City Government
Agawam City Council
About the Council
Eleven people hold the power of the purse in Agawam, and every one of them answers to you. The town has no wards and no district seats: all eleven councilors are elected citywide, so each voter helps choose the entire Council, and each councilor represents the entire town. The Council’s own mission statement is blunt about the job: maintain fiscal stability and provide the necessary ordinances for the good of the city and its residents. Under the charter, legislative power is vested in the Council. It holds public hearings, passes ordinances, financial orders, and resolutions, and approves every financial appropriation, including the annual Operating Budget the Mayor proposes.
- Makes the law by passing ordinances, financial orders, and resolutions.
- Controls the money by approving all financial appropriations and adopting the annual Operating Budget.
- Answers to residents: councilors respond to individual problems and complaints from citizens. That duty is written into the Council’s own description of the job.
Council Members
All eleven members are elected citywide. Anthony J. Russo serves as Council President and Anthony R. Suffriti as Council Vice President.
Anthony J. Russo
Anthony R. Suffriti
George Bitzas
Edward Borgatti
Cecilia P. Calabrese
Thomas D. Hendrickson
Peter T. McNair
Dino R. Mercadante
Christine Rickmon
Robert E. Rossi
Rosemary Sandlin
Councilors are reached through the Council office at Town Hall, 36 Main Street: 413-726-9716. The current roster with individual contact details is on the town’s City Council page.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Monday of every month, except summer months and Monday holidays. The Council meets once in July and once in August.
- Where: the auditorium of the Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001.
- Agendas & minutes: kept in the City Clerk’s office and posted on the town website.
- Public comment: citizens may speak at City Council meetings. Sign up before the meeting starts.
- Committees: much of the detailed work happens in six sub-committees: Finance, Legislative, Community Relations, Administrative, School Budget, and Housing.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.