Your City at Work

The work of the Department of Health and Human Services is broad and is mandated by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 111 and it is at this time each year our attention turns to Influenza, or as most of us know it, the flu. Over 4,000 Springfield residents receive free “flu vaccinations” at one of our public clinics held at various sites around the City.

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Here are some interesting facts:

Each year in the United States:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
• about 36,000 people die from complications related to the flu

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a flu shot. Flu season starts with the cold weather usually from October to March. Please call the Department of Health and Human Services at (413) 787-6741 to determine the date and time of the clinic in your neighborhood.

Of course, working to prevent the flu certainly is not all that we do. The Springfield Department of Health and Human Services strives to secure a healthy physical and environmental setting for all residents. The Department achieves these goals by trying to safeguard the public health from disease, disability and premature death by providing services, health education, and surveillance.

The challenges facing a healthy Springfield are becoming move obvious by statistical evidence and citation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health identifying those areas to which this department must respond. These include but are not limited to: Infant Mortality; Drug and Alcohol Abuse; emergency preparedness planning; HIV/AIDS prevention; providing health services for the homeless; enforcing the sanitary code; and tuberculosis and communicable disease follow up and treatment.

Other key responsibilities include; determining the health and human services needs of the community through a collaborative process; initiating and advocating for policies (laws) that will protect the health and well being of the residents of the city and assuring the development of a quality workforce by improving access to education, employment and health services. As we like to say here in our department: “WE ARE WORKING WITH YOU FOR A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.”

Helen Caulton-Harris
Director of Health and Human Services

As the Chief Financial Officer of the City of Springfield, I am privileged to have the responsibility of managing the City’s overall financial operations. This includes the oversight and management of the City’s Finance/Budget, Information Technology, Treasurer/Collector, Purchasing, and Capital Asset Construction departments.

For the past four years, it has been my goal to realign and streamline the departments that report to me. I have also worked toward the elimination the City’s $41 million deficit.

Fortunately, the City’s financial position has been greatly strengthened over the past several years. It is an enormous accomplishment achieved only through the work of dedicated City employees, Mayor Ryan and the Springfield Finance Control Board.

We still have much work ahead and as the adage goes, “first you need to walk before you can begin to run”. We are now walking briskly and are well on our way to a sprint. We have successfully implemented the first phase of MUNIS, which is a fully integrated financial management package that allows real-time accountability. This was no small undertaking and it represents a gigantic step forward for the City.

As gigantic as the MUNIS project has been, it is not the only measure of progress. Each department in the Finance Division has made significant changes and by the end of this month you will be able to view on the City’s website a number of the positive changes made. So stay tuned.

We have also had many changes in leadership in the Finance Division departments over the past four years. Beginning next week, you will be able to view the biographies of the Department heads. We have a strong team and are proud to make these biographies available so that the Citizens of Springfield can be better informed about the professional and educational backgrounds of those who manage the City’s key financial departments.

As time goes by, I look forward to sharing with you the changes we are making to continually improve the financial management and controls of the City of Springfield.

Regards,

Mary T. Tzambazakis, Esq.
Chief Financial Officer
City of Springfield

As Commissioner of the Springfield Fire Department, I am pleased to use to this space to talk about the history of our fine department. During the 17th century, Springfield was burned to the ground by enemy action during the King Phillip’s War. The settlers of that time became very conscious of the need for some sort of fire protection. However technology and finances limited efforts to the bucket - brigade approach until, by private subscription, the leading citizens of the town purchased a tawny yellow, hand-drawn pump which they named “The Lion” in 1792. On January 17, 1794, these same citizens formed a “fire club” agreeing to preserve the lives and property of each other from destruction by fire, and thus the Springfield Fire Department was born, making us one of the oldest established fire departments in the country.

This volunteer department, supplemented by mutual aid from the Federal Springfield Armory, served the community well until the 1800’s when the introduction of horse drawn steamers and the growth of the town into a city in 1862 called for a different organization. In 1872, a paid department was established. This was a period of great advancement for the department including the establishment of a central telegraph alarm system and the establishment of a gravity-fed, reservoir supplied water system. This water system is still in use today. In 1913, the Springfield Fire Department became the first municipal department in the country to become completely motorized, using Knox fire engines manufactured right here in Springfield.

