Montville approves over $1.5 million of American Rescue Plan funds

October 07, 2021 12:00 am • Last Updated: October 08, 2021 7:44 pm

By Johana Vazquez
Day Staff Writer

Montville — The Town Council approved Tuesday over $1.5 million worth of American Rescue Plan funds in the first phase of planned expenditures.

Since its first meeting in July, the Ad Hoc COVID-19 Impact Study Committee — made up of Councilors Billy Caron, Kathleen Pollard and Joe Jaskiewicz — has reached out to all town departments, looked over their requests and compiled a list of needs.

"Everything we've done is for the betterment of the town," said Jaskiewicz, chairman of the committee.

Caron said they run all ideas for ARP funding before the finance director and Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney's office.

Within the next two years, the town expects to receive a total of nearly $5.5 million in ARP funds, and already has received about half of it. Jaskiewicz said the items for phase I would not use up all of the funds the town currently has, adding that the committee would continue to compile lists and different phases over time.

On Tuesday, the committee held a meeting to make last-minute modifications to the proposed list before meeting with the Town Council. They decided to leave out $1.2 million for lost revenue. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, ARP funds can be allocated to replace lost revenue in eligible state, local, territorial and tribal governments "to strengthen support for vital public services and retain jobs."

Finance Director Terry Hart said it was left out of the list because town awaits further guidance from government higher-ups.

They also left out until further notice a $20,000 one-time donation to Meals on Wheels, a program by Thames Valley Council for Community Action, and 1% of the total budget to Uncas Health District.

Items on the approved list reflect the needs of various town departments and organizations, the total mounting to about $1.5 million. However, Hart said it was subject to change as town officials wait on quotes for certain expenses.

Receiving about 40% of phase I funding, the Parks and Recreation Commission requested funding for the improvement of parks and areas under its management, including $360,000 for replacement of tennis courts on Simpson Lane of Camp Oakdale. An additional $8,000 will be used to paint lines for pickleball on the existing courts.

Jaskiewicz on Tuesday said funding for outside projects usually is likely to be approved and the tennis courts get a lot of use in town.

"We knew that we were putting a lot on the list," Kate Southard, chair of the commission, said by phone Wednesday. "We thought if we didn't ask now, it would never be considered."

Southard, who is a math instructor at West Vine Street Elementary School, said the playground project at Camp Oakdale is the most dear to her heart. The $150,000 inclusive playground would be accessible to children in wheelchairs and allow children on the autism spectrum to play without being over-stimulated, she said.

Montville police requested $250,000 to add NexGen, a data management computer program the state police use, to the department. Resident State Trooper Sgt. Al Gosselin said the upgrade would make it easier on the town if it one day opts for a fully independent police department.

Police also requested $15,000 for a surveillance camera but Lt. Dave Radford and Gosselin declined to provide more details about its use.

Social Services is receiving $200,000 to renovate the inside of its new home, the former Town Hall building. The department also will receive a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, for $30,000, to store more food at its food bank, Caron said.

For the town's use, the council approved $123,000 for a Power Up charging trailer, a mobile device charging station that can charge more than 60 cellphones. Mayor Ron McDaniel said Tuesday that it could be used for community events, carnivals and emergencies.

"It can be deployed anywhere to provide charging services to allow us to stay connected with important public safety messaging," he said in an email Thursday.

Also for emergencies, the town approved $30,000 for self-contained breathing apparatus, devices worn to provide breathable air in environments with smoke or dangerous gases. Hart said the devices were requested by Fire and Emergency Management.

The Connecticut Council of Governments has plans to employ a regional administrator to help municipalities navigate through the rules and regulations regarding COVID relief funding. McDaniel said the position would go away once the funding stream ends, and $9,000 is Montville's pledged portion.

The town also is allocating $15,000 to hire a consultant to help develop the town's state-required Affordable Housing Development Plan by June 2022.

The Impact Study Committee is in the process of compiling phase II plans. Some of the items on the list so far include a $337,000 equipment storage building for Camp Oakdale, $187,000 for a police car replacement, $105,000 for a Parks and Recreation summer camp, and $35,000 vehicles for the fire marshal and deputy fire marshal.

The next Ad Hoc COVID-19 Impact Study Committee is scheduled Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. at Town Hall and it is open to the public.

j.vazquez@theday.com