AGAWAM — Mayor William Sapelli is starting his third term the same way he began his first one: planning for upgrades to streets, sidewalks, drains and buildings.

“A lot of infrastructure,” he responded last week when asked about his plans for 2022.

For instance, he expects to see improvements to O’Brien’s Corner at intersection of Maple, North and Springfield streets, which he called a dangerous area for both cars and pedestrians. The town has received “good funding” from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to make safety improvements to the busy crossing, which is just steps away from Robinson Park School.

Additionally, the town will undertake several flood control upgrades in 2022, the mayor said. On North Street, Sapelli said there is a culvert beneath the road that is “old and deteriorating.” On Meadow Street and Leland Avenue there have been ongoing flooding issues. Lastly, Sapelli mentioned May Hollow, where the DOT did a temporary repair, but now requires a more direct and complete fix.

With this continued infrastructure repair on roads, Sapelli said there will be “some preventative maintenance on roads and sidewalk work.”

He noted that these road issues are some of the “biggest projects” to be taken care of in the new year.
As done previously in 2021, Sapelli said his administration will continue to assist small businesses, along with establishing “something more permanent with outdoor dining.” Currently, he said there are some restaurants that can accommodate the outdoor seating easily, but not everywhere. “We will look at that carefully,” he said.

He also said this will be the year that the town begins improving the long-dormant Tuckahoe Turf Farm property, a massive former farm between South Westfield and South West streets that Sapelli envisions turning into a recreation site. He said money is coming in to invest in the property, including hiking trails and state-mandated repairs of the dam.

For some time, the town of Agawam has been pushing the plans for a new high school. Sapelli said the town is in Phase I of a 270-day eligibility period triggered by preliminary approval from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. By the end of this phase on April 28, the town will have to identify its high school needs, set a schedule to complete the project, and other tasks. Phase II is a formal feasibility study.

On Jan. 19, councilors will vote on whether to approve $1.25 million to fund the feasibility study, schematic design and owner’s project requirements.

This month also begins new terms for the councilors and School Committee members. At their meeting on Jan. 3, which was after Reminder Publishing’s press time, the City Council was slated to welcome one new member, Anthony Russo. The School Committee will have two newcomers this term, A.J. Christopher and Michael Perry.

Pandemic pros

Having dealt with the pandemic in schools for two years now, Sapelli said, they are “getting a better handle on it.”

The mayor encourages residents to obtain the vaccine and boosters, when eligible.

For now, Sapelli does not foresee the need to close businesses, as at the start of the pandemic. He believes that taking proper health and safety precautions will be enough to protect the community.
In 2022, Sapelli said, “We need to be more positive.”

His advice to everyone is: “Be smart and be considerate. The glass should always be half full, not half empty. Attitude is everything, [and] people should know that.”