New Canaan weighs how to use COVID-19 relief funds
NEW CANAAN — After hearing millions of dollars in requests for American Rescue Plan Act Funds this week, Councilman Mark Grzymski has offered to establish guidelines for the process.
The town has so far received $2.8 million and expects almost $3 million more by June 2022 from ARPA, which is a federal program providing $350 billion in emergency funding for state and local governments.
Several organizations made their pitches to the Town Council on Tuesday, while others had made their requests during a previous forum.
“With this kind of money, you want to make a lasting impact on this community,” Councilman Steve Karl said.
Chairman of Town Conservation Commission Chris Schipper said his organization is requesting the Town Council to “steer one-third of the ARPA funds to public space and sustainability programs.” This would meet the ARPA criteria of equity, health and climate mitigation, he added.
He recommended investing in parks, greens space, trails, town bathrooms, wireless hotspots, pollinator plantings, educational signage and more trees to replace those lost. He emphasized continuing to work on the Green link, to connect parks with sidewalks and walking trails for older adults and parents with strollers.
The town could undertake “leadership by example” by using quieter battery systems for land care equipment to lower emissions and noise, Schipper said.
He recommended the town adds a swap shop, increase the food scrap program, install reverse vending machines for recycling cans and bottles and install more electric car charging stations.
Child care
More space for 2-year-old children was on the wish list for Executive Director of the New Canaan Nature Center Bill Flynn. He said the center would like to
renovate the Audubon building, which he described as being “very run down,” for additional classes for its nature-based child care program.
The 500 square-foot building, constructed in 1902, could help accommodate more children, and reduce the waiting list that has grown to 60 families for the 2-year-old spots.
Flynn said as he did not have an estimate for the project, and requested feedback from the council to make an “intelligent ask.”
Chairman John Engel asked if the Nature Center had considered providing infant day care.
Flynn said “given what
our nature-based early child care program is, we want to currently focus on that and make it the best we can.”
The YMCA takes infants and Executive Director Margaret Reilly, told the Town Council the organization is seeking to renovate the South Avenue facility to be able to take more children.
The YMCA has preliminary plans to increase child care from 116 to 168 for a renovation that is estimated to cost nearly $1 million.
The YMCA has two programs for day care, the Rainbow Station for 6week-old babies to 4 years with a wait list of 150; and an after-school program with 30 on the wait list.
Reilly said it would be difficult for the YMCA to take on this project without the town’s help, considering the financial strain from the pandemic.
The Powerhouse
Patricia Spugani asked the Town Council to consider helping support a $1.3 million expansion of the Powerhouse Theater where the Town Players perform. She showed a model of the anticipated changes to the building, which was abandoned when the group took it over in 1982.
The project on the 5,200square-foot theater calls for enclosing the concrete patio to expand the lobby, since the building has 115 seats, and the lobby only “comfortably fits” about 30, she said.
Community cares
Judy Phillips, of Community Cares, wants funds for its health education programs that empower youth, strengthen families and address substance abuse and related issues.
The organization plans to help emotional health impacted by isolation brought on by the pandemic. Both preschoolers and older adults have lost some of their socialization skills, she said.
Parameters
After some raised concerns about the process of requesting and obtaining the funds, Grzymski offered to gather feedback from other council members and establish guidelines for the process.
Some council members said they want to target local residents and avoid paying for recurring operational expenses.
Councilman Cristina Ross said the money should help fulfill a need, such as child care.