By RON MOORE
Guest Columnist
Editor’s note: This is the final column in a series of four addressing the issue of whether Westfield should change its status from a class 3 to a class 2 city. The Westfield City Council is set to have that discussion at its June 13 meeting.
On Monday, May 23, 2022, an ordinance was introduced to the City Council to move the City of Westfield to class 2 status. This move will require several changes in our governance and should not be taken lightly. The City Council will ponder over the issues surrounding the move and will, after a public hearing on the ordinance scheduled for June 13, either vote to move to class 2 city status or stay with the status quo.
We are now 35 percent above the population requirement to become class 2 and will grow another 33 percent above our current population. We know our governance structure is stressed at the seams and our city finances have become extremely more complex from that of our beginnings as a class 3 city.
The anti-class 2 city perspective claims loss of voter power, the need for accountability and checks and balances. We are all interested in the same things. After all, it is our city. In my last three columns, I have explored these particular subjects to help us all better understand the workings of the class 2 structure compared to our current governance. We must make our decision based on the power of knowledge, so I will summarize:
City Council representation will put more power in the hands of the voting citizens, not less. At the same time, the voting power of each councilor will represent a smaller percentage of the vote. This leads to more discussion and consensus-building to pass city legislation.
Our City Council becomes more independent from the Administration putting the council in a position to legislate more oversight of city finances creating the checks and balances deemed necessary to successfully operate the city.
A new position of City Controller will be created under class 2 city status. Within the proposed ordinance, the council has been invited to bring forward their own candidate for the position. While the mayor will make the appointment, it will be an opportunity to ensure we get the right qualified financial expert to fill that position.
In effect, the City Controller will be the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Westfield. As such, prerequisite qualifications through education and public finance experience will be specified and met by the individual filling this position. The Clerk-Treasurer, an elected position that has no prerequisite educational or experience in public finance to be elected, will change to a City Clerk position. The treasurer duties and responsibilities will move to the CFO position.
With our current city budgets fast approaching $100 million with complex financial transactions, the choice becomes clear. Putting the city’s financials in the hands of a financial professional (our CFO) makes sense.
At the next City Council meeting on Monday, June 13, a hearing for this ordinance will be held. I encourage you to come and speak to the council and add your voice to mine.
Citizens of Westfield, we owe our gratitude to all the elected officials who have served and led our community to where we are today. Over the last 18 years, Westfield has become nationally recognized as an affordable family-oriented community with great schools and amenities bringing more and more people here to enjoy it. Over this time, our governance under a class 3 structure was adequate.
To maintain our growth and our standard for performance as a community within Hamilton County, it is time to change our governance and become the next class 2 city in Indiana.