SHREWSBURY – A second round of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will soon be put to use by various Shrewsbury departments.
During a Select Board meeting Dec. 20, the board unanimously approved phase two of ARPA funding. The funds will go toward several initiatives, including upgrades to sewer infrastructure and public safety initiatives.
Select Board reviews feedback from residents
During the Select Board meeting, members shared their thoughts on the feedback residents provided during a community forum on how the town should spend its ARPA funds.
Town Manager Kevin Mizikar said that overall residents were satisfied with the funding plan.
However, member Beth Casavant noted that during the forum, a number of residents questioned why funding a splash pad at one of the town parks was not included in the town’s ARPA plan.
According to Mizikar, it was not included because the ongoing operating costs of a splash pad requires a “very high” consumption of water and electricity.
“It’s really the concern about not building any ongoing costs within the budget. That was really something that we focused on for this plan,” he said.
While Mizikar said he is not opposed to a splash pad, he said the town must “plan for it in a different way.”
According to Mizikar, residents have voiced their support to spend the approximately $380,000 in unallocated funds on other town initiatives.
If the board believes the funds should be spent right away, Mizikar said they could discuss allocating some of the funds.
However, he said the board should wait about six months because then it will have a better understanding of how the project estimates have lined up with the amount each town department has spent.
“That could free up additional funds or it could require a few more dollars,” he said.
Member John Samia, who voiced his appreciation to the residents who provided feedback on how to allocate the funds, said that this phase two of funding aligned with the town’s strategic plan.
“It does a really good job tying back to the strategic plan and the outcome areas that we are looking to address as part of it. I think that it really connects well with the feedback we have received from so many residents over the last year,” he said.
Shrewsbury has approximately $7,974,177 in its ARPA allocation to spend before the end of 2024.
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