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