DALTON, Mass. — The town will be deciding how it wants to use its remainder of the American Rescue Plan Act funds before the Dec. 31 deadline. 

 

The town received $1,950,367.06 in ARPA funds between 2021 and 2022. Since then, it has allocated funds for several projects, equipment, studies, and more. This includes funds for COVID-19 tests, a fiber ring upgrade, paving, heat pumps, and more.

 

During a Select Board meeting on Sept. 23, funding for various items was approved, including a shed for the Fitch Hoose House museum, replacing windows and doors at the town garage, a sewer pump generator, replacing rented dumpsters, office furniture and equipment replacements, and a feasibility study for a proposed public safety facility.

 

Following those allocations, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said there is about $3,000 remaining. 

 

Former Select Board member Joe Diver recommended that the remainder be used for an employee appreciation holiday party. 

 

Although approved at the Sept. 23 meeting, the board rescinded that amount on Tuesday at the recommendation of Town Accountant Sandra Albano. 

 

"Unfortunately, despite the much-appreciated attention of the board, having a holiday party for employees is not within the bounds of what public money can pay for it," Hutcheson said. 

 

During the September meeting, Boyle expressed his opposition to using the funds for a party and questioned why they could not be allocated to the Orchard Road project. 

 

Diver explained at the September meeting that the reconstruction of Orchard Road is funded through a $1 million MassWorks grant. The project is expected to take place in 2025. More information here. 

 

It was previously reported that the reconstruction funded by the grant did not include sidewalks due to insufficient funding. 

 

Community members have expressed a need for sidewalks on the connector road to Route 9. 

 

Because of the community's interest, the board agreed, during a previous meeting, to consider that addition. The project is now going out to bid in December with sidewalks included, said Highway Superintendent Edward "Bud" Hall in a follow-up. 

 

"If there is a shortage of funds, we will address it at that time more than likely with Chapter 90 funds to subsidize the project," he said. 

 

With the $3,000 rescinded, the town must decide how best to use the remaining funds before the fast-approaching deadline. 

 

Hutcheson stated that he does not yet have a specific project which to allocate the remaining funds. 

 

He recommended that the board wait on a decision until he has a clearer understanding of how much remains in case projects that have already been allocated ARPA funding come in under budget.

 

"I hope to get all that spending done as quickly as possible. It's not always easy, but I am reminding people who have authorizations to spend them as quickly as possible so that we can lose as little as possible in case things come in under budget at the very end," he said. 

 

The board will discuss how to use the remaining funds at a future meeting.