By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Mayor Arthur Vigeant announced to lawmakers at the Sept. 14 meeting that the city has been awarded nearly $60,000 in grants for the Council on Aging and the Police Department and asked for their approval to accept the funding.
The Police Department received $49,219 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, FY2016 State 911 Department Training Grant and EMD/Regulatory Compliance Grant Program for the Police Department to offset personnel costs associated with the dispatching center and overtime costs relevant to mandated Emergency Dispatching Protocols.
The Council on Aging (COA) received two grant awards from Bay Path Elder Services which will allow for the establishment of a new transportation program utilizing the bus recently acquired through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
“The grant will also help with the continuation of the very successful outreach program which includes ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, enrichment opportunities as well as exercise and wellness programs,” said COA Director Patricia Pope in her request to the mayor.
Councilors approved the financial assistance and accepted the mayor’s recommendation to establish a revolving fund for the COA, requested by Pope.
“Revolving funds contain more controls and safeguards than those imposed on regular accounts, including annual reauthorization, statutory caps and limits on annual expenditures,” Vigeant said.
