East Lyme — Officials are contemplating another round of local requests for federal COVID-19 relief dollars following the approval of the first appropriation at a town meeting last week.

Taxpayers on Aug. 1 unanimously approved a $280,557 request in the areas of youth services, public safety and communications after the package was endorsed by the boards of selectmen and finance over the last couple of months. The process began again for the latest round of funding requests when selectmen met immediately following the town meeting to approve another $133,553.

More than half of the total comes from regional organizations seeking a slice of East Lyme's roughly $5.46 million in American Rescue Plan funds designed to help communities recover from the pandemic.

The $1.9 trillion federal plan funnels $2.6 billion to municipalities in Connecticut, including $1.6 billion for general government and $1 billion for schools. The general government portion includes $870 million in aid to cities and towns and $691 million for counties, which, because there is no county level of government in the state, is distributed to municipalities on a per capita basis.

Ledge Light Health District is asking East Lyme for $54,638 as part of a request to each of its member municipalities for 1% of their federal COVID-19 relief dollars. Health district director Steve Mansfield has said the money will be used for activities such as expanding epidemiological capacity, public communications and adding staff.

In a letter to local leaders, Mansfield noted the American Rescue Plan doesn't contain a provision for direct funding to health districts and requested funding from municipalities "because there is continued need to implement public health activities in response to the on-going pandemic and to prepare for future public health emergencies."

The other municipalities in Ledge Light Health District are Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, New London, Old Lyme and Stonington.

First Selectman Mark Nickerson vouched for the organization that he said has been there whenever local officials needed guidance and support amid the pandemic. "They have staffed up and when we need to make an inquiry, those phones were answered," he said.

Selectmen also approved a similar request from the Southeast Connecticut Council of Governments for $8,965. The regional planning organization represents 22 cities, towns and boroughs. It provides a basis for what the agency describes as "intergovernmental cooperation" in the absence of a county system.

Selectmen in their deliberations increased what was originally suggested as a $15,000 allocation for the East Lyme Giving Garden to $25,000. The garden sits behind Flanders Baptist and Community on Church Lane, with all of its produce going to area food pantries.

Selectmen said the organization, which is in its first year at the Church Lane site, is requesting the money for an equipment shed, high tunnel, pavilion and tools.

The proposed funding total also includes a request for $12,500 to help purchase a new pump-out boat for the environmental nonprofit Save the River-Save the Hills, which advocates for protection of the Niantic River watershed and Oswegatchie Hills. Nickerson said the group has applied for state funding and is asking Waterford and East Lyme to split the cost of the required matching grant.

"Boating is way up in the river and way up everywhere in America right now," Nickerson said. "Rumor has it you can't buy a boat if you wanted to."

The group offers free, seasonal pump-outs of holding tanks on the Niantic River and Niantic Bay to promote the safe disposal of waste.

Selectwoman Rose Ann Hardy said the group is a good example of regional cooperation among volunteers that keeps costs down for the town.

Officials also approved $2,000 for the New London Homeless Hospitality Center in support of its regional efforts.

Town Clerk Karen Galbo requested $7,500 to digitize land records that currently only go back to 1959 online. She said the remote availability of the documents was crucial for title searchers, appraisers and the general public when hours were limited by the pandemic.

"I'd like to go all the way back to 1839," she said of getting the documents online. "This isn't going to do it, but it will get some more out there."

Selectmen cited the pandemic's effect on local veterans organizations in supporting $13,950 for the American Legion Post 128 and $9,000 for VFW Post 5849. They said required closures due to coronavirus restrictions made it difficult for the groups to raise money to support their operations and provide services for veterans.

The American Legion post will replace a boiler, ice machine, drink cooler and cash register as it prepares to welcome veterans and the public back to the hall, according to Nickerson.

Patrick Hughes, past commander of the VFW post, said the group is looking to augment a relief fund that was "decimated" by the pandemic and the inability to recoup the money through fundraisers like the popular roast beef dinner.

Selectmen approved the total appropriation unanimously on its way to Wednesday's Board of Finance meeting. It also would require approval at a town meeting.

Selectmen, seeking more information on a $83,864 request for the Care and Share of East Lyme food pantry and a $5,000 request from the East Lyme Historical Society, postponed votes on those two topics.

e.regan@theday.com