AGAWAM — Scammers lost a tool used to target Agawam residents when the City Council voted on Sept. 8 to ban cryptocurrency ATMs in the city. It also temporarily blocked data centers and strengthened the consequences for violating the city’s e-bike ordinance.
The council had already conducted a public hearing on the moratorium at its Aug. 3 meeting. City Council President Anthony Russo noted that the city had the authority to choose whether to approve or reject plans for data centers following an executive order signed by Gov. Maura Healey on Sept. 8.
The president explained that a preliminary ordinance will be drafted this fall and a public hearing will be held to seek input on the ordinance. The ordinance may be edited to include suggestions and feedback.
City Councilor Robert Rossi sought an amendment to the moratorium that would outright ban data centers larger 12 megawatts, reasoning that Agawam did not have the infrastructure to support a data center of that size. Russo objected on a technical issue, saying a moratorium and a ban cannot be combined in a single ordinance. No councilors seconded Rossi’s motion and the ban attempt died.
There are eight cryptocurrency ATMs in Agawam. City Councilor Tom Hendrickson explained what they were for the benefit of residents who were not familiar with the machines. “These are used by scammers who will call people up and trick them … into going to these ATM machines — crypto ATM machines — depositing money and sending it to them in a way that can’t really be traced by law enforcement,” he said. He added that the ATMs had no other purpose.
“I didn’t know really know we had eight in town. That’s scary to be, as a senior,” City Councilor Rosemary Sandlin said. City Councilor George Bitzas commented that the federal government should take steps to outlaw the machines.
The council voted unanimously to ban the cryptocurrency ATMs. Businesses will have 90 days to remove the machines.
In June, the council passed an e-bike ordinance, requiring helmets be worn when operating the electric battery-powered bicycles. The ordinance also prohibited and riding the bikes on sidewalks and reckless behavior on the roadways. However, the consequences for violating the ordinance were relatively minor, with a $50 fine.
Mayor Christopher Johnson and City Councilor Dino Mercadante sponsored an amendment to give the ordinance more severe consequences. He explained that the first infraction would result in a $50 fine. A second violation of the ordinance carried a $100 fine, and the third one would result in a $300 fine. At that point, the e-bike may be impounded for up to 15 days.
Sandlin said she has seen 12-year-olds riding e-bikes at night without helmets or reflectors. “Even my walkers have reflective gear,” she remarked.
“The police are doing their job. What we need to do is get … the kids’ parents to do their job,” Mercadante said. Rossi agreed, “It’s up to the parents themselves to sit down and talk to their little devil and tell them the consequences of speeding, riding on sidewalks, joining up in groups.”
City Councilor Christine Rickmon suggested the schools could help operate a public awareness campaign, educating parents about the risks of reckless e-bike operation and the financial outcomes that may result. City Councilor Edward Borgatti agreed with his colleagues that there were easy steps parents could take to make e-bikes safer for the rider and the public. These include buying their child a helmet, asking who they will be meeting up with and making sure the bike is locked up at night.
The council unanimously approved the first reading of the enhanced ordinance.
