PROMISES KEPT: YEAR FOUR
MAYOR BRINDLE'S 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW
Once again, we are wrapping up a year that is not one any of us expected, after we began it full of anticipation that the roll out of vaccines would return us to normalcy. Our community stepped up and did our part by getting vaccinated, but both the Delta and Omicron variants have presented ongoing challenges that have understandably left us with COVID fatigue as we approach the two-year mark of this pandemic.But the reality is that we have come incredibly far from those early days of the pandemic, and even from this time last year. Thanks to your efforts, we have not suffered the extent of the grief and loss we experienced in 2020. And most importantly, our community continues to demonstrate resilience, generosity, compassion, and above all, hope. And in that spirit, it’s important to reflect on what we accomplished this year in spite of its challenges, and offer appreciation and gratitude to those who made it possible. First, I’d like to thank the members of the Town Council, and in particular Finance Chair Linda Habgood, Public Works Chair David Contract, Public Safety Chair Mike Dardia, and Code Review Chair Mark Parmelee for their efforts in leading many of our 2021 initiatives. Additionally, my gratitude to Councilpersons Dawn Mackey, Scott Katz, Jim Boyes, and Mark LoGrippo for their continued support and tireless advocacy.None of these accomplishments would be possible without the incredible efforts and dedication of our Town employees, and in particular Town Administrator Jim Gildea, who has continued to lead with a steady hand through unprecedented times. I would further like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts and collaboration demonstrated by our Town department heads and their employees who continue to provide uninterrupted and unparalleled service to our residents. Thank you to Westfield Police Chief Chris Battiloro, Fire Chief Tony Tiller, DPW Director Greg O’Neil, Recreation Director Don Bogardus, Public Information Officer Kim Forde, and Regional Health Director Megan Avallone who kept us safe, healthy, and informed.We continue to focus on the four key priorities that I committed to when first elected: (1) strong fiscal oversight, (2) charting a vision for our future, (3) championing quality of life issues, and (4) increasing resident engagement. This year, we have bounced back from the COVID fiscal uncertainty that clouded 2020 to fulfill many of our key priorities. I share these 2021 Town Council accomplishments to reaffirm our commitment to continuing to work for you, and to ensure that you hold us accountable for representing your interests.?? Highlights: ??Continued to lead our community through a global pandemic, prioritizing health, safety, and communication, while managing our fiscal recovery and the successful restoration of Town services??Maintained a healthy $5.6M budget surplus and AAA bond rating??Paved 15 miles of roads, with approximately nine paid for by the utility companies as a result of 2019 road paving ordinance ??Increased fines tenfold on graffiti bias crimes??Adopted 29 general ordinances which included historic designations, licensing of landscapers, outlawing private residential pool rentals, and more??Attained police department state professional accreditation for the first time in Town history, establishing the Westfield Police Department as one of only 4% of departments in the country to achieve this designation ??Successfully managed the clean up and recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Ida, including the first-ever storm related bulky waste pick up by Town’s DPW??Completed and adopted Town’s first ever Land Use and Circulation Plan, finalizing last step of Master Plan and providing a holistic roadmap for future growth??Continued to prioritize RVL fight for better service and peak one-seat rides as co-chair of the RVL Mayors’ Alliance, resulting in five additional same-platform transfers and a visit by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg affirming his commitment to supporting construction of Gateway and new Hudson River tunnel crossings??Introduced Edison School field proposal in collaboration with BOE ?? Planted approximately 650 trees Town-wide by the DPW??Adopted Redevelopment Plan and PILOT agreement for Westfield Crossing on South Avenue, providing an anticipated $15M net revenue benefit to the Town, $750,000 in public improvements, and significantly advancing Town’s affordable housing obligations??Allowed for adaptive reuse of Handler Building on North Avenue to be converted to region’s first hydroponic vertical farm??Launched new and enhanced Town website allowing for enhanced automation, online payment, and communication tools?? Implemented enhanced Open Quimby to support our Downtown businesses ?? Received $1.3M in pursued grants, the most in decades??Adopted ordinance to allow for makerspaces downtown which led to the purchase of the Rialto by the Westfield Arts Collective and transformation into the Center for Creativity??Awarded Silver Certification by Sustainable Jersey for the second time in Town history, increasing eligibility for grants and funding ??Celebrated the opening of the 501 South Avenue apartment building, which is fully leased and central to the vitalization of the south sideBelow is a comprehensive list of 2021 accomplishments, broken out by key priorities:1?? Provide strong fiscal oversight, enhance operating efficiencies, and identify new revenue sources ?? Successfully managed post-COVID fiscal recovery by keeping appropriation increase to historically low 1%, restoring impacted revenue sources (parking, court, pool), and replenishing surplus??Paved 15 miles of roads, mostly funded by County, State, and utility companies ??Launched new Town website enabling enhanced automation, communication, and online payment tools??Prioritized a Town culture of innovation and customer service with new hires in key positions??Finalized new four-year contract with PBA 2?? Chart a vision for Westfield’s future that embraces growth and innovation, improves the downtown business climate, and effectively manages redevelopment??Finalized and adopted first-ever Land Use and Circulation Plans with traffic and zoning recommendations incorporated into the Master Plan