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Date: 8/25/2021
CHICOPEE – With less than three months until the annual city elections, seven residents have submitted nomination papers for the four open, two-year councilor seats on the Chicopee City Council.
Shirley B. Arriaga, Sean M. Goonan, Matthew J. Hernke, Frank N. Laflamme, Gerard (Jerry) A. Roy, James K. Tilloston and Robert Joseph Zygarowski are the candidates running for the Councilor At-Large positions.
Reminder Publishing reached out each candidate, asking for a self-written introduction to present to the city. As we move closer to the election, Reminder Publishing will be conducting a question-and-answer interview with each candidate to discuss specific town issues and their viewpoints on each issue.
Shirley B. Arriaga
I was raised by a single mother who worked nights to provide for our family. She instilled in me the value of hard work, community, and public service. As a mom, Air Force veteran, and former veterans liaison for Congressman Richard E. Neal, I’ve always put my family, my country and my community first.
I’m running for Chicopee City Council to continue my public service and to ensure that women and veterans have a voice in our city government. Here’s my platform overview:
1. Veterans and seniors: expand the city’s senior tax work-off program to allow more seniors the opportunity to reduce their property taxes and stay in their homes and expand the program to veterans.
2. COVID-19 and Safe Neighborhoods: Invest in our young people to prevent violence through job creation and economic development opportunities. Strengthen our public health system to ensure a lasting COVID-19 recovery and resiliency.
3. Women & girls: when women succeed, Chicopee succeeds. We need to address the crisis of violence against women, and expand economic development opportunities for mothers, women and girls.
4. Education and young people: invest in our young people, through social-emotional health, wrap-around services and youth jobs. Upgrade our school buildings to ensure that our kids can return safely.
5. Quality of life and the environment: neautify and invest in our parks and open spaces, like Preston Park and Garrity Grove Park. We need to improve Chicopee’s air quality to combat asthma rates.
6. Small businesses and public transit: small businesses need grants and no interest loans to recover from the pandemic. I will also advocate at the state and local level for East-West Rail Link
Sean M. Goonan
Our current city councilors will lead our city into deeper stagnation. Quality of life is diminishing. Through these councilors’ neglect, it is obvious that the city will continue along this trajectory as long as they are in power. If you look at Memorial Drive, you will see land that had the potential to be created into neighborhood centers comprised of mix-use small businesses and residences, surrounded by agriculture, and instead it was paved over with wide roads, parking lots and big-box stores.
This was a conscious choice made by the leaders of the city, continuing today, to sacrifice the strength and quality of life created by a model of city building that has proven to be the best over thousands of years, the town/neighborhood center, in favor of a model of development that has been around for 80 years and has shown to be ill-fated– structuring a city around the automobile, spreading everything out, paving over the land with roads and parking lots and building large and ugly big-box stores.
This choice is made because they believe the slightly higher tax revenue generated by the large-scale businesses means lower taxes for residents, and that this is the goal of a city, even though taxes continue to go up and up, and there are higher costs to the taxpayers to pay for the infrastructure needed to maintain the spread out development. Through better zoning ordinances and city design among other things, I hope to help create a more enjoyable city to live in.
I will plant more trees along streets and create more local community events. With more small businesses there will be more economic variety, which will strengthen the local economy and create better jobs/more entrepreneurs. Vote for me if you want a politician who won't gloss over your concerns.
Matthew J. Hernke
I'm Matt Hernke, a lifelong resident of Chicopee. I’ve been married to my wife Jen for the last 12 years and we have one daughter.
Chicopee is an important place to me; it’s a place that I will always call home. The only motivation anyone should have to run for office is to simply care about your community and the people who make it great. We all want the same things as residents: a safe place to live, good schools to attend and being a part of a community that strives to be better each day.
Over the years, I have slowly watched Chicopee take steps backwards. It seems we lack vision and leadership to move the city forward in the 21st century. City councilors appear to be absent on social media and out of touch with residents. We can`t continue the lack of communication and transparency that plagues city hall.
The city pushed a less waste initiative when the landfill closed; the yellow bags and tiny trash cans. Little did they realize, we got hit hard on recyclables. The city makes little money on selling recyclables and most end up in a landfill. Only about 35 percent of recyclables ever get reused and 90 percent of plastics get thrown away. The council decided to piece meal the fiber project and now people are waiting a long time to get what they were promised. Infrastructure, such as communication, should always be a priority.
There are many more issues that need to be addressed. This is just the beginning. It’s time for us to work together and become the city we were meant to be. I hope you consider voting for me if you are feeling just as frustrated and would like to see our city thrive for many years to come. Thank you.
Frank N. Laflamme
It has been an honor and privilege to represent the residents of Chicopee for the past ten years as City Councilor at Large. I am a lifelong resident, homeowner and taxpayer for 44 years, and a former Chicopee business owner. I am employed by MassMutual Financial Group and hold four Mass. State Licenses. I have been married 40 years and have two children and two grandchildren.
