Westfield City Clerk Kaitlyn Bruce swears in Mayor Michael McCabe on Jan. 5 at Westfield High School with Jennipher McCabe at his side.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
WESTFIELD — City Clerk Kaitlyn Bruce swore in Mayor Michael McCabe and all of the newly-elected city officials at the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 5 at Westfield High School.
Afterward, McCabe expressed his thanks and appreciation to all in his inaugural address.
McCabe welcomed newly reelected at large Councilor Dan Knapik, who was unable to attend the inauguration; new School Committee member Kick Sullivan, who previously served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 11 years, Jeffrey Gosselin, who previously served the School Committee and Commission for Citizens with Disabilities, and new Ward 1 Municipal Light Board Commissioner Thomas Fanion, who served the city for 24 years in operations management at the Housing Authority.
McCabe thanked Bruce for her “commitment to excellence in all things” and for the morning’s event along with the help of School Committee member Bo Sullivan and City Council President John Beltrandi III, who recruited several members of his family to participate, including Danica Fini, 8, who helped to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
In a brief City Council meeting following the inauguration, Beltrandi was unanimously reelected to serve another one-year term as president.
McCabe also thanked his wife Jennipher McCabe for being on the journey with him. “Thanks for your patience and your willingness to be a private sounding board,” he said to her.
He went on to thank Amy Tosi, who he said “just kills it as an office manager” with 26 boards and commissions, each with needs and their own set of protocols.
He thanked Westfield High School Principal Charles Jendrysik, Band Leader Patrick Kennedy and Show Choir Director Korey Bruno. Both groups performed during the ceremony.
McCabe then talked about infrastructure, economic development and staffing, all of which he said have seen significant gains during his first two-year term. He said Westfield resurfaced or repaved 20 miles of pavement on 56 city roads, and replaced 10 miles of sidewalks across 23 streets.
He said Complete Streets’ efforts on Broad Street and East Silver have been successful at slowing down traffic in the downtown area, which helped to boost the downtown corridor, designated by the Mass. Cultural Council as a Cultural District in November of 2024.
McCabe congratulated Community Development Director Peter Miller and his team for getting it done.
McCabe said since 2024, more than 30 new entrepreneurs have invested in the community, opening art dealerships, boutiques, barbershops, hair salons, marketplaces, cafés and restaurants.
He said businesses like ALDI, Entre Technologies, James Hardie and ERD Metals have moved into town; and longtime businesses such as John S. Lane and Sons, celebrating 100 years, and Mestek, 80 years this year, continue to thrive.
“The 104th Fighter Wing will continue operations as the guardian of the North American east coast, the addition of the F35s marking a new era of security and stability,” McCabe said, adding, “The 104th’s own Col. Michael Glass will be flying in the first F-35 on June 13 of this year.”
McCabe said the city is also fortunate to have Airport Manager Dan Shearer guiding the efforts to make the transition to the larger planes more comfortable for residents.
In addition, McCabe said the city welcomed new Police Chief Jerome Pitoniak; new Council on Aging Director Mike Squindo, Facilities Director Lenny Sabia, Conservation Agent Nick Balik and Public Works Director Randy Brown, who is also serving as acting city engineer.
He gave special thanks to his finance team of Tammy Tefft, Matt Barnes, Ashlie Brown, Vicki Moro and Shanna Reed, who he said work tirelessly to safeguard taxpayers’ investments.
McCabe also thanked the city’s community partners, Westfield Food Pantry, Our Community Table and Western Mass. Food Bank for providing pantry items, groceries and meals to citizens in need.
McCabe said student athletes will now have a new athletic complex that will be completed in August of 2026, which he personally thinks should be named after Thomas P. Flaherty, Gas & Electric’s general manager, who made it possible, with help from Councilors Brent Bean II, Ralph Figy and the City Council.
McCabe listed all of the other outdoor attractions in Westfield, which he said make the city a “bustling, active community with no shortage of opportunities to get moving, get outside and stay active.”
McCabe said his wish in the next term is to build upon the momentum. He talked about the new Police Department, which will be under construction this year; and he said at this past Baystate Noble Ball, President Peter Banko announced a capital project for a newly renovated emergency room to serve Westfield and the hilltowns, which McCabe said some in the city have advocated for for more than 15 years.
“I am grateful to have this opportunity to serve Westfield and will do my very best to make my time as mayor one of continued improvement, transparency, security and growth,” he said in closing.
