Mayor: 'There's more to do'

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE - Mayor Michael Bissonnette, in his first public appearance since his surgery for prostate cancer, told the audience at last week's Chicopee Chamber of Commerce breakfast that his administration had "in the last 14 months done a lot, but there was more to" in advancing his vision for the city.

He said his administration has "replaced corruption with integrity and mis-management with competency."

In his "State of the City Address," Bissonnette made several major announcements, including the appointment of Thomas Haberlin to the newly created post of economic development director and a campaign to revise the city's charter.

He said that every mayor for the last 40 years has spoken about charter changes and "it's high time we stopped the rhetoric."

Bissonnette said he is trying to run a $190 million municipal operation with a management structure devised in 1890.

He said he intends to bring charter change to the voters and place it on the ballot.

"We got to get government caught up using all of the tools in the tools box to run a better organization," he said.

He noted current economic development projects include the arrival of Harvey Industries and its new manufacturing facility to the city that will bring 400 jobs. Work is continuing on converting the Cabotville industrial complex into condominiums that will be the centerpiece for turning Chicopee center "back into the urban village as it once was," he added.

He also announced a new program for his administration, "Chicopee 2020." Bissonnette said he just doesn't want to plan for 2008 or 2009, but start the discussion for the economic development of the future, in this case the target year is 2020.

Bissonnette noted advance planning needs to take place as the city's industrial parks are "almost fully built out."

Part of that planning for 2020 involves the 72-acre site formerly the home of Uniroyal Tires. He said Chicopee residents have "heard a song and a dance" over the plans to re-develop the Uniroyal property for 15 years.

Bissonnette has made it a priority to see the re-development of the site. Although manufacturing jobs will never return to it, he sees the possibility for housing.

Another aspect of his "Chicopee 2020" focus is on the growing senior population. Bissonnette said the city has to be prepared for Baby Boomers to become seniors.

He noted his administration has been making progress in finding ways to save money that do not negatively impact city services. He said, for example, the city has saved over $600,000 by consolidating photocopier contracts.

He called the city "western Massachusetts's best kept secret."

"It's time to blow our own horn," he said,

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Haberlin told The Chicopee Herald that he has already started his new position in City Hall. Coming out of retirement, Haberlin noted with a smile that he served in economic development 17 years in Chicopee, before moving on to a similar position in Springfield.

His new position is a first for the city, he said.

Returning to the city gives him the opportunity to work on specific projects, such as the Uniroyal redevelopment, housing and the 2020 campaign.

He didn't seek the position, but was asked by the mayor to considering coming back to the city.

Haberlin said the new job gives him the chance to bringing closure on such issues such as Uniroyal that was part of his first time in the city.

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The speech was the mayor's first public appearance since undergoing treatment for prostrate surgery. Bissonnette said after the meeting that, under doctor's instructions, he would be working largely from home for the next several months.