The Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted to approve $786,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) money for a number of projects around town.

Their recommendations include $200,000 for improvements at the transfer station; $100,000 for improvements at the Municipal Center; $90,000 for a dump truck for the Parks & Recreation Department; $150,000 for a refurbishment of the Dickinson Park pavilion; $75,000 for outside storage at the Community Center; $155,000 for a patio at the Community Center; and $16,000 for lift assist handicap-accessible doors at the Senior Center.

Transfer station improvements are “geared toward improvement in the traffic patterns for recycling and household garbage drop off by removing congestion and traffic bottlenecks,” according to a resolution included in the minutes of the April 18 BOS meeting.

“The goal is to create the capacity to handle a larger volume of citizen participation more quickly and efficiently,” stated the resolution. “This work will include everything from new traffic patterns and roadways to better lighting, signage and security camera coverage.”

Those improvements in particular are a priority for the town; the work could take a while but the town is currently seeking alternatives to its recycling contracts, which increased greatly in the last year and are looking like they will increase more. Getting the transfer station improvements in place will help alleviate those costs.

The $90,000 for a dump truck for the Parks & Recreation Department is to replace a 2007 Ford F550 liftgate with “structural issues.” The old truck has rot on a cross member, and at the tow hitch and lift gate attachment point.

Building Improvements

The municipal building improvements include $30,000 for window abatement and refurbishment of window systems at the Municipal Center “as part of a continuing project to update and repair, as necessary, all the major window components that are considered a historical restoration,” states the resolution.

It also includes $18,000 for floor replacement at the public works garage, as the 20-year-old tile floor there is “beyond its useful life.” There is $23,000 for the renovation of the women’s locker room at the Public Works Garage to provide equal facilities for shower and rest room activities to that of the male counterparts; and $29,000 for a phased repainting of the Municipal Building beginning in the hallway area.

The Dickinson Park Pavilion renovation includes $65,000 to replace dry rotted and dilapidated roof sheathing and shingles; $20,000 for lighting; $34,000 for utilities, including installing new electrical service to the site from the garage, including low voltage wiring for WiFi; $15,000 to replace rotted corner support columns and repair other existing columns and joists as needed; $15,000 to replace a rotted ridge beam; $4,000 to construct a small utility closet for new electrical service; and $12,000 for disposal of existing roofing and decking.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal pointed towards the pavilion renovation as “noteworthy” in an April 19 interview with The Newtown Bee.

“The pavilion is safe, but we want it to last longer,” said Rosenthal, who said the current structure is 60 years old. “Renovating the pavilion is definitely much less costly than building a new one.”

The increased outdoor storage for the Community Center is to allow the center to store pool chemicals on-site. The center currently stores them off-site and has Public Works drivers bring them in as needed, which is a “logistical issue,” according to Rosenthal.

The patio was originally in the plans for the Community Center, but became an alternate due to budgetary issues. The foundation area for the patio is already completed, including a water line, lighting, gas line and plantings. According to Community Center Director Matt Ariniello, this will “create untapped revenue-generating opportunities through events and programming options.”

The handicapped doors are being added because “some doors at the center are very heavy and hard to open for some people,” according to the resolution.

Continuing Review

The projects represent the latest round of recommendations originating from the American Rescue Plan Work Group, a joint subcommittee formed from members of the BOS, Board of Finance (BOF), and Legislative Council. Rosenthal said the workgroup was concentrating on recommending items with “longer lead times” or that “they felt comfortable with.”

The recommendations still need to face the BOF and council for approvals. If all are approved, there will be approximately $2.2 million in ARP funding left to spend out of $7.4 million the town received. The town has until 2025 to spend all the money.

Previously, the town government bodies approved $2,195,000 in spending, including $1.5 million for a water distribution center at Fairfield Hills; $190,000 for a roof replacement of the multi-purpose building; $50,000 to replace or repair some underground fire suppression tanks; a $325,000 reimbursement to the town’s self-funded insurance for costs of COVID; and $40,000 for COVID-related supplies.

In addition, $15,000 in grants was approved for each of four town volunteer fire companies, Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue (NUSAR), and the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NVAC). Newtown Hook and Ladder is getting an allocation of $15,000 in ARP funds from the Borough of Newtown.

Rosenthal said the focus has been on using the money for things that the town was already planning on spending money on, “rather than open up the floodgates for things we never would have considered.”

“While we can’t use the money to reduce taxes, we can help the taxpayers by using the money on things we were going to do anyway,” said Rosenthal.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.