By CHRIS COLLINS
(Greenfield, MA) — Greenfield’s mayor is striking a tone of gratitude as she commemorates her first six months in office.
“No single elected official could have expected or anticipated what we have all collectively dealt with so far in 2020. But I want everyone to know your city is in good hands,” Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner told a press conference on July 1. “Not because of me, not because I said so, but because of you, the people of Greenfield, who took this pandemic seriously and did the hard work and sacrifice it took to get us to this point.”
Wedegartner said the city’s employees have played a huge role in helping negotiate what has been a difficult six months made more so by the COVID 19 pandemic.
“I fully understand that we’re not out of this yet, and we have much work to do toward keeping ourselves safe while recovering and rebuilding,” Wedegartner said. “But at this point in time, it’s appropriate to thank you and to thank others who have led us to today.”
Wedegartner also took time to acknowledge the unprecedented social upheaval which has made this a time like no other.
“Today, our society as a whole and more importantly our own community are at an important turning point where the causes of social and racial justice, public safety, increased affordable housing, and wealth equity are upper most in our minds and dialogue,” Wedegartner said. “I have a healthy measure of optimism for Greenfield where those causes are concerned, and I am committed to working on them as your mayor throughout this term in office, to the greatest extent possible.”
Wedegartner also released a list of accomplishments achieved in her first six months in office, among them elimination of Saturday pay parking and the School Resource Office from the Police Department budget, and unanimous city council passage of a fiscal 2021 budget which Wedegartner admitted may need to be trimmed further if state aid figures come in lower than expected.