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01/04/2022 03:00 PMThe Town Council will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at Town Hall over a proposed spending plan for the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Recovery Funds the town has received.
ARPA provides federal money to municipalities for recovery from the pandemic. In Clinton’s case, that will mean $3,825,160 of aid. Town Manager Karl Kilduff told the Harbor News that the town has already received $1,912,580 of that money and that in July 2022 it will receive a second installment of the same amount.
“This is a unique program where every city and town in the country will receive funding direct from the federal government. Each town will determine the best way to invest its funds back into their community that could help fill gaps created by COVID and allow for future growth and improvement,” said Kilduff.
Now, the town must decide on what it should spend the money, but not before members of the public can make their voices heard at the public hearing.
Proposed Plan
Kilduff said that the Department of the Treasury, which administers the money, has set rules for the kinds of projects that towns are allowed to spend money on. That guidance shaped Clinton’s proposed plan.
“The costs to be discussed at the public hearing include local public health expenses, mental health support, household assistance for housing and utilities, senior citizen support for housing and utilities, business support, aid to non-profits that could not raise funds as they had in the past or have responded above any beyond their normal level during the pandemic, aid for tourism, and stormwater management,” said Kilduff.
The town has until New Year’s Eve 2024 to allocate the funds and until New Year’s Eve 2026 to spend the money.
“At the local level, the public hearing is meant to receive public comment on what is proposed thus far. Before funds are to be spent, a special town meeting will have to be called to actually appropriate the funds,” said Kilduff.
Kilduff called ARPA a “very special federal program” and added that there is still much work for the town to accomplish before the projects will be able to start.
“As with any new, large program, there are a number of requirements that need to be navigated to make sure we are making prudent decisions that lead to eligible expenditures,” said Kilduff.
The public hearing is currently scheduled in-person at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Green Room on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Visit clintonct.org for any meeting updates.