PAXTON — A lively discussion ensued as the Select Board and the ARPA advisory committee met last week with four residents on the process and decisions on what to fund with the $1.4 million in federal funds.
Discussions included how the advisory committee had been formed, the decisions that were made and concerns about the specific projects chosen for funding under the federal program.
That included using a majority of the funds for purchase of a fire truck, which the residents said they agreed was a good thing.
But they disagreed on using the funds for that expenditure rather than other uses. The use of funds for that truck potentially freed up options for using funds that would have been raised for the truck, or reduced the tax bills.
However, the debt exclusion option would have added to tax bills to fund the truck but allowed ARPA funds to be available for other projects.
Mark Love said he, Neil Bagdis, Jeff Kent and Jeremy Richard served on various town committees but were not representing those boards.
“None of us are here in that official capacity,” Love said. “We’re here as private citizens. We’re hearing information, rumors, disinformation.”
Love said that “one of the bigger questions that is out there is who’s on the committee,” including who selected them and how they got appointed.
The Select Board had appointed the advisory committee, which reviewed potential projects and made recommendations to the Select Board, which ultimately chose which projects were funded using the ARPA money.
“Everybody on the committee had a boss,” Love said, adding the composition could have been structured differently so no one had their boss on the committee.
Kent also noted that the committee met during morning hours and not evening hours, when, he said, more people could have attended.
“We can’t guarantee we’re going to get a quorum of the committee when it is made up of a quorum of people who are in town during the day,” Select Board Chairman Julia Pingitore said.
Love said concerns had been raised about how members were chosen for the advisory committee.
Among the committees suggestions was the funding of fire tuck purchase using a substantial portion of the ARPA funds.
“I appreciate that you have a difference of opinion on the decision on the fire truck,” Pingitore said, “but the decision was made by the Board of Selectmen at the time. The decision has been made, the contract has been signed. There’s no going backwards on it.”
Love said, “if you don’t learn from the past, you’re going to make the same mistakes in the future.”
“I disagree that it was a mistake,” Pingitore said.
“We’re in favor the fire truck,” Love said of the committees. “You can be in favor of the fire truck and disagree with how the method to fund it was selected.
“We think the $750,000 could have been put to better use,” Love said, from tree work to roads.
“We’re trying to touch as many areas as we can with the ARPA money,” Pingitore said. Not having to fund the fire truck directly from taxes results in thousands of dollars in interest savings, close to $200,000, she said.
The savings could be $51.45 per taxpayer each of 10 years for a house with a $350,000 value, Town Administrator Heather Munroe said.
Pingitore said the issue was, “How do you take $1.4 million and use it the best way you can?” She cited projects and said, “we did a lot of great stuff with this money.”
“The Select Board took the fire truck off the warrant so the taxpayers wouldn’t have to pay for it,” Pingitore said.
“We’re here to bring a message,” Love said, “They’re coming to us, and we’re coming to you.”
Pingitore gaveled Love to stop talking after one point of discussion, as the time limit was nearing.
She asked Love to move on to the recommendations.
Love said they wanted to determine if there could be a grant to help subsidize the truck and if there is, that the money be returned to the ARPA fund.
“Regarding the ARPA committee, that it be determined conclusively whether a Select Board member can be on the committee,” Love added.
He said no member of the Select Board should serve on the committee, members of the community should be added and meetings should be held in the evening.
“We’re raising the question, not making a statement,” Love said.
Kent said he felt the Capital Improvements Planning Committee bylaw was violated by the composition of the ARPA committee.
“The optics to me are stunning,” he said. “I come tonight not to rehash that, but to set a path forward so that we can regain that trust and confidence in our public officials.”
The discussion lasted for just over an hour, the majority of the Oct. 11 meeting.
Halloween The Select Board voted Halloween hours of 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31.
Concerns were expressed about the 5 p.m. start because of traffic, but it was noted youngsters would likely be accompanied by adults.
Other seasonal events include the Paxton Lions Halloween Party at Wentworth Field, behind Paxton Center School, that same day, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Paxton Center School Trunk or Treat is slated to be held at the school Oct. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m., with registration and a fee required.
