The New Ipswich Select Board considered several uses for COVID-19 relief funds, including for culvert repairs and Fire Department equipment during a public hearing on Monday night.
The board first discussed whether the town was interested in accepting the $280,000 offered by the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Selectman Jason Somero said the town has seen “very minimal” financial impacts from COVID-19, and said he had reservations about what “strings” might come attached with federal funding.
“I have that same reservation,” said Select Board Chair Shawn Talbot.
Selectman Bert Hamill said the grant has a fairly wide variety of potential uses, including expanding broadband, town infrastructure, and public safety.
“I’d rather see it put to the town, rather than give it back to the government,” Hamill said.
The board ultimately moved to accept the grant, with the caveat that if they found unacceptable issues with implementing the funds, that they would be returned.
The American Rescue Act funds can be used for five specific categories. They can support public health expenditures, such as COVID-19 mitigation efforts and to support certain public health and safety staff, or to provide premium pay for essential workers. They can also be used to address negative economic impacts, including to households, small businesses or impacted industries. It is also available for investment in water, sewer, stormwater or broadband infrastructure.
The board discussed several projects that the funds could be used for, including $150,000 of planned culvert repairs or replacement.
The funds also allow for the potential expansion of broadband services. New Ipswich has a functioning Broadband Committee which is tasked with working with regional, state and national agencies to develop broadband opportunities for New Ipswich, and the funds may have a use in those efforts.
Fire Chief Meredith Lund offered several ideas for the funds to improve safety for firefighters, including purchasing a dryer or second set of turn-out gear for firefighters.
The New Ipswich Fire Department has an extractor, which washes firefighter gear after calls, where they may have been exposed to hazardous materials, but no mechanical dryer.
A dryer, Lund said, would cost about $10,000. Spare sets of turn-out gear would cost about $2,400 per set, or $40,000 for 16 sets.
Another potential use of the funds, Lund suggested, was to replace the mobile radios used by the department. To purchase 24 new radios would cost about $84,000.
The board did vote to accept the funding during Monday’s meeting, but did not take any further votes on how the funding is to be allocated. The board directed interested department heads to contact Interim Town Administrator Jim Coffey with proposals for use of the funds.