Reexamination??Reclaimed control over key development projects by requiring and adopting redevelopment plans for three separate sites ??Awarded contract to operator for newly renovated train station coffee kiosk in anticipation of January 2022 opening??Made progress on converting north side train station to a restaurant/bar in collaboration with operator and NJT with anticipated 1Q22 announcement??Partnered with the DWC on initiatives to drive downtown foot traffic, including the holiday Downtown Welcome Center, Glo SeeSaw exhibit, ice sculpting exhibit, the return of Sweet Sounds, and regular summer weekend entertainment ??Supported enhancements to Open Quimby, including additional dining tables, a game area, tents, lighting, and installation of a decorative directional sign for photo ops3?? Champion quality of life issues that impact all residents Public Health??Achieved 98% COVID vaccination rate among our 18+ population as a result of hosting numerous vaccination clinics, including mobile clinics for most vulnerable populations as well as employees of downtown businesses. Also provided on-site home and workplace visits.Parks/Recreation?? Partnered with BOE on a potential shared service agreement to allow for new athletic and recreational facilities with the Edison Fields project to significantly improve field capacity??Successfully reopened Memorial Pool complex on sound financial footing with with significant increases in membership ??Renewed the Westfield Rink at Gumbert Park for an additional two years ??Introduced new sensory garden in Mindowaskin Park in collaboration with the Girl Scouts??Held two park clean-ups organized by the Green Team??Partnered with Friends of Brightwood for extensive clean up and expansion of educational and recreational opportunities ??Successfully introduced first Tour De Westfield bike event to promote safe biking in town??Fixed and/or upgraded aerators in town pond at Brightwood?? Installed Westfield’s first rain garden at Tamaques Park in conjunction with the DPW and Rutgers UniversityGreen Team/Sustainability?? Awarded Silver Certification by Sustainable Jersey for second consecutive year??Awarded NJ DEP Municipal Recycler of the Year Award ??Awarded NJ State Department of Education Awards for food waste program with Jefferson School Green Team?? Continued to expanded recycling program at Conservation Center with the addition of #5 plastics and crayon recycling; resumed food waste recycling program??Held a variety of events, including the first Alternative Energy Fair, second annual Earth Month, third annual Free Market which collected over four tons of household goods for reuse, and third annual Earth Day Fair??Installed six EV Chargers in downtown parking lots at no cost to Town in partnership with Volta ??Installed ten new energy efficient storm windows at Town Hall with grant funding ??Secured adoption of a Sustainable Land Use Pledge, Green Building Policy Resolution, and Green Development Checklist Ordinance to support sustainable development Public Safety??Attained professional accreditation for Westfield Police Department for the first time in Town history ??Assigned two Westfield Police Officers on a full-time basis to the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force, resulting in a 93% recovery rate of stolen vehicles??Conducted numerous speed studies throughout Town to assess conditions for traffic intervention??Installed permanent traffic calming median at St. Marks and South Euclid, and temporary median at Boulevard and Grove Street??Installed new traffic light systems at W. Broad & Scotch Plains Ave and Lamberts Mill Road & Rahway, in partnership with Union County ??Expanded police-worn body camera program to entire police force??Secured purchase of license plate readers to be installed in every patrol vehicle in 2022??Purchased and installed ten speed sign devices at key locations around Town to deter speeding and collect information to perform targeted enforcement measures ??Fulfilled multiple requests for stop sign installations and refreshed/newly installed striping patterns to enhance public safety?? Expanded Bicycle Advisory Board to further the goals of the Westfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and those of the Land Use Circulation ElementQuality of Life ??Designated two additional historic properties at property owners’ request, bringing our total to seven, the most in Town history ??Introduced Westfield Infrastructure Resiliency Committee (WIRC) to address holistic and long-term stormwater challenges post-Ida ??Passed ordinance increasing fines tenfold for graffiti bias crimes ??Adopted ordinance to require landscapers to be licensed and registered ??Passed ordinance banning the rental of private residential pools ??Introduced several public art initiatives, including new murals under the Central Avenue underpass funded by the Public Arts Commission and AddamsFest, the first outdoor photography exhibit “Through the Lens: Community," and chalk art installation4?? Increase resident engagement by improving transparency and communication to better reflect the open, inclusive, innovative and collaborative spirit of our community??Introduced weekly Mayor’s email newsletter summarizing significant town updates ?? Launched new Town website?? Hosted a series of Facebook Live discussion forums with Town employees and industry experts on topics such as affordable housing, Police and Fire Department updates, smart redevelopment, the future of retail, the evolution of public spaces, and reimagining the workplace?? Held Westfield Remembers service to honor the 49 lives in Westfield lost to COVID??Held fourth annual AddamsFest, financially self-funded through a series of events, including Masquerade Ball, Art exhibit, Drive-in Movies, Family Fun Day, Ale Garden, Haunt Your House, and Wicked Windows??Commemorated 20th Anniversary of September 11 with community memorial service??Supported first March to Yorktown in partnership with the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary route ??Memorialized rainbow crosswalks in town by making them permanent ??Hosted over 15 events to support our seniors through Lifelong Westfield which also provided a quarterly seniors newsletter, a calendar of events, and weekly check in phone calls for homebound seniors
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