AGAWAM — Agawam’s municipal elections are a little more than four weeks away. Last week, Reminder Publishing shared the priorities and vision of eight of the 16 City Council candidates.
Here, the other eight candidates — incumbents Rosemary Sandlin, Gerald Smith, Peter Smus, Anthony Suffriti and Maria Valego, and candidates Cecilia Calabrese, Peter McNair and Anthony Rossi — explain what they see as the most important issues for Agawam now and in the future. Candidates’ answers appear in alphabetical order.
Reminder Publishing: With an eye toward the fiscal year 2027 budget, what is one funding priority you would like to pursue and where would the funding for it come from?
Calabrese: My budgetary priorities will focus on effective use of tax dollars, just as I have in past terms. I prioritize public safety, specifically, adequate funding for police, fire, ambulance and DPW. Also, proper funding of our schools, to meet parental expectations in education are vital for the future of our community. As for our seniors, I will look for ways to ease the tax burden on senior Agawam residents so that financially distressed seniors do not have [to] face the specter of having to move out of Agawam because of an inability to pay real estate property taxes.
Rossi: As cities and towns face diminishing state and federal funds, they must manage their finances by enhancing revenue generation, optimizing spending, and improving long-term financial planning. The City Council must be proactive and “stress test” their budgets to understand potential funding cuts, prioritize essential services, such as public safety, sanitation, and public health, while scaling back non-critical areas. There is a need to incorporate performance-based/line-item budgeting.
Performance-based budgets focus on results and accountability. In the ideal, budgets that produce results, not guess work, creating transparency and clarity, and better communication between the mayor’s office and the City Council.
McNair: Our biggest challenge facing Agawam is the roads and sidewalks. My friends and neighbors all ask if there’s anything I can do. I mentioned, if elected, I would make this a top priority. How we get this would be to get our empty storefronts filled along with the business parks. As I see it, these two areas will need an aggressive marketing campaign that shows Agawam is a place to work and live.
Sandlin: I would like to enhance the handicap access at the town hall through grants. The doors to the access need to have automatic openers to assess individuals who use walking devices, canes and wheelchairs. The current access would help residents talk to town agencies and pay bills in person.
Smith: I do not have one specific area I am most concerned with. Obviously, the new high school is a major concern. This is the largest expenditure in the history of Agawam. I want to make sure that it stays on schedule.
Smus: With waterway culverts failing, we will need to find grant aid from the conservation and environmental agencies to help fund these projects to restore them. Also look for affordable housing opportunities with [Community Preservation Act] funds to attract the best contractors.
Suffriti: Agawam is in need of affordable senior housing. Funding would be explored through any and all grant opportunities along as private development that fall within the parameters of affordable housing.
Valego: Investing in more accessible affordable housing. Funding would be explored from a combination of sources: state and federal grants, Massachusetts Community for One Stop Growth, community and economic grants, Department of Housing, Community Development Block Grants, CPA funds, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), attract a private developer. The town and developer agree to local tax incentives in exchange for private investment, general fund and capital budget.
RP: What issues would you like to tackle in the term ahead?
Calabrese: We must regain local control over land use in Agawam. I have extensive experience addressing problems to find regional solutions. Politicians in Boston force legislation upon communities with a “one-size-fits-all” approach. The lithium-ion battery storage facility is a perfect example. It is being forced upon the residents of Agawam against our will. One must ask: “What other policies will Beacon Hill try to force upon our cities and towns?” I will work with local legislators to form a coalition of Western Massachusetts communities to fight for policies that will enhance our opportunities, not endanger future generations of Western Massachusetts citizens.
Rossi: I have always been a proponent of local control, who knows better how to govern our lives here than the citizens themselves. Agawam is very capable of determining its own priorities and making their own decisions that reflect how they wish to live. Agawam must adopt or expand some form of home rule authority, which empowers the town at some level to manage its own affairs without state approval or options to reject them. Agawam is a creature of the state. We are on a leash, with a very short and strong state chain, and Beacon Hill has always aimed to keep it that way; a leash I would like to break.
McNair: My campaign message is to keep “lithium battery storage” out of Agawam. All hands on deck will be needed to combat these huge megawatt companies.
Sandlin: My most pressing issue for the next sessions would be to encourage new business and developers to utilize the old Games and Lane property for new businesses or affordable housing.
Smith: I am also concerned that Agawam maintains the services already provided. I also want to be sure that all our fields are restored and maintained.
Smus: In the years ahead I would like to tackle the cost of the new high school, by attracting businesses to our town for a stronger tax base, [and] search for grants/funding for school related projects to reduce taxpayer cost.
Suffriti: Fiscal responsibility while enhancing Agawam viable growth.
Valego: Affordable and accessible housing, community development, development of abandoned property, education and academic needs, enhancing the quality of life for all residents, addressing senior, veteran, youth needs, and every reason to live in Agawam and call Agawam home.
RP: What is your vision for Agawam in the next 10 years?
Calabrese: Agawam will have completed construction of the new high school building. I expect that building to serve as a platform for education, not only for college-bound students, but for students seeking a career in tech and hands-on professions. As the population of Agawam grows, so will the need for plumbers, electricians, housing-construction, automotive repair, etc. I see Agawam as a thriving community where our residents can live, work, and play, just like my family has done for four generations. My vision for Agawam is a community where all generations can thrive and live safe, healthy, and productive lives.
Rossi: A vision for Agawam in the next 10 years will be challenging to say the least. It involves how technology, evolving citizen expectations and major societal shifts will transform public expectations. Governments will be expected to become more responsive, efficient and transparent. Agawam will need to be focused on policy, technology [and] economics, to build resilience and foster sustainable growth. We are quickly running out of space and time. Our population is growing, housing is becoming desperately needed and our citizenship will be looking for answers; and the government will have to be ready with the answers. Having vision is planting a tree so one day we can sit in the shade.
McNair: Agawam has the potential to be a rising star in the area. It just needs to be promoted and perceived as business friendly and affordable for its seniors, single moms and the businesses that remain.
Sandlin: My vision for the next 10 years is to have a strong taxbase, outstanding education, and business-friendly community.
Smith: I want to make sure Agawam remains a town that its residents are proud of and a town people would love to move into. Smus: My vision is for a safer and productive Agawam, to continue updating our educational and athletic facilities. Improve veteran and senior services. Keep Agawam services without fees. Make Agawam affordable for families.
Suffriti: A vision of Agawam to continue to be a community that provides the best education, safest community with affordable living opportunities.
Valego: As a lifelong resident, graduate of AHS/CO 1988, I see tremendous growth to our city. Options expanding affordable housing and reduce homelessness, community involvement activities at the senior center and the new AHS, focusing on the future of Agawam by bringing the community together, interacting, being proactive and transparent, supporting each other, lifting each other. By doing this, we grow, we build, we succeed; we are proud and have pride; we are stronger together. This is how we will keep moving Agawam forward. Together we rise, divided we fall.
Voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 4. For a list of polling places, visit agawam.ma.us/231/Election-Information.