East Lyme — About 35 residents gathered with town officials this week to vote on spending approximately $3.79 million in federal coronavirus pandemic relief aid.

At the special meeting Wednesday at Town Hall, the residents unanimously approved spending $1.06 million of the American Rescue Plan grant the town received in May 2021. A total of 22 qualified small businesses and nonprofits each will be awarded a portion of $461,945 in ARP funds to help them rebound from the pandemic's impact, while the rest of the money will go toward high-priority town needs.

The spending plan was recommended in a report by the town's American Rescue Plan Subcommittee on March 16; the plan was approved by the Board of Selectmen on April 6 and the Board of Finance on April 13.

Residents also agreed Wednesday to earmark another $2.72 million in ARP funds that, according to the subcommittee’s report, the town will receive this May or June.

Overall, the town is slated to receive roughly $5.46 million from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act that is funneling $2.6 billion to Connecticut municipalities and is being administered according to guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Of East Lyme's share, $1.68 million already had been appropriated for a new roof on the town's Public Safety Building on West Main Street and reconstruction of a town well.

First Selectman Kevin Seery said the subcommittee “spent a lot of time vetting” each business and nonprofit applicant through the town attorney and “they did a great job.” At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting two weeks ago, he had described the subcommittee members' efforts as “the culmination of a lot of work” and that “this was exhausting on their part.”

“If we get this done quick, we can get the garbage truck sooner,” he said lightheartedly Wednesday before the "aye or nay" voice votes on the ARP spending proposals.

Besides purchasing a new garbage truck with ARP funds, the town's Public Works Department can move forward with securing an air handler, which regulates and circulates air, for Town Hall's heating and cooling system. The Emergency Management Department will obtain new software for emergency planning, and the Building Maintenance Department will install a Town Hall drop box. The Parks and Recreation Department will use some of the funds to develop a master plan for a recreation area at Darrow Pond. The fire marshal will purchase some fire safety equipment, and the East Lyme Public Library will obtain glass doors and a camera for meeting space.

Additionally, $25,000 will be set aside for ARP administrative costs and attorney fees, and $31,933 in contingency funds will help address any future emergency management and pandemic needs.

Future spending

The $2.72 million in ARP funds that the town has yet to receive will be spent on necessary town resources and improvements, including the police department’s switch to a state radio communications system and HVAC upgrades.

The funds will support continuing the part-time positions of a town mentoring coordinator and youth services counselor and a full-time social worker at the Senior Center and Commission on Aging. Residents can look forward to playscape and restroom enhancements and new water fountains at McCook Point and Peretz parks in Niantic. Additional funds will be put toward a feasibility study for the Parks and Recreation Department, library and Senior Center.

Niantic’s sewer pump station will be upgraded and the Boston Post Road water tank will be recoated. Seery said the town also will examine the water tank's interior to ensure there is nothing contributing to the paint corrosion.

A contingency fund of $43,077 also will be set aside for emergency management to address future pandemic needs.

For a full breakdown of the proposed spending, visit bit.ly/elarp0422.