WESTFIELD — Council President John Beltrandi III opened the special meeting on Dec. 9 at 5 p.m., noting that the only item on the agenda was a vote on the tax shift between residents and commercial property owners in the city. The vote had been postponed from the Dec. 4 meeting in order to send a letter to Mayor Michael McCabe requesting up to $3 million in free cash to offset taxes, which he declined.

After a discussion on each recommendation, four votes were taken, with the City Council ultimately settling on a tax shift of 1.68, slightly favoring residents over last year’s rate of 1.65.

First to speak at the hearing was Councilor Cindy Harris. “Last year, I made a motion of 1.65 because things worked out. The mayor had given us some extra money, and it was beneficial to both commercia

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