TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OPENING REMARKS: MAY 24, 2022

DWC LEADERSHIP

At last week’s DWC Board meeting, Executive Director Bob Zuckerman announced his resignation, effective June 3, to accept a position as Executive Director of the Red Bank River Center as his family plans for an eventual relocation to Asbury Park. I would like to thank Bob for his professional insight and many valuable contributions during his tenure at the DWC. Bob began his job at the DWC in March of 2020 – the worst time imaginable, as the pandemic forced the closure of many downtown businesses for an extended period of time. He immediately got to work, serving as an important liaison between our businesses and the state and federal government to explore and communicate all funding options and available resources to keep our local businesses afloat. As we slowly came out of the pandemic and saw businesses re-open, he played an integral role in the execution of Open Quimby – providing additional outdoor dining and retail space, as well as community programming, to drive increased foot traffic at a critical time for our business community.

Now, two years later, we are in the midst of what is clearly a positive trajectory in our downtown, with more than 30 new openings and expanded businesses this year– representing a broader diversity in dining, retail, and professional services. Bob and the entire DWC Board are to be commended for laying the groundwork over the last two years for this revitalization, which is only just beginning. 

DWC Chair Lew Kimble will be forming a committee to conduct a formal search for a new Executive Director, with additional details coming shortly. In the meantime, I am proud of what the DWC has accomplished under Bob’s leadership in partnership with the Town, and am grateful to Bob for his ongoing dedication – I wish him all the best in his new endeavor!

SUSTAINABLE JERSEY GRANT

Yesterday, Sustainable Jersey announced the thirty-five New Jersey municipalities, schools and school districts selected to receive a Sustainable Jersey grant funded by the PSEG Foundation. I’d like Councilman Contract to provide the details about Westfield’s grant award.

Remarks by Councilman Contract:
I’m pleased to report that Westfield received one of the seven $20,000 grants – the highest amount awarded – for the Green Team’s application to install “bike oases” within the downtown area that can be used to house bikes while residents go shopping. Each oasis is expected to include places for residents to rest, charge phones, and make bike repairs – further advancing our efforts to make Westfield more bicycle-friendly as part of our sustainability platform. Thanks to Karrie Hanson and Jay Goldring for their work on the successful grant application. 

TONIGHT'S AGENDA

Tonight, we will be voting on a number of resolutions covering a range of issues, a few of which I’ll briefly highlight.

Public Safety, Transportation, and Parking Committee
I’d like to thank Councilman Dardia, as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, for bringing forward a resolution authorizing an award of contract for solar-powered speed displays. This was part of the 2022 capital budget and provides for nine additional speed box radar signs, adding to the ten we purchased last year.


Finance Policy Committee 
And, finally, Councilwoman Habgood will provide an overview on several of the Finance Policy Committee resolutions.

Remarks by Councilwoman Habgood:
On the Finance Policy front, we’ll vote on resolutions authorizing the following actions:

• Entering a lease agreement with Enterprise for police vehicles – the continuation of a program that has proven to be very beneficial. 
• Requesting permission from the State to establish a Dedication by Rider for donations to fund sustainability Initiatives, which will allow us to deposit donations and other funds to be dedicated for sustainable purposes. 
• Entering a Cooperative Pricing Agreement, which provides us the opportunity to achieve better pricing on many types of services. 
• Awarding contracts for the next stages of work on the upgrades to the Council Chambers that are part of the approved 2022 municipal budget. 

With that, let’s get to work. 

Thank you.