees, and 3 of the 6 received Masters degrees and 1 of the 3 received his PHD from Stanford University. The WS school system and especially the dedicated teachers in the system must be recognized for this success story.
(5) The office of the Mayor featured in the August 10 article of the Republican
there was an article entitled “West Side gets top credit score.” This year’s premium for all insurances was$538, 993 and the city was refunded $39,700
By the Interlocal insurance Association for the control that have put in place by that office. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
The above departments are not gold metal winner in a town government competition but a representation of many in the town government that are dedicated to doing more then just showing up for work and picking up a paycheck.
RETURNING TO THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENT PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE MAKING CURRENT NEWS.
I went into the Collector’s Office this past week to pay a water bill and low and behold we have a new counter and the monstrosity of a huge wall rising from the counter to the ceiling with glass (not bullet proof) at varied counter locations.
WHY???? Here we have a physical barrier in addition to the counter separating the public from the staff in the collector’s office. This appears to be the product of a BUNKER MENTALITY. I have spoken on this question when there was a request before the Council for funding, but to no avail. Every bank in town has counter space between the clerks and the customer, but not a solid unfriendly wall that separates the Taxpaying public from the clerks. What can be safer then being in the same building with the police department and no more then spitting distance away from that department? A simple buzzer in the Collector’s Office I believe would have police in that office in seconds. What bank in town has the same option? If the Collector’s Office needs this type of protection from the public, what about the remaining departments in Town that deal with the public? Can you imagine similar walls in the School Department, Assessor’s Office, Building Department, etc? True not every member of the public has gentle words with the Town Staff; but as in the past the Town Employees in the MOB are professional enough to handle unruly customers. This is common to any and all public and private places of business.
Back then I asked the question WHY? No clear answer. But one thing is clear to me; there is something wrong with the chain of command here in Town government, their reliance on consultants and their lack of exercise of common sense when it comes to dealing with the consultant’s recommendations.
Another problem area that will eventually lead to costly solutions to problems that do not exist is PARKING in the central business district.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR?
(1) Some 20+ parking spaces have been removed from the front of the MOB and Elm Street.
(2) A parking maid has been hired to police the area and hand out tickets. This job was previously done by random police cars in the area and not dedicated parking maid, as is now the case.
(3) The Planning Board in its questionnaire to the general public has as question #3 on page 13. “Would you support being charged for parking downtown?”
(4) Being discussed at the past Master Plan Session was “Do you think we need a Parking Garage?”
Lets put all this together. One questionable assumption and act has lead to a possible unnecessary solution, which then leads to further questionable solutions to problems that don’t exist. NOTE: Parking is not a problem that needs a complex solution. Let’s look at three public buildings: The Library, The Fire Dept and the MOB; their parking areas are connected but each has its own parking spaces and separated by barriers. What is wrong with removing the barriers between these public parking areas and make it into one large shared parking space? What is to be lost by opening up the no parking areas on Center St & Elm Street to expand the parking and reassign the Parking Maid to regular police duty? This solution is too simple---the accepted solution is Tax and Spend, or Spend and then Tax to solve problems that do not exist.
If we do not get reform, we should be ready to create more walls that divide the town employees from the taxpaying public. MR MAYOR, TEAR DOWN THESE WALLS. Vic Thomas, 67 Riverview Ave., WS
The WS Taxpayers Association and specifically myself have for the past number of years have been critical of the spending habits of this administration, the system of checks and balances that are supposed to make city government function, and the lack of effective influence that the common taxpayer-voter has over the conduct of town business. Unfortunately, good news does not dominate the press. The news journals in general, thrive on reporting bad news. Well, maybe I can begin by singling out some of the good things that have happened in West Springfield over this past year.
(1) The Community Development Office, and specifically Joe Laplante (a one man office) has quietly applied and received grants for West Springfield over the past number of years and specifically this year began transforming the old railroad property into an industrial park that will be an asset to West Springfield.
