West Springfield mayor heads to D.C. for special conference

Jan. 30, 2019 | Jordan Houston
jordan@thereminder.com

Mayors from across the country traveled to the nation’s capital this past week to attend the United States Conference of Mayors. From left to right, Lynn Mayor Tom McGee, West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt and Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Inclusion, innovation and infrastructure were some of the main focal points at this year’s United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), according to West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt.

Reichelt joined hundreds of mayors from across the country in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 23 – 25, to attend the 87th Winter Meeting. The conference seeks to provide a space for networking opportunities, the exchanging of ideas and policy development. This was the mayor’s first year attending.

During the conference, members spoke on organization policies and goals, while contributing to the development of national urban policy by serving on one or more of the conference’s standing committees. USCM is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more.

Some of the issues discussed included immigration, energy, children health, human services, international affairs, jobs, education, the workforce and tourism.

“It’s kind of cool because mayors get to have a round-table with other mayors and talk about different issues,” said Reichelt. “When I flew back, I was talking with the mayor from Attleboro [Massachusetts] and we both agreed it was worth it. We thought there was a ton of energy and everyone was excited to be on a little, mini-vacation but still working with people that kind of are equals and that get it. I think everyone was excited because you could talk to people one-on-one.”

According to the conference website, the purpose of the event is to promote the development of an effective national city and metro area focused policy, strengthen federal-city relationships, ensure federal policy meets urban needs, provide mayors with leadership and management tools that allow them to do their jobs “better and make them more effective leaders” and create a forum in which mayors can share ideas, information and best practice.

Reichelt told Reminder Publishing he sat on a few panels that covered topics surrounding homelessness and aspects of cities with populations under 100,000 – West Side’s currently has a population of around 30,000.

“For the ‘Cities Under 100,000’ panel, there were about 25 of us,” said the mayor. “It’s a newer group. We talked about what our cities do and how we interact with larger cities.”

He added that infrastructure was another highlight of the conference, including how to invest in infrastructure, whether it be roads, pipes or new buildings, and how officials can invest in a way that makes community members want to stay – especially in smaller cities.

Overall, Reichelt said the biggest takeaway he got from the conference is that unity and involvement with other mayors is key.

“A big thing for the organization is to remind mayors to just be involved and to realize there is a larger place out there – you may think your city is everything but there is a greater world out there with other mayors, and we can help each other and talk about issues,” he stated. “We’re not in it alone, whether it be lobbying at the state or federal level, we have partners out there and should use each other.”

The mayor said he plans on attending the conference again next year.

Share this: