Chicopee City Council approves bond request, moves sewer project forward

Date: 2/5/2015

CHICOPEE  – The sewer separation project for downtown took another step forward at the City Council meeting on Feb. 3.

The council voted to authorize the city treasurer to borrow $12.5 million to finance the combined sewer overflow projects for Hampden Street, Kimball Street, Bullens Street and Cochran Street.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection required approval of the bond before the deadline for the final design on the renovations Oct. 15.

According to a letter from the board of Sewer Commissioners to Mayor Richard Kos, the downtown project is expected to be completed over four construction seasons.

The council also approved $400,000 to be used in paying for the design work of that phase as well as other parts of the citywide project.

In his briefing prior to the meeting, Kos said these projects are expensive across the country, as he learned by his recent attendance of the National Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. One way to make the project more affordable and have less impact on ratepayers would be to increase the time frame for the project. Kos explained by having more time, the city could pay off earlier bonds in order to afford more.

“It’s a matter of time or money,” Kos said. He added it’s more likely to receive more time from the federal government to complete the project than it is to be granted more funding.

City Council James Tillotson said the money probably wouldn’t be borrowed for a year or two.

“It’s no fun. It’s expensive, but this is the only way we can do it, “ he said. The federal government would fine the city if it doesn’t comply with the consent degree negotiated between the city and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Thomas Hamel, project supervisor in the Water Pollution Control, said an estimate of the complete cost of the sewer separation project would be about $200 million. To date, the project to separate sewer lines from storm drains has cost the city about $110 million, he added.

Kos noted the number of sewer related motions on the agenda came about because it was Hamel was “clearing his desk.” The council also approved one allocation to improve the city’s wastewater treatment facility as well as the construction of an additional syphon pipe.

The mayor explained this was the last week before Hamel’s retirement. Kos said he hopes to retain Hamel as a consultant in the future and thanked him for his service to the city.