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Date: 11/30/2022
CHICOPEE – In an effort to connect with Chicopee’s senior citizen community, Mayor John Vieau continues to host Coffee with the Mayor at the RiverMills Senior Center. Each Coffee with the Mayor forum takes place at 10:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month. Donuts and coffee are provided for all attendees.
Vieau said the tradition started under former Mayor Richard Kos’ administration. Vieau reignited the monthly meetings in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, seeing the forum as a productive way to connect with senior citizens. The meetings have gradually grown in popularity as Vieau and his team have since moved the forum to a larger space at RiverMills.
“I think it’s grown into a great tradition,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Vieau shared that seniors are some of the most vocal members of the Chicopee community. He explained that common topics brought up during the meetings include quality of life issues, such as speeding, unkempt properties, code violations and road conditions.
“They are very vocal … The intimacies of meeting the seniors in their environment really brings out their questions and concerns,” said Vieau.
The Coffee with the Mayor meetings also allows Vieau the opportunity to keep the public informed. During the last few meetings, the mayor said he debriefed community members on updates to long-running city projects, like the continued cleanup and redevelopment of the former Uniroyal site.
Vieau applauded the active discussions that take place during the monthly meetings. While some concerns are raised, the mayor said most responses from community members are positive.
“The consensus is most people are very happy with Chicopee … those statements are very positive and heartfelt,” said Vieau.
The mayor also highlighted the RiverMills Senior Center as a crucial community staple. He spoke fondly about the breadth of program offerings, such as exercise classes, game nights and field trips like an annual bus trip through Bright Nights at Forest Park, that senior residents can take advantage of.
Vieau aspires for the Coffee with the Mayor meetings to continue serving as a mechanism to both learn from and inform members of the senior citizen community.
“I’m there to help with things that city can control,” said Vieau.