Date: 5/18/2021
At our last council meeting the City Council, after discussion, unanimously voted in favor of the TR-2021-30 resolution in support of the Feeding Hills/ South West Sewage Project. On May 4 the mayor also signed the approval of the passage of our legislation. I would like to thank all of the City Councilors for their support especially Councilors Calabrese, Mercadante, Smith, Suffriti and Tedeschi for co-sponsoring the resolution I introduced.
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan would authorize $2.25 trillion for transportation, housing, water systems, water and sewage pipes, etc.One hundred eleven billion is projected to be available to states for such projects.
This is a very unique opportunity for the town of Agawam to try to do it’s best to receive funding to support the completion of all of the five phases of the Feeding Hills/South West sewage project. This is the only way that we will be able to complete this much needed and very expensive project, with these federal and state funds.
Some sewage issues in these areas are also creating environmental and health problems and must be addressed.
I have spoken to [state] Sen. John Velis and [state] Rep. Nicholas Boldyga and they strongly support the idea. They are both committed to work with the mayor to try and convince our Congressional Delegation (as our resolution calls) to enact legislation that renders the Feeding Hills/ South West Sewage project for full funding of all phases; and urge Gov. [Charlie] Baker to appropriate funds from the federal stimulus bill for this project.
I do understand that this is not going to be easy to accomplish and I don’t want to give high hopes or promises to our residents. I am optimistic and I believe that there are some rays of hope that our Congressman Richard Neil, with his powerful position as the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, along with our powerful Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey that they may be able to help Agawam secure the money for this project.
Again we have nothing to lose by pursing this issue. We do not want to let this opportunity to go by the wayside.
George Bitzas
Agawam City Council
