Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

219 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 SWANSEA , MASSACHUSET TS own,” she says. Efforts are also being made to collaborate with the regional transit authority to encourage more frequent routes in areas such as Oakwood Estates, a 55+ community. Swansea is actively addressing infrastructure challenges, particularly the absence of a sewer system and heavy reliance on septic systems which is common in Massachusetts’ South Coast region. To tackle this issue, the town has entered into an inter-municipal agreement with neighboring Somerset, establishing a Sewer Commission, and utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan to initiate the design process for a sewer system. The aim is to attract businesses to the area, while also recognizing the value of preserving local, independent establishments. “Mom and pops are the best,” says Aronstein. “We have a lot of chains here, and that’s not a terrible thing, but we need the local flavor, the little panache that makes Swansea Swansea. It’s really difficult to run these businesses without septic, so we are trying to give that amenity just to make it a little bit easier.” Additionally, Swansea has obtained funding to reassess the utilization of major thoroughfares,