Marlborough Council Rescinds Vote On Mayor's Plan For ARPA Spending

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The Marlborough City Council this week rescinded a previous vote giving Mayor Arthur Vigeant carte blanche spending the city's nearly $12 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allotment, a move that may give councilors greater control over how money will be spent.

The council voted 7 to 2 on Monday to take back a December vote that effectively granted Vigeant control over the $11.8 million ARPA allotment. In a Dec. 16 letter to the council, Vigeant said most of the money would go toward water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, in line with guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury on how the money could be spent.

"It is our intent to use the large majority of these funds for investment in water and sewer projects," Vigeant wrote in the letter.

But councilors said they have since discovered that only about $3 million of Marlborough's ARPA funds would go to water and sewer projects. The mayor's spending plan set aside money for projects like a dog park and a walkway around Lake Williams, Chair Michael Ossing said.

The spending plan was transmitted to the council's finance subcommittee in April, which showed these line items:

• Lake Williams walking trail — $2 million
• Police shotguns, handguns and holsters — $42,594
• Fire department ladder truck — $1.54 million
• Dog park — $150,000
• Deck hockey — $500,000
• Replace Sligo Hill water tank (partial ARPA funds) — $1.5 million
• Sewer treatment plant — $1.6 million
• City Hall — $3 million
• Parking garage — $125,000
• Pump station — $1.75 million
• Vehicle for City Hall — $33,000

Councilors Kathleen Robey and Samantha Perlman put forward the request to rescind the December vote. Their order highlighted that new treasury department guidance took effect April 1 that says ARPA funds can be used for general government activities, including "construction of schools and hospitals, road building and maintenance and other infrastructure, health services, general government administration, staff and administrative facilities, environmental remediation, and provision of police, fire, and other public safety services."

"I want to make sure we have a say in where the funding goes," Perlman said.

"I would simply point out that members of a body, elected or unelected, that meet and make a decision sometimes realize their decision was made in haste and needs to be thought over again," Robey said.

On Wednesday, Vigeant said he was "disappointed" by the Council's vote.

"I’ve put a hold on all capital projects that have no signed contracts pending the review of where they are in the process. We have substantial street and infrastructure projects in the city that need to move forward, but because I can’t rely on the definitive vote of the council, I’m moving cautiously," he said in reaction to the vote.

Congress approved ARPA in spring 2021, sending about $350 billion to states, cities, towns and other government entities in all 50 states. Local allotments were based on population size, and the money comes in two installments: the first half in spring 2021, the second should arrive this spring. Municipalities have until December 2024 to spend the money.