During a January 31 workshop, North Branford’s Town Council approved allocations adding up to spending $1.6 million of the town’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The council’s decisions leave North Branford with approximately $1.66 million of remaining ARPA funds, for which spending will be determined at a future date.

With many federal guidelines to be followed in order to allocate spending properly, ARPA funding was created to provide pandemic response needs to states and municipalities, and to help rebuild a stronger, more equitable economy in recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.

Last year, North Branford designated approximately $900,000 in ARPA funds for spending, including a new mobile stage for Parks and Recreation.

At the Jan. 31 workshop, 2 separate motions were supported by majority vote of the council to arrive at the $1.6 million designation. Items selected for funding were culled from a long list, totaling some $9 million. The list was developed with input from department heads, public safety agencies, North Branford Public Schools and non-profit organizations.

In one motion, the council supported spending $1.525 million to be spread across several areas of need. The council felt $1 million of that sum can help alleviate future mill rate increases for residents; by allocating $500,000 for road infrastructure and $500,000 for bridge infrastructure maintenance packages. In addition, the council designated spending $385,000 to install a secure, Town-owned fiber network system and $30,00 for a Town buildings door access system. The council also approved public safety spending of $36,000 (Lifepack 15 defibrillator) and $14,000 (Hurst “Jaws of Life” combi rescue tool). To assist non-profits impacted by the pandemic, the council allocated a $50,000 spending pool (distribution to be determined) and $10,000 towards renovating The Little Red School House (Totoket Historical Society).

Supporting nonprofits to bolster fundraising efforts impacted during the pandemic was a priority for the council, said Mayor Jeffrey Macmillen, speaking with Zip06/The Sound.

“That was important to everyone there. Those nonprofits were in the dark during that Covid period, and we want to make sure we’re recouping some of that for those folks.”

The council’s second vote on Jan. 31 approved a motion designating $75,000 in ARPA funds, to be added to $25,000 in the Town’s current capital improvement plan (CIP) budget, to conduct a comprehensive town study of all recreation areas, fields and open space. The study, which will include conceptual drawings, is anticipated to become a working document that will provide a vision for future leaders to build on when considering Town developments and buildings.

The goal of the study is to get a step closer towards some semblance of unity of Northford and North Branford, and having an identity as a town center, said Macmillen.

“I want to have a trajectory for this town. We need a plan. We need to figure out what we want to be, what is this town going to look like; instead of always throwing something into another direction.”

Following the spending decisions made at workshop on Jan. 31, North Branford’s remaining ARPA funding of approximately $1.66 million will be the subject of future council workshops and discussions. ARPA funds need to be allocated by the end of December, 2024; and spent by the end of December, 2026.

Other Discussions

During the Jan. 31 workshop, the council discussed several other ARPA funding wish list items submitted, but ultimately not taken up for voting that night. One lengthy discussion focused on a sewer installation project for a segment of North Branford’s stretch of CT Route 80 (Foxon Road) extending to the Guilford town line. Bringing in sewers would increase commercial and retail business development along the corridor, serving as a driver for significant economic development.

The council determined the costly project, which a study estimated at between $7.5 million up to $11 million, would be an item for town budgeting, bonding, and possible state grant assistance.

The council also felt such a project should have the support and planning of a dedicated economic development representative, which is expected to a part of the role of the new Assistant Town Manager position, currently posted for hire.

At its Jan. 17 meeting, the council voted to approve creating the Assistant Town Manager position, as well as seeking to hire the first person to fill the new role. Part of the job will entail coordinating economic development on behalf of the Town, in place of the former part-time Economic Development Coordinator position. The position was last held by Roger Salway, who completed his tenure at the end of 2022.

Town Manager Michael Downes developed the new, full-time Assistant Town Manager position as one of the first of his proposed structural staffing changes. Among its duties, the job will merge the economic development coordinator role together with an in-house Human Resources (HR) component, replacing the need to hire an outside contractor. Combining the salary of the former coordinator position and costs for outside HR contractor services will help fund the new position’s estimated salary of $100,000. Additionally, the new position provides North Branford with its first Town Manager succession plan.

Macmillen said the Assistant Town Manager will be the ideal representative to focus on future North Branford economic growth goals such as the Route 80 sewer project.

“I’m very big on revenue-generating and building infrastructure for economic development. So we want to make sure, if we’re bringing someone in, in that capacity, they have the ability to put their thumbprint on it, and have a say on some of these bigger economic development projects,” said Macmillen. “It is paramount to the town’s longevity of being a great town and a success.”

The January 31 Town Council ARPA Workshop was recorded and live-streamed by Totoket TV and can be viewed in its entirety on Facebook.