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Date: 2/15/2023
AGAWAM – Mayor William Sapelli gave his fifth annual “state of the city” speech at the City Council’s meeting on Feb. 6. He promised to give the executive summary – each councilor received his complete year-end report – and touched on the highlights of what happened last year in the city as well as speaking about projects coming in 2023.
With understatement, he said, “There’s an awful lot going on.” He noted the partnership of his administration with the City Council in accomplishing projects around the town.
Sapelli had nothing but praise for the town’s department heads and the jobs they performed, especially in what he called “a very volatile economic environment.”
He said Agawam has seen “positive growth,” and noted the tax rate has been lowered while the value of real estate has increased.
He noted the Building Maintenance Department undertook projects at the library such as roofing and a new heating and air conditioning system, as well as upgrading security systems at town schools and installing 30 new floors in classrooms.
Coming up, the mayor said, would be more roof repairs as well as upgrades to Memorial Field.
The Department of Public Works will be undertaking improvements this spring at O’Brien’s Corner and working on the city’s stormwater system made possible with ARPA funds, among many other projects.
Sapelli noted that many grants have been used to help fund the projects.
While for the public schools safety is a major priority, Sapelli added that there is also a focus on closing the education gap that opened during the remote learning stage of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are getting students back onboard after the pandemic,” he said.
He praised both the fire and police departments not only for their roles in public safety but also for the community service both departments provide the town.
Among other highlights of the past year, he also noted the town’s website has been redesigned to make is easier for residents to use; the video and television access channel Agawam Media continues to grow; the library was extensively renovated; revenue grew at the town golf course; and the Beautification Committee continued its work.
Speaking of economic development, Sapelli said a new Pride convenience store will be built at 395 Main St., and the corner of Main and Suffield streets will be the location of a Starbucks and an urgent care medical office. He said there are several new housing projects planned in town.
The new police headquarters project is on track to go out to bid later this year, which will transform the former offices of Hub Insurance, also previously known as the Oaks banquet hall, into a new police station. He believes that project should be finished by summer of 2024.
In other business, the council unanimously approved using $265,000 from the town’s free cash account to fund pedestrian upgrades at the intersection of Suffield and Silver streets.
Councilor George Bitzas agreed the safety improvements were long overdue, but he wondered why Agawam would use its own funding, while other communities are using federal dollars for such infrastructure improvements. He proposed delaying the project so that the town could seek outside funding.
City Council President Christopher Johnson said it would take three to five years before outside funds would arrive, and the planned improvements are the least expensive and quickest alternative to address the safety concerns there.
Councilor Paul Cavallo, a longtime advocate for the improvements, said, “It’s been needed for a long, long time, as Councilor Bitzas pointed out.”
Cavallo added new sidewalks will be added to make walking safer.
The council also approved the nomination of Douglas Reed and Scott Skolnick to the Agawam Liquor License Commission.