Brown is assistant field office director for Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Boston office.
WESTFIELD – City Councilor James E. Brown Jr., citing career demands, will resign from his elected post Sept. 1, creating the third vacancy on the board this year.
James BrownBrown, assistant field office director for Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Boston office, announced Thursday morning his intention to resign his seat as Ward 2 city councilor effective Sept. 1.
“It is with great sadness that I announce today that I will be resigning from my position,” Brown said. “As I close in on finishing my third year representing the residents of Ward 2, I have come to realize that my commitment to my position as assistant field office director for Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement ERO in the Boston field office has increased to a level that does not allow me to serve the Ward residents in the way I believe they deserve.”
“To that end I have decided to relinquish my seat on the council and look to my colleagues to fill the vacancy with another Ward 2 resident who is willing to represent the people proudly,” he added.
Brown also said he is pleased that he was able to take an active role in Ward 2 projects such as the new town green, the recently completed Broad and Main Street project, the impending new elementary school project and new zoning designations that will allow businesses to expand, as well as helping residents deal with issues such as potholes and over-hanging tree limbs.
“Constituent service was the most rewarding part of this job and as a ward councilor it is the number one task,” he said. “When a resident calls and has an issue with how to get a dead tree looked at, or they want to know how to apply for a city job, a zone change or a permit, it is always a pleasure to provide the guidance or assistance.
“I will truly miss serving the people of Westfield and specifically the residents of Ward 2, but I also know that if I cannot provide the proper service it is time to pass the torch.”
Describing the task of replacing Brown as “miserably difficult,” City Council President Christopher Keefe said that Brown, who chaired the council’s Legislative and Ordinance Committee, “was one of the hardest working and diligent councilors.”
“It’s no accident that he was tapped to chair one of the council’s busiest committees,” Keefe added. “He was detail-oriented and made my job much easier.”
Keefe said Brown has not yet submitted a formal letter of resignation to City Clerk Karen Fanion and is scheduled to participate in the Aug. 30 special City Council meeting.
As far as naming a replacement, Keefe said he is consulting with the city’s law department to determine the best course of action as the process to replace councilors has differed in various situations.
“There is no plan at the moment,” he said.
Brown was elected to the City Council two years ago after Daniel M. Knapik, who had held that seat, was elected mayor.
Brown’s resignation marks the third time this year the City Council is faced with replacing a member and the second of a councilor representing the city’s downtown CORE district. Former City Councilor Peter J. Miller Jr. resigned from his post April 30 after serving more than eight years representing Ward 3.
Like Brown, Miller ran unopposed for his seat, which was filled by the council appointment of Ann Callahan who will complete Miller’s elected term in office.
The seat held by At-large Councilor Patti Andras, who died in May after a long battle with cancer, was filled by Kevin Harraghy, appointed to complete Andras’ term because he was the candidate with the next highest vote count in the election last fall.
Keefe, who is serving his second term as council president, said he is looking forward to the time when the council can return to the job of running the city rather than replacing members.
“I never would have anticipated this level of turnover,” he said. “I can’t believe how much time we’re spending on replacements. It will be nice to deal with issues and have a routine rather than organization.”
The City Council, whose members have the option of submitting candidates from the council floor, requests Ward 3 residents interested in serving on the council to submit their name for consideration.
