Pandemic Dollars To Fund West Hartford Police Vehicle Purchase, Sign Project

WEST HARTFORD, CT — President Joe Biden may have claimed the pandemic is in America's rearview mirror, but federal dollars aimed at helping municipalities cope with its impact are not.

West Hartford last week made two key appropriations of American Rescue Plan Act funds — one to help purchase a West Hartford Police Department mobile command vehicle and the other for a town-wide signage project to promote local attractions and businesses.

The funding appropriated totaled $500,000 for the signage project and $41,036 toward the WHPD vehicle.

The council approved those appropriations unanimously at its Sept. 13 meeting.

"I think this is a proper use of that," West Hartford Deputy Mayor Liam Sweeney said at the meeting on the ARPA appropriations. "I'm really glad that we're moving forward on these things."

West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith said the police command vehicle funding is actually a supplemental appropriation to an already approved expenditure of ARPA funds.

On Dec. 14, 2021, the council approved a $375,000 ARPA expenditure for the vehicle, but bids came in much higher than expected.

As a result, Ledwith said, a supplemental appropriation was deemed necessary.

Regarding the signage project, the expenditure will fund a consultant study on the signs ($75,000) and the remainder of the $500,000 would go toward the signs and labor themselves, Ledwith said.

The goal of the sign project is to encourage residents and visitors to utilize local resources in the business, recreation and religious communities.

"It will direct residents and visitors to historical landmarks, restaurants, retail centers, parks, arts and cultural venues and religious institutions," Ledwith said.

Originally granted more than $25 million in ARPA funds, West Hartford has already earmarked about $11.7 million in projects already.

Ledwith said the town has until 2024 to appropriate the remaining ARPA funds and 2026 to actually spend them.

To watch the Sept. 13 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

To see the Sept. 13 West Hartford Town Council minutes, click on his link.