By JEFF MORRIS
The town board Dec. 17 revised previously approved commitments for the town’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. A portion of the funds will now go toward improving the water supply in Bedford Village.
Supervisor Ellen Calves said they were still wrapping up the ARPA funding agreements. Resolutions passed at the prior meeting were intended to fulfill the requirement to contractually commit the funds by the end of the year and spend them by the end of 2026, otherwise the funds will be lost.
The board had previously decided to commit funding to affordable housing, and Calves said those contracts had now been revised. The board voted to approve three contracts with Blue Mountain Housing: an agreement to purchase and do site work at 12 McLain St.; to purchase 123 Valley Road to be transitioned to affordable housing, in conjunction with a county grant; and to make improvements and renovations, including structural work, to the Doyle House in Katonah.
A more significant change in the use of funds was explained by Department of Public Works Commissioner Kevin Winn, moving some funding from paving to the Bedford Village Water District. He said there was some good news regarding the Bedford Village water supply project.
“We have successfully drilled a rock well there and have two sand and gravel wells that exist and look like they will work out well,” said Winn, thus moving the new source of supply location forward. He said they had been working there somewhat unsuccessfully, and had been considering other options, but this is definitely a better long-term alternative than the existing location at The Farms.
“Unfortunately,” said Winn, “given time and some extra well drilling efforts, I’m concerned that the project may end up slightly over budget.”
He said he knew that the ARPA funds were available and needed to be decided on soon, so decided to shift some funds that had been committed to road paving.
“Although paving is a great effort and expenditure, $200,000 for paving or $200,000 for the small districts, the districts obviously is a much more substantial benefit and this is really a meaningful project for them to resolve the existing water quality issues, so I think it would be better allocated there.”
Winn said they will still be putting a total of $535,000 towards paving — $200,000 of which was already spent and $335,000 that will be spent in the future — and $200,000 toward the Bedford Village supply project.
Calves noted the project would not only improve the water supply quality because it will not contain the chemicals detected in the original supply, but will also offer an opportunity for additional capacity. Winn confirmed the intent was to provide for some expected reasonable growth in the district. He also confirmed the project was primarily funded by grants, with 60 percent or $800,000 of the total $1.4 million in funds from a New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation grant.
“It is a fairly small district, so this will have a meaningful impact for the residents and the farms in that area, and also on Old Post Road and the businesses there,” said Calves. “So I think this is a great pivot.”
The board voted to move $200,000 in funding from paving to the Bedford Village Water District. Winn said the project will move through permitting during 2025, bids during fall and winter of 2025, and construction in 2026, assuming rapid regulatory approval.
The board also approved a letter of contract extension with Bedford Promoter Laurie Hilliard for two years. A memo regarding the extension noted the town board had allocated a part-time salary from ARPA funding of up to $30,000 in 2023 and up to $35,000 in 2024, and proposed allocating $100,000 of ARPA funding for use by the end of 2026.
Board member Andrés Castillo asked whether the salary was staying at $35,000; Calves said in negotiations the previous day, Hilliard had asked for an increase to $38,000, but with a commensurate reduction in a stipend for pre-approved expenses that was also included in the contract.
With that approval, Calves said she thought all the contracts were in place for ARPA funding, and comptroller Brian Kenneally confirmed that.