Marlborough Council OKs Stimulus Spending, Not Unanimously

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The Marlborough City Council is back on board with Mayor Arthur Vigeant's plan to spend $11.7 million in federal pandemic stimulus funds, but several councilors still have questions.

One month ago, the council voted 7 to 2 to rescind a previous approval given to Vigeant to spend the ARPA stimulus funds on water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, plus items like a dog park, public safety vehicles and a walkway around Lake Williams.

The stimulus spending package came back to the council this week with a few more details. At-Large Councilor Samantha Perlman asked for parts of the spending plan — everything but funds for water and sewer infrastructure — to go to the council's finance committee for a deeper discussion. Perlman said the ARPA funds should go to support underserved residents and businesses left struggling after the pandemic.

Perlman said she's been helping to get a dog park built in Marlborough over the years and supports the project, but felt the ARPA plan should get a wider public hearing.

Perlman's motion failed in a 2 to 8 vote, with only At-Large Councilor Mark Oram in support. The councilors who liked the mayor's plan said many of the items have been up for discussions already and supported by many councilors.

"These are all things that will benefit the entire community," Ward 1 Councilor Laura Wagner said.

Here's a breakdown of how Vigeant wants to spend the ARPA funds:

• Ladder fire truck, $1.5 million
• Fire department squad truck, $243,100
• Marked police car, $51,000
• New police radios, $34,400
• Pools and cemetery, $205,000
• Pump station, $1.75 million
• City Hall/Main Street, $1.5 million
• School, $150,000
• Lake Williams walking trail, $2 million
• Dog park, $150,000
• Deck hockey court, $500,000
• Reservoir, $100,000
• Parking garage and design, $125,000
• Sligo Hill water tank, $1.5 million
• Water mains, $1 million
• Treatment plant, $1.6 million
• DPW equipment, $750,000
• City vehicle, $33,000