MAYOR'S UPDATE:
JANUARY 28

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this week’s Town Council meeting, where we discussed several key items, including ordinances on first reading related to sewer fees and public comment, as well as a resolution authorizing the release of funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Arc of Union County for a group home at 901 Morris Avenue. You can find the full details on these legislative items on the meeting replay and in the opening remarks from the meeting.

On the COVID front, we continue to trend in the right direction following the Omicron surge. The state’s seven-day average for new confirmed positive tests is down 35% from a week ago and 46% from a month ago. Hospitalizations statewide are down about 39% from the most recent peak on January 11, although Governor Murphy emphasized earlier this week that hospitalizations are still higher than they’ve been since the initial wave in the spring of 2020, and ICU and ventilator numbers are coming down much more slowly. While everything is trending favorably, it’s important that we continue to mask up in public places and get boosted if you have not already done so. 

Yesterday was International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which serves as an important reminder of the atrocities committed in the name of hatred that we can never allow to be repeated. We stand with our Jewish friends and neighbors, not just yesterday, but every day, to denounce hate in all forms. We are very fortunate to have the upcoming forum hosted by the MLK Association of Westfield and the Human Relations Advisory Commission – Disrupt Hate – Working Toward an Inclusive Westfield – on February 3 at 7:00 PM at Westfield High School and via live stream. As we continue to look at the causes and solutions around recent bias incidents right here in our town, this panel discussion is just one step of many we can take to advance our goal of living in an inclusive community that stands up for each other. For additional details and to pre-register, please visit bit.ly/Accountability-Action-Against-Hate. I look forward to a productive conversation that represents a diversity of perspectives.

I’m also including the latest information on this weekend’s snow storm, and we’ll continue to keep you updated once it gets underway. Please make sure you are signed up for Nixle alerts (text 07090 to 888777) for public safety information. We’ll also have updates posted on our website and social media channels. Stay safe and warm! 

WINTER STORM INFORMATION

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for our area from 7:00 PM tonight through 7:00 PM on Saturday, with four to seven inches of snow expected. Governor Murphy has declared a State of Emergency for all of New Jersey, beginning at 5:00 PM today, which means that all nonessential personnel should stay off the roads so as not to interfere with law enforcement, emergency responders, and plowing operations.

In anticipation of the storm, the Department of Public Works has been pre-treating roads throughout Town this afternoon, and will begin plowing operations once three inches of snow has accumulated. 

As a reminder, Public Ordinance 2070 prohibits parking on any street in Westfield when three or more inches of snow have fallen until snowfall stops and the entire width of the road has been plowed. The Westfield Police Department will issue tickets for violations of this ordinance. Please remember that the shoveling or blowing of snow into a plowed street is also banned.

Downtown residents without driveways may park in Lot 1 behind Farinolio/Chipotle. Lot 3 at the south side train station will also be made available temporarily for off-street parking, as the demand for commuter spaces in that location has been reduced due to the pandemic. All cars must be removed from Lot 3 no later than Sunday morning to avoid being ticketed. 

In addition, the following locations are subject to alternate side of the street parking after three inches of snow have fallen, and vehicles need to park on the side of the street with even house numbers (except for Ross Place).

• 400 & 500 block of Downer Street
• 400 block of First Street
• Livingston Street
• Cacciola Place
• Cowperthwaite Place between Elm and Clark Streets
• 300 & 400 block of Lenox Avenue
• 200 block of St. Paul Street
• Entire length of Ross Place (park on the side with odd numbers only)

The Conservation Center will be closed tomorrow, January 29. 

COVID-19

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, five out of the six regions in the state (including our Central East region) are showing high levels of activity, trending in the right direction after last week showed five out of six in very high activity levels. Rates of transmission and positivity rates continue to decline. 

So far in January, there have been 921 cases identified in Westfield, 40% of which were in those ages 19 and below, with 10% under age 5 (including 13 infants).

State health officials reported this week that twelve children in New Jersey have died of COVID since the start of the pandemic. Four children have died since Christmas, and three of those children were infants. To put these numbers into perspective, New Jersey typically has one or two pediatric flu deaths during each flu season that lasts about five months. Public health efforts on COVID remain focused on protecting the most vulnerable, which includes children under five who are too young to be vaccinated.

Statewide, vaccination rates have decreased by 16% from last week’s rate, with an average of 30.6K doses administered per day. More than 6.5 million New Jersey residents are fully vaccinated, and more than 2.7 million have received third doses or boosters. 

In Union County, 72% of the population is fully vaccinated. In Westfield, 99% of adults and 79% of our entire population is fully vaccinated. Additional breakdowns by location and age group can be found on the NJ COVID-19 Dashboard.

The Health Department will continue to offer COVID vaccination clinics, walk-in appointments, and home visits throughout the winter – in addition to free flu vaccinations for any adult 18 or older. 

All residents over the age of 12 who are five months past their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or two months past their dose of J&J, are highly encouraged to get a booster dose, as recommended by the CDC. Any resident interested in receiving the vaccine can call 908-789-4070. 

POLICE UPDATE

Our crossing guard management company, ACMS, has recently hired several new guards, who are in the final stages of completing their training. We expect that these new hires, in combination with what continues to be an ongoing trend of declining COVID cases, will alleviate some of the recent staffing shortages as soon as the week of February 7. We will of course continue to reassess each week based on available personnel. Thanks to everyone for your ongoing patience as we face pandemic-driven staffing shortages similar to many sectors of the workforce.

In terms of police activity this week, the department responded to reports of attempted car burglary, vehicle theft, DUI, and property theft. You can read more details in the weekly Police Blotter, which is posted every Tuesday on the Westfield Police Department’s website, as well as on the their Facebook (@WestfieldNJPD) and Instagram (@westfieldnjpd) pages. 

CONSERVATION CENTER EXPANDED WINTER HOURS

Back by popular demand, we are beginning the Conservation Center’s expanded winter hours next week. The Center will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00-12:00 beginning January 31, in addition to the previously scheduled Saturdays from 9:00-3:00 (February 12, February 26, and March 12). As a reminder, the Center offers an extensive recycling drop-off program that includes not only curbside recyclables, but also #5 plastics, books, cardboard, clothing/shoes, electronics, food waste, plastic bags, and more – all free of charge and no permit required. The bulk waste drop off program is also available for a fee. For full information about accepted items and schedules, visit westfieldnj.gov/conservation.

PUBLIC BUDGET FORUM

Thanks to everyone who attended last night’s public budget forum, hosted by the Town Council Finance Policy Committee, where they reviewed the performance of the 2021 budget, provided an overview of the 2022 budget process, and solicited input from residents prior to this year's budget formation.

The committee reported the good news that, despite the ongoing fiscal uncertainties driven by COVID, the Town did fairly well in 2021, in large part due to reserves, healthy tax collections and necessary budget reductions made in 2020 to position the Town for success in 2021 and beyond. Importantly, in this challenging environment, we generated $3.6MM in surplus ($1MM more than we generated the previous year) to end 2021 with a $9.4MM surplus balance. If you missed it, the presentation is posted on our website, and you can submit any follow-up questions to budget@westfieldnj.gov.