By NEAL RENTZ
The Lewisboro Town Board voted unanimously to approve projects that will be funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The $550,438 in projects approved Dec. 16 will include:
— $10,919 for a stand-on blower that will be used in the town’s parks.
— $58,750 for a highway superintendent’s truck.
— $76,600 for a maintenance truck.
— $62,057 for a truck for the parks and recreation department.
— $8,300 for a generator.
— $173,100 for a radio system for the highway department.
— $72,140 for a wide-cut mower.
— $26,800 for a baseball backstop.
— $6,000 for filing cabinets.
— $55,772 for a maintenance excavator.
Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves noted at the meeting the board was required to allocate the town’s federal funds by Tuesday, Dec. 31.
The town originally received $1.28 million in ARPA funds.
The town had considered utilizing $312,818 of the federal funds for road paving, Gonçalves said. However, he said, Highway Superintendent John Winter requested that the town fund a radio system upgrade for his department, just as the town had previously done for the police department.
Since the recently approved 2025 town budget includes a significant spending increase for road paving, Gonçalves said the town board should use the funds that would have gone to pay for paving for other purposes. In addition, since an order has not yet been placed for a baseball backstop, the federal funds should pay for one, not two, backstops this year, Gonçalves said.
Though the federal grant funds initially sought for road paving will be removed, none of the $600,000 included in next year’s budget will be eliminated, he said.
Councilman Richard Sklarin asked if he could propose a contingent resolution that could provide $216,626 in ARPA funds toward new police headquarters, which would replace some of the proposals the supervisor was proposing for the grant funds. If there is no agreement in place for the new police headquarters, the ARPA funds go back towards the original $216,626 in projects originally sought by Gonçalves, Sklarin said.
“We’re not sure what we’re going to do” regarding potential new police headquarters, Gonçalves said. Police Chief David Alfano “will tell us what he needs,” Gonçalves said.
Councilman Dan Welsh said he was anticipating “a tremendous amount of support” from the town board next year to pursue new police headquarters. The board needs to spend the ARPA funds “in a way that’s safe” and not lose federal funds, he said.
Councilwoman Andrea Rendo said she has been asking for more than 18 months to obligate the remaining ARPA grant funds.
“That’s my first frustration,” Rendo said. “My second frustration is, once again, we find ourselves as a board in the position where our feet are being held to the fire to make a decision in the ninth hour and we’re scrambling to see where the money’s going to go.”
For example, ARPA funds could have been used for road paving projects for this year without having to take out a bond, she said.
Veterans Committee report
Also at the meeting, town Veterans Advisory Committee Chair John Lemke reported to the board about its 2024 accomplishments.
“I haven’t reported to you and the board for a long while,” Lemke said.
Working with the Bedford Veterans Committee, his committee received permission from the school district to have the area in front of John Jay High School dedicated to the seven students killed in active duty, Lemke said, adding he would like to work with Katonah-Lewisboro Superintendent Ray Blanch to have the names of the students placed on a plaque that would be placed on a wall in the high school.
The John Jay High School wrestling team had a veterans dedication match last week.
“It was really good,” Lemke said.
Committee member Mark Vibert was recently honored as a Veteran of the Year by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-17). “That’s a big deal,” Lemke said. “I want to make sure he gets recognized for that.”
Lemke also recognized the recent death of World War II veteran and lifelong town resident, John Waldie Gullen.
Gullen died Dec. 1 at the age of 100. Gullen was “deeply committed to his country and his community,” Lemke said.
As a high school junior, Gullen joined the volunteer fire department and he served in the department for more than 80 years, Lemke noted.
Following his high school graduation, Gullen joined the U.S. Army in 1943 and fought in Europe through 1946 as a combat infantryman, Lemke said. His unit helped turn back the Germans last offensive operation, Lemke said.
Gullen earned a Bronze Star.
The meeting attendees gave a final salute to Gullen at the request of Lemke.