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Date: 10/18/2023
AGAWAM — In advance of the town election, Reminder Publishing sent questionnaires to candidates on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Each of the 12 candidates for the 11 available seats on the City Council was given the same list of six questions, to be answered in 75 words or fewer. Responses that exceeded the limit were cut off after the 75th word. The first two questions and answers were printed on Oct. 12, and the final two questions and answers will be printed in the Oct. 26 newspaper.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk (*).
Budget cuts
Is there any waste or inefficiency in the town budget? Where would you look for cuts, if next year’s municipal budget comes in tight?
George Bitzas*: I always supported a fair budget and I never supported a cut that will affect negatively our children’s education, police and fire protection and necessary town services. I did oppose and voted against creating some new high-paying positions and high raises for some. During these difficult times we must be careful how to spend our taxpayers’ money.
Edward Borgatti: If elected, one of my first tasks will be to meet with each department head to discuss ways to make our town government more efficient and cost effective. I would look for ways to streamline services and cross-train staff. We must increase grant funding for streets and sidewalks. As a profitable business owner, I know how to budget for efficiency.
Susan Dawson: The Agawam city budget has traditionally been fairly lean. I will support fulfilling contracts, keeping services running, and all town-wide financial obligations. However, in 2008 I was the mayor and was faced with making hard choices. I would expect that the mayor would have come up with a revised budget. Then, meet with the councilors, a few at a time to discuss the revisions. Then, I would be willing to approve through my vote.
Thomas Hendrickson*: Obviously, it is always our goal to optimize the budget and to ensure that tax dollars are being spent as efficiently as possible. I’ve been satisfied with the job that the current administration has done ensuring that our public funds are used effectively and efficiently, therefore I’ve voted in support of the FY2023 and FY2024 budgets. Under the next administration, I will work to ensure that this continues.
Dino Mercadante*: When spending tax dollars, it is the duty of a town to be very responsible with the people’s money. An audit of each department for duplication of tasks, as well as ordering practices would be a start. Also, what we need versus what we want can be a tremendous savings. I believe, putting more things out to bid should be incorporated, as state law permits.
Robert Rossi*: I have always believed in performance-based/line item budgeting. Performance budgets uses statements of missions, goals and objectives to explain why the money is being spent, which focuses on results. Taxpayers will pay for results, not guesswork. Ideally, this budget system requires measurement of results, outcomes, and impacts on the community, allowing for transparency and clarity, thus creating better communication between the mayor’s office and the City Council. Maybe one day I’ll get my wish.
Anthony Russo*: I am proud that Agawam remains one of the most affordable places to live in the region. During my two years on the council, we have had minimal budget increases. If we were going to look to make cuts, I would be a proponent of an internal audit of our municipal departments with a goal of cutting 2%-5% per department. If cuts cannot be made, I would ask for a report explaining why.
Rosemary Sandlin*: It’s hard to define waste in government because there are unknown problems occurring daily. Water main breaks that require immediate response and emergency services that save live daily require money. One thing I would do is put in a recycling system at the water park to save money on water. Another money-saver would be to work with the custodial union for a compromise about the use of our gyms for local teams that would cut … (75 words).
Gerald Smith*: Our budget for 2024 ($110,497,259) is an increase of $6,054,843 (5.8%) over that of 2023. Considering the escalating cost of living, this represents a modest increase. Much of the increase is for salaries that were already determined by contract. If the 2025 budget needs to be cut, I would ask all department heads to recommend where cuts could possibly be made.
Peter Smus: I am still familiarizing myself with the budget. We should always look for waste and try to make everything more efficient in all departments.
Anthony Suffriti*: Always room to sharpen the pencil in any budget. Current administration has done a very good job at keeping the town’s annual fiscal budget with minimal increase.
Maria Valego: It’s a balancing act. We can only tighten the budget as we see fit with what we have to work with and for the benefit of all. Now is the time more than ever to continue to bring Agawam and Feeding Hills together! Together, we can make a difference; continue to make Agawam the city it is and the city “people want to live, work and be educated by”!
Infrastructure needs
Apart from the police station and high school projects now underway, what do you see as Agawam’s top infrastructure needs?
George Bitzas*: I believe that many of our sidewalks and streets in Agawam and Feeding Hills are in bad shape. We did do some repairs but we need to do more. I did ask for more funds for sidewalk and street repairs to be put in the budget and I will continue to do so in the future.
Edward Borgatti: Public safety is my top priority. We must assure our seniors, students and residents that we have safe street lighting, sidewalks and roads. I will look to be involved and maintain the Capital Planning Budget Committee that we currently have in place. It is essential and will allow us to prioritize needs to ensure we have limited input on taxpayers.
Susan Dawson: Agawam City Council needs to move forward on the sewers in Feeding Hills and finish the last three phases.
Thomas Hendrickson*: I strongly support investing in improving and expanding Agawam’s water and sewer infrastructure. I have voted in favor of and will continue to support efforts to improve the quality and reliability our water and sewer systems. Additionally, I support expanding Agawam’s sewer system throughout Feeding Hills.
Dino Mercadante*: Roads and sidewalks will always be a concern. The need to address this is an ongoing process. The Town Hall is perhaps the next biggest undertaking for the town, as far as buildings are concerned. Finishing the sewers in town cannot be back-burnered much longer. We need to meaningfully provide for our citizens, so that they see physical results from their tax dollars.
Robert Rossi*: The police station and the high school project are more that the community can take at the present time. The high school with all its self-inflicted issues should have been dealt with years ago, and the police station could be put on hold for now. I would have opted for an early childhood center that has been on the drawing board for years and would have held greater value to this community and its children.
Anthony Russo*: Three outstanding projects include a new town hall, expanding sewers in Feeding Hills, and increase the renovating of our roads and walkways. We need to work with our state and federal representatives to ensure we get the proper funding for these projects, which are conversations I have already started. I would like to note that planning is already underway to repair/replace failing water and sewer lines, which is why I did not mention those.
Rosemary Sandlin*: I believe that should we bond for the police station and a new high school we will be at our bonding limit for a few years. I would concentrate on maintaining our roads and building new sidewalk in every part of our community. I would then advocate for safer intersection crossing signalization.
Gerald Smith*: I see Agawam’s top infrastructure needs for improvement to be our roads and sidewalks, our water and sewer lines, and our telecommunication technology.
Peter Smus: I would like to see more of our side streets and sidewalks addressed. Also, I would like to see the sewer and street drainage water separation.
Anthony Suffriti*: My opinion of top infrastructure needs is sewers in the southwest section of Feeding Hills.
Maria Valego: Forms of thermal eneregy to help reduce the cost of utilities for the residents and businesses of Agawam and Feeding Hills. An example of savings: solar or our own “gas and electric.” Agawam residents and businesses would be in a better place, and this would help to reduce currently inflated utility bills. Let’s repurpose Agawam with what we already have! Repurpose vacant houses and businesses and turn them into used and occupied space!