Agawam councilor pushes back on new police, fire complex
Updated 10:48 AM;
AGAWAM Now is not the time to spend millions of dollars on a public safety complex, a city councilor told Mayor William Sapelli..
Although no councilor voted against the mayor’s proposed five-year capital spending plan, individual councilors on Monday questioned both the need for a new $30 million police and fire station, and the omission of sewers in southwestern Feeding Hills.
“It’s a luxury. It’s not a necessity,” said Councilor George Bitzas of the public safety proposal, which envisions spending $65,000 on a feasibility study in the coming year, and $30 million for construction beginning in 2026. “With these hard times, all the taxes going up, federal taxes going up, inflation going up, … I don’t think we can use this money for this luxury.”
‘No one wants to leave a house half-painted’: Weeks after saying he’ll resign, retirement board chairman hasn’t left and some town officials aren’t happy
Today 5:00 AM
Facebook Share
More than a month after Hampden County retirement board Chairman Richard M. Theroux said he’ll resign in the wake of a highly critical state audit, he hasn’t set a date for his departure.
And in his first interview with The Republican since the audit’s release, Theroux said he plans to stay on until he and his fellow board members address the issues flagged by the state’s Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission.
Thomas Sullivan elected as chair of Hampden County retirement board’s Advisory Council, replacing member who resigned in wake of audit
Updated Apr 28, 2021;
AGAWAM Thomas Sullivan has been elected as the chair of the Hampden County Regional Board of Retirement’s Advisory Council, replacing a member who resigned in the wake of a highly critical state audit.
Sullivan, the assistant town administrator for budget and finance in Wilbraham and the town’s collector and treasurer, was unanimously elected Wednesday morning. In his newly elected role, Sullivan will serve as the Advisory Council’s representative to the retirement board. His term runs from May 4 through Dec. 31.
Agawam votes ‘no confidence’ in Hampden County Regional Retirement Board
Updated 8:07 AM;
They were joined by a former city councilor who happens to be one of those leaders.
Richard M. Theroux, who previously announced that he would resign as chairman and treasurer of the Hampden County Regional Board of Retirement, wrote the council a letter encouraging them to support Mayor William Sapelli’s resolution calling for a change in leadership.
The vote follows a February audit by the state’s Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission highlighting questionable spending at the regional system, which is headquartered in Agawam and serves several Hampden County towns. (Longmeadow and Hampden have approved votes of “no confidence.”)
Longmeadow may cut ties with Hampden County retirement system, Select Board exploring options masslive.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from masslive.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.