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Date: 5/18/2022
AGAWAM — The town’s new planning and community development director won’t need long to get up to speed with Agawam developments.
Pam Kerr grew up in this town, and has been working in the local and regional planning offices for most her career since graduating from high school in 1987. Now she is taking over for her former boss, Marc Strange, who left Agawam to become town administrator of Ludlow.
“I started my role in the regional planning department, and then moved into local planning,” said Kerr. “I started off working in a clerical position, where I worked with [former Town Planner] Debbie Dachos, who retired in 2015 ... I learned a tremendous amount from her and assisted her with projects. This is where I realized my love for planning.”
She recalls working with Dachos on updates of the town’s recreation plan, its economic plan, and a project called the Coming Together Consensus.
“Coming Together Consensus was a community consensus-building project that was done in the ’90s to gather input from various representatives and members of the community on their vision for Agawam,” said Kerr.
She continued working in the planning office for several years after Strange was hired. Over the past 10 months, she has worked in the office of Veterans Agent Chris Lanski.
“Working with Chris was a very enjoyable experience, however, when this position opened up, I had to apply for it, as my heart is in planning and I am so thrilled to be working for this town,” said Kerr.
Agawam Mayor William Sapelli said Kerr’s background made her a strong candidate for the town planner position, which has an annual salary of $81,340.
“This position was posted, and we took on all the people that applied, but based off of her experience, background and her being second in command to Marc Strange previously, it certainly raised her credibility,” said Sapelli.
Kerr said she is familiar with all the ongoing projects that she will now be called upon to lead.
“As I am being brought up to speed, I am happy to see one project moving forward,” said Kerr, referring to the plans to turn Tuckahoe Turf Farm into a town park. The town is fixing a dam on the property between South West and South Westfield streets, and also plans to add a paved roadway and multiple walking trails.
Kerr said there aren’t any large housing projects on the horizon, other than an 81-unit condominium development on South Westfield Street that was not built, and has now had its wetland permit expire.
She said she would like to update and the town’s zoning bylaws to meet the needs of businesses.
“I hope to soon get a handle on the different programs,” said Kerr. “Mainly I’d like to benefit Agawam by working on ways to attract more commercial and in general businesses to town, to continue to be proactive and work on open space and development issues.”
Kerr can be reached in her Town Hall office at 726-9738.