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Neffinger seeks second term as mayor

Date: 10/11/2013

By Carley Dangona

carley@thereminder.com

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Gregory Neffinger is running for re-election with the hope of adding to and continuing many of the initiatives of his current term.

Reminder Publications recently sat down with the mayor to discuss his platform.

“Most of the people I talk to are very happy with the changes that have been made,” Neffinger said. “Yes, we’ve ruffled some feathers, but the average person is [happy]. We’re making plans for our children and grandchildren so that they can enjoy the town we grew up in.”

He explained that many of the problems he has encountered were left over from the previous administration and if he hears complaints, it’s regarding those issues. Neffinger cited the fact that he was able to keep the library downtown as one of the issues he resolved after inheriting it.

The biggest surprise of his term was the fact that after 11 years of the same mayor, some officials were hesitant to work with him. “The election was over and I thought ‘let’s work together,’ [but that’s not what happened]. I was surprised at how political and not helpful some of the people were. It has been a challenge to implement a new style of governing,” Neffinger said.

The mayor also addressed the past communications issues between the Town Council and himself. “I’ve reached out to them as much as I could. The majority of town councilors understand [where I’m coming from],” he said, adding that some of them have expressed their willingness to work together on an individual basis.

Neffinger stated he encountered two main complaints while traveling door-to-door during his last campaign; the first was that taxes needed to be lowered and the second was that the ball fields needed improvement.

“I’m the only mayor in Massachusetts to lower taxes for two years in a row. That was my number one campaign promise,” Neffinger said.

He noted that three new ball fields were established at River’s Edge Park, a new field is in the works on upper portion of Tatham Hill Road, the recently purchased Elks’ Lodge property will add three more fields and the new high school will also have additional ball fields.

The mayor commented on the success of the automate trash pickup program. He stated that the current estimated savings of the program is between $160,000 and $170,000. He also said that the amount of recycling tonnage had increased greatly.

For Neffinger, the most important part of his job is meeting residents. Each Thursday, he hosts open office hours where citizens can stop by, without an appointment, to speak with the mayor directly to share questions, concerns and comments.

“All-in-all, I try to explain fully to folks why we’re doing things,” he said. “The most rewarding aspect of my job is meeting the people. Directly affecting people’s lives in a positive way is the most rewarding part of being mayor. It’s not about the mayor of West Springfield, it’s about the people of the town,” Neffinger added.

Neffinger explained he wants residents to have access to those who govern the town and to know the employees are working for them.

When asked to describe himself with three words, the mayor chose, “listener, planner and decisive.”

Neffinger said, “Many of the initiatives I’ve started, I would like to continue and see completed.”

Some of the ongoing projects include the renovation of the public library, the construction of the new high school, the revamping of the community access TV station and the possible purchase of the white church that serves as the home of The Rotary Records, 732 Elm St., with Community Preservation Committee funds.

“I am looking to purchase the building to preserve history,” the mayor commented.

He also said that considering a casino proposal benefited the town. “It was important to go through that process,” Neffinger said. “If we had not, the question of whether a casino would have been a good idea for our town would have always lingered in people’s minds.”

Neffinger said that the consultation work that assessed ways to improve the functionality of Memorial Drive and to enhance economic gain resulted in new ideas for improvement. “Now, we have to figure out how to do it without a casino,” he said.

“I feel pretty comfortable with the progress we’re making. I understand more of the processes and will continue to make changes,” Neffinger stated.