Sarno talks new senior center, reelection bid at 16 Acres Civic Association meeting

Date: 11/23/2010

Nov. 24, 2010

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic Sarno came to talk, to listen and apparently, to throw his hat into the ring for reelection when he visited the 16 Acres Civic Association meeting on Nov. 16.

"I don't take anything for granted, not that I would, but I am going to run for reelection," a shirtsleeved Sarno told Civic Association members during his city update, which highlighted such improvements as an uptick in the city's bond rating, a $44 million reserve in the city's budget, potential tax relief for homeowners and progress on addressing abandoned properties in neighborhoods. "If I can get that four - year term, I think it will give you a lot and we can really steamroll and get some things done.

"I'm still passionate [about my job]," Sarno added later in his remarks. "I haven't finished the job yet and, God willing, and with the will of the people, I can."

Among the positives in the city that Sarno highlighted during his hour-long talk was the Police Department's improving record on crime response. He cited the department's quick apprehension of the perpetrator who recently broke into the Island Pond Road home of an 85-year-old man, beating he homeowner when he interrupted the crime, as an example.

"Commissioner Fitchet was enraged that someone would do that to an 85-year old man," Sarno said.

Following up on information presented at the police meeting that took place just prior to his remarks, Sarno reminded the audience to follow common-sense safety tips during the holiday season, such as hiding packages in the trunk of a car when shopping, removing GPS units from windshields and dashboards to prevent "smash and grabs" and leaving lights and radios or TVs on if they were going to be away from home for a period of time.

"If you see something that's suspicious, call the police. If it's an emergency, call 911, if not, call the [787-] 6325 number," Sarno said. "If you feel you're not getting a response, ask for the captain of the commander of the shift."

In response to an attendee's question about the status of a freestanding senior center for their neighborhood, Sarno said the city was making progress.

"We think we have found a centralized location in the Blunt Park area, where we have Independence House, the park and the Putnam culinary program nearby," Sarno said, adding that he had been, so far, able to "free up some money to do a study."

He also reminded attendees that Springfield was fortunate to have so many satellite senior centers, "including Greenleaf Community Center," in their senior services program.

"Many cities only have one or two centers," he noted.

Sarno also addressed another attendee's concern about noise and traffic problems created by some off-campus college housing in his neighborhood. The mayor listened carefully to the man's complaints and asked him to provide Mayorial Aide Darryl Moss, who accompanied Sarno to the event, with specific street and house number information.

In a followup call to the Mayor's Office, Moss told Reminder Publications that the man was reluctant to provide specifics, but that he was still following up with both Western New England College and American International College regarding other complaints about students who live off campus.