Mayor Skibitsky, a.k.a. "Snake Oil" Salesman

Town Administrator Jim Gildea

     The Fact of The Matter obtained a document that Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky referenced at a Town Council meeting last month.  The document appears to of been obtained by Mayor Skibitsky, through his Town Administrator Jim Gildea or from Westfield Police Chief John Parizeau.  Either way, the document is factually deceitful.

Westfield Police Chief John Parizeau

     The contents of the document are a history of accidents that allegedly occurred between 2002 - 2011 at the intersections of Clover St. & Central Ave. and Cambridge Rd. & Central Ave. 

     Mayor Skibitsky, in an attempt to bolster his non-expert opinion that the current location of the HAWK pedestrian activated light on Central Ave. at Cambridge Rd is at the safest location, used the accident data document to illustrate how many accidents have occurred at each location.  What the Mayor did not do is check his sources.  Perhaps if Mayor Skibitsky had taken the time to back check his facts TFoTM would not be writing this blog story.

      Several of the accidents on the Mayors "fact" sheet did not occur at either of the intersections the Mayor claimed they did.  TFoTM obtained a copy of each and every accident report the Mayor referenced.  We will stop short of accusing Mayor Skibitsky of knowingly providing false information to the public.  He most likely trusted his Town Administrator or Police Chief to provide him with competent data.  That was not the case.  Mayor, ignorance is not an excuse.

The following dates and times were obtained from Mayor Skibitsky's "data" sheet:  The actual factual location of the accidents were confirmed through cross checking the actual police reports.  The police case numbers are not included in this post .  The dates and times were confirmed from a police department computer generated report in TFoTM's possession.

1.  An accident dated 8-13-2010 took place at 8:18 am at Central & Clifton, a half mile away......not at Central & Clover as the Mayor claims.
2.  An accident dated 2-89-2011 took place at 3:54 pm in the driveway of 110 Cambridge Rd..........not at Central and Cambridge as the Mayor claims.
3.  An accident dated 11-21-09 took place at 5:57 pm in front of 125 Cambridge Rd involving a vehicle backing out of the driveway.........not at Central and Cambridge as the Mayor claims.
4.  Perhaps the most fabricated misrepresentation of the facts by Mayor Skibitsky is an accident that he told everyone, in attendance at a December Town Council meeting, happened at the intersection of Central Ave. & Cambridge Rd.  on 1-24-2003 at 3:29 pm.  Nice try Mayor................the accident Mayor Skibitsky cited actually occurred at the intersection of MOUNTAIN AVE. & ORCHARD ST.     

     In an attempt to bolster his waning credibility on the matter of the HAWK pedestrian light, Mayor Skibitsky has failed.  He wants the public to trust him.  He can't even trust his subordinates to give him factual and credible information. 
     Some teenage WHS students might not classify it as an "epic" failure just yet.  They're still waiting on the parking study to be done by the Mayor's "so-called expert," engineering consultant Gordon Meth. 
     Yet another example of a no-bid contract handed out for a value of $11,000.  Spend it wisely Gordon.

TFoTM asks: Is the amount enough to buy Mr. Meth's continued silence on the HAWK pedestrian activated light debacle?  Thats just ludicrous, Westfield doesn't buy anyone's silence.......... do they?  That's debatable, just ask.....................



Jo Ann Neylan

     When asked by resident Maria Carluccio,  if she thought the HAWK pedestrian light was in the safest location, Acting Mayor Jo Ann Neylan echoed Mayor Skibitsky's repeated response that the "experts" have stated the light is in the safest location.  Will Councilwoman Neylan please tell us who said it, when it was said, and where it might be found in any written report associated with the construction of the pedestrian crossing?  Mayor Skibitsky has not been able to answer the questions, what does Neylan know that Skibitsky doesn't?  

     Anyone sitting in the Mayor's chair at Town Council meetings must be pre-programmed to give the same response.