Since being elected, I take pride in representing the residents with 100 percent attendance at City Council meetings. I serve on 10 subcommittees, and I am proud to serve as the Vice President of the Council.
My goal has always been to make sure I am fair, consistent and transparent when seeking progress that is affordable for Chicopee. I will continue to monitor the city finances. I will support initiatives to bring new businesses and development, that suit the neighborahoods, to help offset the tax burden and keep our property taxes as low as possible without weakening essential services.
I have developed a good ongoing relationship with elected officials, department heads and local legislatures in bringing your questions and concerns forward. I will continue to review and scrutinize every mpayor’s order, subcommittee agenda items and grant approval requests looking at the facts and impact of the order so that my vote is in the best interest of the citizens of Chicopee. This service has given me the experience and knowledge to affectively advocate on behalf of the citizens and businesses of Chicopee. I will continue to be available to listen and help any citizen or business owner with their concern.
With many challenges that we face in these uncertain times, I will continue to work with all departments including public safety, education and seniors to keep residents safe and proud to live in this city.
Gerard (Jerry) A. Roy
My name is Gerard (Jerry) Roy, candidate for Councilor-At-Large. City officials exist for a purpose, to provide solutions for the residents. Living in the city of Chicopee all my life, I am a well-established supporter of its people.
What are my goals for the community? My main goal is to steer more money toward road and sidewalk repairs.
The fire department is vital in keeping our city safe. Continued support for equipment, training and staff levels is also a priority.
I would like to see an increase in manpower for our police department. An upsurge in crimes and violence is a dangerous situation. Both the men and women in the department are worthy of having the staff needed to carry out their job safely. The recent rise in the number of street bikes have threatened our residents along with being a nuisance. Again, manpower would be a plus.
I ask for your vote this November so that I may bring my enthusiasm, skills and strong relationships to the city’s work. Most importantly, I bring a sincere concern for Chicopee’s future.
James K. Tillotson
I would like to continue to serve as Councilor-at-Large for the next two years. There are several key issues:
Downtown redevelopment requires incentives to start new businesses and jump-start housing in the mills along the Chicopee River. Previously, the lock-down due to COVID-19 made initiating new programs impossible. It is time to publicize our current businesses and provide resources for starting new businesses. We have talented people who could start small restaurants or other businesses who need help in starting their business.
Reducing the impact of federally required Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements using American Rescue Plan money will benefit the greatest number of homeowners and businesses. Federal requirements are high because Chicopee is located on the Chicopee River and the Connecticut River.
I support adequate funding and in-service training in the current budget for the police and fire departments.
I continue to monitor the budget. In the last twenty years we have built two new high schools, renovated Dupont Middle School, built the Emily Partyka Library and River Mills Senior Center, renovated the Public Safety Complex, City Hall (Phase 1) and bought sanitation packers, police cruisers and two fire engines. We pay through bonding spread over many years to reduce the burden on taxpayers.
I try to apply common sense, financial responsibility and advocacy for all who call me.
I have experience as current Councilor-at-Large and previously Ward 1 Alderman, and earlier as two term School Committeeman. I am retired and was previously Director of Social Studies in Springfield. I taught social studies at Chicopee High School and was hockey coach there. I am a veteran. My educational background includes B.A. and M.A. from A.I.C., and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (thirty hours beyond a Masters) from Springfield College. My wife, Joan, also helps you.
Robert Joseph Zygarowski
Hello, my name is Robert Zygarowski. I have served as a councilor at-large for nine terms, approaching 20 years on the job if re-elected. I also worked for 30 years with the police department, where I ran the DARE and K-9 programs as a way of connecting with the community. Whether its my constituents or my peers, I have always prided myself in my communication.
I’ve lived in Chicopee most of my life and I wholeheartedly believe in this city. Over the years, I’ve worked as Chairman of Public Safety since I have been on the council. Public safety has always been important to me. Both with the police and fire department, I have served as a voice that listens and understands the concerns of our departments. I’ve supported both departments in an effort to provide the best for the entire city. I also have worked on the finance committee while also working with various councils around the city.
As councilor, I always look at problems intently and do my homework. Being a councilor at-large allows me to concentrate on the entire city, whether its attending different events of getting to know the locals. I enjoy working for my community and I continue to work hard on the citizen’s behalf. Ultimately, the citizens are my boss, so I will always be available to listen to their concerns.
If re-elected, I will continue to focus on our local departments and education department. I want to provide the school administration board with a permanent location, as well as adding additional police support, such as police walking beats, in downtown areas. I will continue to support every department in our town and work with citizens on any pressing concern. Thanks, I hope to have your vote on Nov. 2.