By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Mayor Arthur Vigeant announced to the City Council in a communication at its? Aug. 27 meeting the receipt of grant awards of more than $64,000 for programs and equipment across three agencies.
The Police Department will receive $45,000 from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The grant will help fund the Jail Diversion Program, a cooperative effort with Advocates, Inc.
The city's Council on Aging has been awarded two $5,000 grants from Bay Path Elder Services, Inc., one to provide for continuation of educational and enrichment programs targeted towards Portuguese and Latino populations, and a second to enhance the city's scheduled senior transportation services to area retail locations.
The Emergency Management Office will receive a $9,030 Performance Grant that will reimburse costs associated with emergency preparedness training, equipment, and upgrades, including new hardware for the ID systems utilized by the Personnel Office.
In another communication, Vigeant stated that he is also “in strong pursuit of a significant grant opportunity through the MassWorks Infrastructure Program.”?? If awarded the $1.2-$1.7 million award by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the city will use it to help defray the costs of reconstructing Simarano Drive. Councilors agreed and approved a resolution of support needed to apply for the award. Plans for the reconstruction include a bike path and sidewalk, and landscape, safety and traffic signal improvements.
“With the arrival of both the TJX Companies and Quest Diagnostics, Simarano Drive will soon be the epicenter of the Marlborough economy,” the mayor said. The grant could improve the infrastructure “for the benefit of both residents and the many companies residing in that area,” he added.
“Our current estimate for the total cost of this project is $3 million,” Vigeant noted, an amount already included in the city's capital outlay plan. “If successful, our intended grant request could cover close to 50 percent of the total projected costs.”
In other business, the council approved were the reappointments of Eric Asman and Joyce Torelli to the Community Development Authority for three-year terms, and the appointment of Melissa Viera, Mark Bartlett and Mary Scott to the Marlborough Cultural Council for three years.