AGAWAM – Agawam City Council had a presentation for a resolution in support of the Feeding Hills Southwest Sewer Project on May 3, sponsored by Councilor George Bitzas and co-sponsored by Councilors Cecilia Calabrese, Dino Mercadante, Gerald Smith, Anthony Suffriti and Mario Tedeschi.

The councilors will be seeking $48.4 million in sewer funding.

“It’s very difficult for the people of Agawam to pay for this project. This is a very unique opportunity for the town to try to do its best to receive funding to support the completion of four phases of the project. We must have the mayor’s support along with our state senator and state representative. We need to work together and urge our congressional delegation to enact legislation to fully fund this much needed project. The mayor should appoint a small committee with the Department of Public Works, superintendent, and some other experts on this issue to present our case to the congressional delegation and our governor,” Councilor George Bitzas said.

He mentioned federal funding and President Joe Biden’s Job Act funding the project, which some of the committee mentioned would not support this type of project.

The American Jobs Plan, a $2 trillion jobs bill, proposed by Biden is being billed as an infrastructure measure because of the resources put into tasks like fixing roads and transportation systems. But the White House has taken the position that infrastructure also includes housing, internet access and other foundational support for people like better wages, among others. It does not include sewer expansion.

The last time the federal government subsidized sewer expansion was in the 1980s.

Bitzas also stated the sewage issue in some of the areas is creating environmental and health issues that need to be addressed.

There would be four phases in total. Phase two alone would cost an excess of $100,000 for every house that the sewer pipe would go in front of for existing homes alone, Councilor Christopher Johnson stated. Although he supports moving forward to seek funding, he feels the chances of it happening are slim to none. This would also require the construction of four pump stations.

Councilor Robert Rossi was previously on a committee along with Calabrese, to try and get the funding for the sewages and stated there is no money available for new construction or extension and expansion of sewers and the project was stopped for political reasons.

“The only funding is for sewer overflow or sewage leaking from the public systems into the drinking water. In some cases, some cities and towns can get up to 55 percent reimbursement. That is the best scenario possible for that type of help,” Rossi said.

He spoke to the mayor and said Agawam does qualify for that type of situation but there is no funding for the Southwest sewer system and has never been.

“This is an issue that I have been passionate about for as long as I have been on City Council and every time I get the opportunity to support whatever we can do to bring the sewers to that section of town I will do,” Councilor Calabrese said.

Other councilors agreed with Rossi. “I don’t believe this is a vehicle that can get us there, the bill does not call for extension of sewers,” Councilor Rosemary Sandlin said.

The councilors were concerned about moving forward and putting out any false hopes since this wouldn’t be the first time this has been attempted. Councilor Paul Cavallo stated the town may have to deal with the limiting funds available in Agawam if this does not go through.

After the presentation, the councilors did move to approve support of the project.

“If we don’t ask, we definitely won’t get anything, if we do ask even though it’s a very small chance, it could happen,” Councilor Gerald Smith said.