Town Of Waterford Finalizes $5.5 Million American Rescue Fund Plan Resolution

Waterford CT

30 August, 2021

6:22 AM

Description

Press release from the Town of Waterford: August 6, 2021 Priorities include Water/Sewers and IT Waterford Finalizes $5.5 million American Rescue Fund Plan Resolution Waterford — After weeks of deliberation with department heads, First Selectman Rob Brule said he feels confident about the town's plan for $5.5 million worth of American Rescue Plan funds, half of which the town has already received. "Waterford will continue to be a town which prides itself on putting the necessary resources towards everything from mental health to town infrastructure improvements," he said. Brule, along with Town Attorney Robert Avena and Finance Director Kimberly Allen, presented the plan at Monday's Representative Town Meeting and received a unanimous vote in favor. To assure proper use of the funds, the town followed the U.S. Treasury Department's categories of eligibility: to respond to the coronavirus public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, provide premium pay to eligible essential workers, replace lost public-sector revenue and make necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure. Waterford's plan targets the first and last categories. Technology/infrastructure and the utilities commission are receiving 77.5% of the planned allocations. Allocated at $1,667,000, the town will either venture into a project for townwide broadband or low water pressure, with an additional $6,250 toward security monitoring laptops.Nationally, the COVID-19 pandemic showed the disparities among students who had an internet connection at home and those who didn't. While a broadband project would not mean free townwide Wi-Fi, said Brett Mahoney, chief of police and chairman of the town's IT committee, it would mean improving the overall infrastructure of the town's data and provide "pockets of potential Wi-Fi" in specific areas, such as at a park or the beach. People who cannot afford internet could go to these designated areas and take advantage of free connection, he said. Townwide broadband also would serve to improve communication in water pump stations and better internet connectivity might entice new businesses. The town's geographic information system, or GIS, which maps buildings and businesses, will be upgraded for $44,500. Expected to help first responders and lower emergency response times, $62,000 will go toward upgrading computer-aided dispatch modules. The utilities commission is receiving the biggest portion of funds to upgrade or repair the water pumping stations at Cross and Old Norwich roads, the control panels of the Gorman-Rupp 17 pump station and the Fargo Lane water tower, costing an estimated total of $3.1 million. Upgrades to the wastewater pumping stations would include making the system more energy efficient. The painting and repair of the water tower is an estimated cost of $1.2 million dollars alone, but Jim Bartelli, assistant director of the utilities commission, said it is a necessary repair. The water tower — 140 feet tall and 37 years old — still harbors its original coat of paint and has exceeded its useful life expectancy by seven years. A new coating would prolong its life for a minimum of another 30 years. "If routine maintenance of infrastructure is ignored, it turns into an emergency capital investment, which is typically three times the cost of maintenance," Bartelli added. About 22.5% of the plan will go into economic development, tourism, public health, and youth and family services. To help current and new small businesses in town, $300,000 will go into a new economic assistance program. The logistics of the program are still under development, Planning Director Abby Piersall said. Within the tourism sector, the Nevins Tenant Cottage will receive another $100,000 after being designated $100,000 in the town budget in May. Brule said the additional funds would offset needed grants and fundraising to complete the building's restoration. In a continued effort to support the arts and one of Waterford's biggest attractions, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is expected to receive a half-million dollars for infrastructure repair. The public health department, Ledge Light Health District, is to receive 1%, or $54,000. The town will put $272,101 to hire for a new town position, a human services coordinator, for two years. Dani Gorman, director of Family and Youth Services, said the pandemic magnified many needs in the town, including mental health, addiction, housing and energy assistance. "This would allow residents to have someone who is focused on getting them the services they need to improve their lives," she said of the new position. During the pandemic, Gorman said Family and Youth Services aided 9,000 residents and had a record contact number of close to 30,000."The demand is there," she added. [email protected] By the numbers The town's planned expenditures for American Rescue Funds Plan: • Economic Assistance to Small Businesses: $300,000• Eugene O'Niell Theater Center: $524,000• Nevins Tenant Cottage: $100,000• Ledge Light Health District: $54,000• Human services coordinator: $272,101• GIS updates: $44,500• First responder CAD modules: $62,000• Townwide broadband or low water pressure project: $1,667,000• Security monitoring laptops: $6,250• Cross Road pumping station partial upgrade: $564,650• Gorman-Rupp 17 pumping station control panels: $163,750• Old Norwich pumping station upgrade: $587,650• Fargo Lane water tower rehabilitation: $1.2 million Total: $5,545,901 This press release was produced by the Town of Waterford.The views expressed here are the author's own.