(2) The Veteran’s Service Office and specifically Jim Barrelli (another one man office) has quietly and most effectively assisted hundreds of veterans of all the wars since WWII in an office that can best be described as less then ideal.
(3) The Park and Recreation department’s summer program featuring a well attended water park at the Piper Reservoir area, summer baseball, swimming and other events for the school children during their summer breaks.
(4) The School Dept and specifically the High School orientation day for new incoming students. This is where new students meet their teachers, find their assigned lockers and become familiar with what is to become their new surroundings. On a personal note, I have 6 children who all graduated from WS High School. All 6 went to HCC, 6 eventually received their BA degrees, and 3 of the 6 received Masters degrees and 1 of the 3 received his PHD from Stanford University. The WS school system and especially the dedicated teachers in the system must be recognized for this success story.
(5) The office of the Mayor featured in the August 10 article of the Republican
there was an article entitled “West Side gets top credit score.” This year’s premium for all insurances was$538, 993 and the city was refunded $39,700
By the Interlocal insurance Association for the control that have put in place by that office. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
The above departments are not gold metal winner in a town government competition but a representation of many in the town government that are dedicated to doing more then just showing up for work and picking up a paycheck.
RETURNING TO THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENT PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE MAKING CURRENT NEWS.
I went into the Collector’s Office this past week to pay a water bill and low and behold we have a new counter and the monstrosity of a huge wall rising from the counter to the ceiling with glass (not bullet proof) at varied counter locations.
WHY???? Here we have a physical barrier in addition to the counter separating the public from the staff in the collector’s office. This appears to be the product of a BUNKER MENTALITY. I have spoken on this question when there was a request before the Council for funding, but to no avail. Every bank in town has counter space between the clerks and the customer, but not a solid unfriendly wall that separates the Taxpaying public from the clerks. What can be safer then being in the same building with the police department and no more then spitting distance away from that department? A simple buzzer in the Collector’s Office I believe would have police in that office in seconds. What bank in town has the same option? If the Collector’s Office needs this type of protection from the public, what about the remaining departments in Town that deal with the public? Can you imagine similar walls in the School Department, Assessor’s Office, Building Department, etc? True not every member of the public has gentle words with the Town Staff; but as in the past the Town Employees in the MOB are professional enough to handle unruly customers. This is common to any and all public and private places of business.
Back then I asked the question WHY? No clear answer. But one thing is clear to me; there is something wrong with the chain of command here in Town government, their reliance on consultants and their lack of exercise of common sense when it comes to dealing with the consultant’s recommendations.
Another problem area that will eventually lead to costly solutions to problems that do not exist is PARKING in the central business district.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR?
(1) Some 20+ parking spaces have been removed from the front of the MOB and Elm Street.
(2) A parking maid has been hired to police the area and hand out tickets. This job was previously done by random police cars in the area and not dedicated parking maid, as is now the case.
(3) The Planning Board in its questionnaire to the general public has as question #3 on page 13. “Would you support being charged for parking downtown?”
(4) Being discussed at the past Master Plan Session was “Do you think we need a Parking Garage?”
Lets put all this together. One questionable assumption and act has lead to a possible unnecessary solution, which then leads to further questionable solutions to problems that don’t exist. NOTE: Parking is not a problem that needs a complex solution. Let’s look at three public buildings: The Library, The Fire Dept and the MOB; their parking areas are connected but each has its own parking spaces and separated by barriers. What is wrong with removing the barriers between these public parking areas and make it into one large shared parking space? What is to be lost by opening up the no parking areas on Center St & Elm Street to expand the parking and reassign the Parking Maid to regular police duty? This solution is too simple---the accepted solution is Tax and Spend, or Spend and then Tax to solve problems that do not exist.
If we do not get reform, we should be ready to create more walls that divide the town employees from the taxpaying public. MR MAYOR, TEAR DOWN THESE WALLS. Vic Thomas, 67 Riverview Ave., WS
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