Sewer project continues without mayor's sponsorship

Date: 10/17/2012

By Carley Dangona

carley@thereminder.com

AGAWAM — At the Oct. 9 meeting of the City Council's Administrative Sub-committee, the members decided that the panel would be the sole sponsor of the Southwest Area Sewer Extension Project Phase II, in light of Mayor Richard Cohen's rejection to sponsor the project.

"The committee is going to be the sole sponsor — we unanimously agreed," Robert Rossi, chair of the sub-committee, said. "We think it's too vital of a project to have further delays."

The projected cost of the phase is just less than $10.5 million, which includes the cost of building the sewer system, the construction of two pumping stations and the capital improvements to surrounding streets affected by the project.

The direct cost for residents is approximately $6,000 — $3,000 for the betterment of the sewer and $3,000 for the actual hookup.

"I think the calculations are fair for the rate payer and the town of Agawam," Rossi said. "It's simply funded by the taxpayers affected by the system and its users."