The Board of Selectmen approved two new uses for American Rescue Plan money, totaling $420,000 for a bucket loader and for tutoring assistance for students struggling from remote learning during the pandemic.

The biggest of the two new expenses approved at the August 22 meeting was the bucket loader for the Department of Public Works, at a cost of $300,000.

Public Works Director Fred Hurley told selectmen the bucket loader is “one of the most expensive and one of the most crucial” pieces of equipment in the town’s “whole operation.”

The bucket loader is a requirement for snow removal, for loading town trucks and contractor trucks, and does a lot of work for other departments.

“It’s one of the most essential pieces of equipment we have,” said Hurley, who noted the town’s current bucket loader is 16 years old and “at the end of its useful life.”

The new bucket loader will last the town 15 to 20 years. The ARP money will pay for the entire cost of the bucket loader, and the trade-in of the town’s current bucket loader will pay for any extra equipment the town needs to outfit the new bucket loader.

Hurley said that the town has a number of ways to extend the useful life of its vehicles, but there was “no useful rejuvenation program” that would help extend the life of the bucket loader.

“Once it’s used up, it’s used up,” said Hurley.

The tutoring assistance is an item that fits in with the original ARP mission of helping the town and its residents in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said that while some students “thrived” in remote learning, others “suffered badly.”

“The teachers and staff worked hard to get folks caught up, but some needed extra help,” said Rosenthal.

He called the tuition assistance a “wise recommendation” by Legislative Councilman Ryan Knapp, to “set aside some money for tutoring expenses reimbursement.” Rosenthal said that town Director of Human Services Natalie Jackson would work with the school district’s Director of Pupil Services Deborah Petersen to administer the tuition assistance.

The town will put $100,000 towards the tuition assistance and another $20,000 for youth enrichment through the United Way.

“This helps those kids who are behind,” said Selectman Ed Schierloh. “They fell behind because of isolation and distance learning.”

The Town began with $7.6 million in ARP funding and has so far approved approximately $6 million. There is approximately $1.6 million remaining in the fund. The town has until 2026 to spend all the funding.

Previously, the town government bodies approved $90,000 for a senior citizen bus; $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.

Also, $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.

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

First Selectman Dan 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.

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