Bissonnette hears water concerns from residents

Date: 10/5/2010

Oct. 6, 2010

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE -- Water on the streets, water going to the river and the potential for flood water dominated the second stop of Mayor Michael Bissonnette's "listening tour" of the city.

Bissonnette met with residents of Wards Three and Seven on Sept. 30 at the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club.

"Down here it's all about water," Bissonnette said.

The Boys and Girls Club has been the site of a series of meetings over the past two years about several water-based neighborhood concerns. That area of Chicopee has undergone a construction project to correct the combined sewer overflow (CSO) and has also had a project to try to correct the flooding that routinely happens there from storms.

The city also has had to take steps to obtain new federal certification for its flood control systems in the area. If it didn't ,residents would have to face huge increases in flood insurance premiums.

Bissonnette announced the certification work would be filed this month with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the city should be included on FEMA's new flood control maps next summer.

Although several residents asked about flood insurance, Bissonnette said the city is not in the flood insurance business and can not offer any details. Residents were asked to contact their insurance agents for additional information and up-to-date rates.

At previous meetings, officials have urged residents to buy flood insurance, even though the area has not been flooded for decades by the Connecticut River.

One resident asked why the city has spent $6.2 million, according to a published report, on the federally mandated updates to the flood control systems. She said the report indicated a few trees had been removed from the dike and two cracked pipes were fixed.

Chicopee Waste Water Treatment Plant Chief Operator Thomas Hamel explained there were a dozen pipes and vales that were repaired and many trees that had to be carefully removed.

So far, there has been between $3.5 and $4 million spent in the effort and Hamel said there is more work left to do, such as making sure the circa 1940s pumping stations are in proper condition.

Concerning the CSO project, Bissonnette said that federal stimulus funds allowed the city to "jump the line" and start this part of the project 12 years earlier than when it was planned to start.

Department of Public Works Director Stanley Kulig said the CSO project is "heading toward the finish line." Construction crews will be busy finishing the repaving of streets and re-seeding of lawns, he said.

Kulig took down the addresses where there are still problems with flooding from storms and said the present storm gave city workers the opportunity to evaluate the improvements.

Several residents mentioned problems with noise from parties and car stereos and Police Chief John Ferraro said his advice is to call the police immediately.

"Don't wait until you're completely aggravated," he said.

One resident suggested raising fines for disturbing the peace as the town of Amherst recently has done and City Councilor John Vieau said the council has been considering working on the issue.

Another resident said neighborhood children are afraid to use Sarah Jane Sherman Park for fear of having their bikes or skateboards stolen or being beat up by gangs. Ferraro said he would address that issue.

The next listening tour meeting will be for Ward Five on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Chicopee High School auditorium on Front Street..