The 1970’s proved to be the busiest decade recorded by the department with a period of intense fire activity coupled with the fire department being charged to run the city’s ambulance service. In 1985, the Department formally organized a Hazardous Materials Response Team in response to growing concerns about the environment and the number of businesses in the city with hazardous chemicals in their inventory. In the past few years fiscal challenges have changed the shape of our suppression, prevention and support divisions. Despite those challenges, the department continues to provide quality emergency response and fire prevention services to the citizens of Springfield.

Commissioner Gary Cassanelli

As Director of the Election Commission I am pleased to be able to have this opportunity to let the citizens of Springfield know what our office really does. We should be renamed Elections and Much More!

This time of year talk turns to politics and the spotlight shines brightly on all the activity the Election Office does as candidates run for city, state and federal offices.

During what most people term “the rest of the year” the Election Office still abounds with activity. As soon as the election season ends, and before elected candidates get sworn into office, we are preparing to Help Springfield Count. In other words, the Annual City Census preparations begin. From early December through July of the following year, the Election office reaches out to all the residents of Springfield in an effort to obtain an accurate count of the population. Public service projects like highway construction, hospital services, schools, and educational programs rely on the information obtained by our office. Throughout the year, Veterans rely on our office to provide information for their “Welcome Home Bonus” and for eligibility to the Agawam Veteran’s Cemetery.

The Election office also keeps archived records of past residents and we provide geneological records for people across the country. Our office is filled with the signatures of famous Springfieldians from Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel to Milton Bradley.

As you can see we are the Election Office but we are so much more and we are here year round working for the citizens of Springfield.

Kathy Fleury

As Director of the Department of Elder Affairs, I am committed to serving the senior citizens of the City of Springfield. Our Elder Affairs staff serves seniors in centers located throughout the City including: the Mason Square Center, the Hungry Hill Center, the Mayflower Center, the Pine Point Center, Riverview Center, the Greenleaf Community Center and the Good Life Center. Our programs address interests that range from Health and Fitness to Cultural Exploration. We also offer a wide variety of informational workshops.

In addition to these programs, we also run Senior A.I.D.E.S, a job placement assistance office for mature workers. The SHINE programs help senior citizens with their health insurance inquiries. We also have a Senior Net Learning Center and fitness center.

Our newest endeavor is the publication of a brochure, which lists the discounts available to Springfield residents over the age of 60. These helpful brochures can be found at any of our centers.

Be sure to watch the “Senior Spotlight” on Comcast Community TV on Channel 12 on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

I hope that you will take advantage of what we have here at the Department of Elder Affairs. We strive to meet the needs of our senior citizens. If you have any suggestions or questions for the Department of Elder Affairs, please give me a call at 787-6785. Also, please check out our page on this website for more detailed information. Just go to City Departments and click on Elder Affairs.

Jan Denney

I am pleased to welcome you the City’s web log.

Every week, this space will be filled with a new message written by the senior management of one of the city’s many cabinets.

This web log is the latest addition to a number of efforts to communicate directly with the public in unprecedented ways. Other newly implemented routines include my bi-weekly podcasts on MassLive.com, my twice-monthly column in The Republican’s Plus Papers, and the new “People are Talking” show broadcasted on the local government access and public channels in Springfield, Longmeadow, Ludlow and Wilbraham.

Mayor Ryan

As director of the Department of Public Works, I am responsible for the oversight of everything from snow removal to sidewalk and road repairs. While there are many exciting projects underway in the city, most of the attention of late seems focused on trash. So let’s talk trash.

As you know, the trash fee is in full effect now and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the homeowners of Springfield for your participation in this program. No one likes a new policy, which draws money out of their wallets but Springfield homeowners rose to the challenge. Ninety-nine percent of you chose to keep the trash removal service, notified the city of your choice and began paying the fee.

As our city picks itself up from financial devastation and begins to stand on firm ground once again, constructing new buildings, repairing dogged streets and sidewalks, and more, the newly implemented trash fee is another vehicle on the road to recovery.

For many, the sacrifice has not been easy, but together we will reap the benefits.

Al Chwalek