Boat docks and border walls: Here's what Middletown residents want to spend ARPA funds on
MIDDLETOWN — Road repairs and recreational spaces were among the most popular requests from residents when asked what they want the town to do with the $4.7 million it expects to receive from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to provide states, territories and municipal governments with additional economic aid to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. In September, the town of Middletown created a form for residents to submit ideas on how to spend the extra cash and received 115 submissions between September and when submissions closed in December.
The Planning Board analyzed the requests for consistency with the town’s Comprehensive Plan, the guiding document the town uses to determine whether development projects or new zoning laws fit the town’s overall vision for how the town should look.
Rejected proposals
Out of the 115 requests, only two had been determined as “not consistent” with the Comprehensive Plan, making them ineligible for ARPA funding. Twenty-five of the requests were labeled “non-applicable,” which meant they cover an issue not addressed in the Comprehensive Plan, but they are still eligible for ARPA funding, Town Solicitor Peter Reagan said at the town council meeting on Tuesday.
“While there’s nothing in the Comp Plan that references that particular item, there’s nothing in the Comp Plan that would contradict or say we shouldn’t do that,” Reagan said.
One of the requests deemed ineligible for funding was from Flo’s Clam Shack owner Komes Rozes who offered several ideas to fund changes to the Atlantic Beach District, such as turning the bike line on Aquidneck Avenue into short-term parking and adding a pedestrian bridge from Easton's Beach to Dunlap Wheeler Park. He also suggested the town provide businesses in the area with $1 million for design upgrades to “satisfy the handful of people who don’t like what’s there” and to turn Wheeler Park into a parking lot for people to “walk around the future Atlantic village.
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The Planning Board ultimately rejected Rozes ideas, saying they went contrary to the Atlantic Beach District Overlay Master Plan referenced in the Comprehensive Plan. The other request the Board deemed not compliant with the Comprehensive Plan was Middletown resident Christopher Browe’s request to “gentrify some of the rundown housing - get more tax revenue and chase out the criminal element,” which the board argued went against the Comprehensive Plan’s goal to provide and preserve affordable housing.
Project options
Residents could select multiple categories for their request’s project type, but the most popular type of project requested was infrastructure improvements, which was selected in 66 of the 115 submissions. Requests identified solely as requests for infrastructure improvements and no other category mostly asked for the repaving and replacement of specific roads or structures, such as resident Jay Bogosian’s suggestion for a new boat ramp and dock at Third Beach, or Middletown Historical Society President Mary Dennis’ request for help replacing the front steps at the Paradise School Museum.
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Public health-related projects were also popular among the submissions as well, with 46 requests identified within that category, and the vast majority were requests for more recreational space. Housing was also important, with at least 30 requests for housing support-related projects and a need for more affordable housing throughout town.
Middletown ARPA by Will Richmond on Scribd
There was also an “other” category for requests which did not fall into the realm of Public Health, Infrastructure, Economic Development, Education Assistance, Services for disenfranchised communities, Housing, Pay or Administration. These requests ranged widely, from a gardening tool loan program to housing for mothers recovering from substance abuse, to giving the funds directly to residents themselves.
Others still rejected the idea of using the funds for Middletown altogether. Resident Richard Gallipeau said the town should give the money back to the federal government, as he believes spending it would increase the national debt. Beverly Nolan requested the funds be used to remove President Biden from office and donated to the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Municipal requests
A few municipal leaders and community organizations also used the request form to submit their own ideas. Town Councilor Terri Flynn submitted three requests: one which proposed the funds be used to provide “premium pay” to Middletown’s essential workers and incentivize more workers to come to work in Middletown, another which suggested the money go toward the town’s application for affordable housing financing, and another to improve the town’s stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding.
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Middletown Town Councilor Dennis Turano proposed funding a Middletown Outreach Department to provide services to those most impacted by COVID-19 and Middletown Economic and Planning Department Director Ronald Wolanski suggested the funds be used to create an affordable housing trust fund, as is mentioned in the Comprehensive Plan. Fire Chief James Peplau requested ARPA funds to upgrade the two radio communication consoles at the Police and Fire Stations. Finance Director Marc Tanguay requested the town purchase a new accounting system for the town and school district.
Middletown Town Administrator Shawn Brown requested the Town Council hold off on any decisions regarding ARPA funding requests until the town finalizes its upcoming budget.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Middletown residents offer suggestions to spend ARPA funds
